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Acreamer is a smallpitcher orjug designed for holdingcream ormilk to be served withtea orcoffee in the Western tradition. Creamers can beearthenware orporcelain, but also made of silver or othermetals; a creamer is an obligatory part of a coffee ortea set, whether in silver or ceramics.
Creamers in the shape of acow with an opening or lid on its back for filling, known ascow creamers, originated in Holland, but became very popular in England, first with Dutch imports, then from about 1740 insaltglazestoneware from theStaffordshire Potteries. English silverware examples are from about 1750; the Dutch immigrantsilversmithJohn Schuppe, who worked in London from 1753, produced little else, and his examples are among the finest.[1] The competition between two collectors for an especially valuable silver cow creamer is a plot-line inP. G. Wodehouse's novelThe Code of the Woosters. They have continued to be produced in both silver and ceramics. ThePotteries Museum & Art Gallery has the Keiller collection of 667 ceramic cow-creamers.[2]
Small metal creamers may be used in makingespresso-based drinks – the espresso being brewed into the pitcher, which is then poured into the drink. In this context they are referred to asespresso brew pitchers, and also billed as "small creamers". Brew pitchers are most commonly 89 millilitres (3 US fl oz), which is sufficient for any espresso other than a large (double or triple)lungo, but pitchers may also be found in 150 millilitres (5 US fl oz) and even 240 millilitres (8 US fl oz) sizes.
Espresso brew pitchers are particularly used for layeredlatte macchiatos, which require careful pouring. In other drinks, an espresso cup or shot glass is a common alternative, which must be dumped rather than poured.
