291. Coffee, Mayim Acharonim

43:7 If one drinks coffee after the meal but before bentching in order to aid digestion, he must say a bracha on the coffee because something taken as an aid to digestion is not considered an integral part of the meal. It is preferable, however, to say the bracha of shehakol on something like sugar that definitely requires a separate blessing and to have the coffee in mind. (Mishnah Brurah 174:39 says that this only applies on weekdays. On Shabbos and Yom Tov, since one has recited kiddush, the blessing on the wine exempts other beverages. If one made kiddush on schnapps, however, shehakol must be recited on the coffee.)

44:1 Many people are lenient when it comes to mayim acharonim, washing after the meal, but it behooves us to be careful in this matter. For mayim acharonim, we need not wash the whole hand, just up to the second knuckle. The hands should be held down so that the water runs off before drying. The one who will lead bentching should wash first. (This is only in a small group; see OC 181:6, Mishnah Brurah 181:12-13 and Bi’ur Halacha 181:6 s.v. “min hakatan” for how to proceed in groups of over five diners.)