Please, No Cups and Saucers...

An informal alfresco table — At the time, morning, noon or night, that coffee is served at the table any to family and/or guests, the equipment should be placed on a small tray at the hostess' place or on an adjacent small table. 

No matter how informal or casual the gathering it is neither attractive table-setting, nor good serving practice, to place a cup and saucer at each individual place on the home table. At the time, morning, noon or night, that coffee is served at the table any to family and/or guests, the equipment should be placed on a small tray at the hostess' place or on an adjacent small table. 

The cups and saucers with a spoon on each saucer to the right of the cup are grouped at the hostess' place, each to be served in turn by her. Cream and sugar on a small tray might be placed on the table and passed by the guests themselves, especially if the hostess has other serving to do. At luncheon or dinner, if there is a maid, she will bring the cup of coffee to the guest after the hostess has poured it, placing it at the right. She will then serve sugar and cream on a small tray from the guest's left. —Helen Sprackling, 1960

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette for Coffee After Luncheon

If coffee is served in the living room, the only difference is that the host and the men guests may fetch the cups of coffee for the women, if the hostess is serving the coffee herself.

 Coffee after Luncheon

There are the ways that coffee is usually served after dinner, but after luncheon are small changes: At luncheon, or at the most informal dinners, where there are only one or two guests, the men often go into the living room with the women. In this case, of course, if coffee is served at the dining room table, there is no difference in the service. If it is served in the living room, the only difference is that the host and the men guests may fetch the cups of coffee for the women, if the hostess is serving the coffee herself.– From Vogue’s Book of Etiquette, 1948

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia