coppette

Coppette is the plural of coppetta, an Italian noun meaning a small cup or cup-shaped vessel. The term is used to describe small containers designed for individual servings of food or drink, rather than larger pitchers or bowls. In culinary contexts, coppette are common in gelaterias, pastry shops, and catering, and are often served in disposable or reusable cups.

For example, una coppetta di gelato refers to a small cup of ice cream, while coppette di crema or coppette di frutta refer to small dessert portions presented in cups. In Italian menus and recipe writing, coppette can denote both sweet and savory small servings, including tiramisu served in a miniature cup or fruit salads arranged in cups.

Outside of food service, coppette may also refer to small disposable cups used for samples, measurements, or display in laboratories, clinics, or catering settings. In these cases, the word emphasizes the cup-like form rather than any particular contents.

In English-language writing about Italian cuisine, coppette is sometimes used to specify the serving vessel rather than the contents, but it is relatively rare outside Italian contexts. The word is typically translated as "cup" or "dessert cup" depending on the context.