Note
The word ‘urn’ describes the tapering shape of an object, typically with handles and legs, rather than its use. Coffee drinking began to spread in European society in the mid-15th century, and by the 17th century large coffee pots with spouts were being modified to have a small tap near the bottom of the device and the coffee urn was born. The shape of the coffee urn started out as resembling a pear, as shown here, but by the eighteen century had changed to a more traditional vase shape in the court of Louis XIV of France. A large coffee urn may have multiple spouts and hold enough liquid to serve 100 cups, and is often called a samovar.