Saucer

[1] The center of the saucer often contains a depression or raised ring sized to fit a matching cup; this was only introduced in the mid 18th century.

The saucer also provides a convenient place for a wet spoon, as might be used to stir the drink in the cup in order to mix sweeteners or creamers into tea or coffee.

When placed beneath a cup, saucers have very little direct influence on beverage cooling rate.

For hot, water based beverages (e.g. tea or coffee), cooling rate in a cup is typically dominated by evaporation, which occurs across the free surface in contact with the air.

[citation needed] When Jefferson returned from France...he asked George Washington why the Senate had been created.