"...a spit-take (the double-take causes the character to spit out whatever he is drinking)."
~http://www.filmsite.org/filmterms8.html

"A spit-take is a comedic technique where someone spits water out of their mouth when they react to a statement. Danny Thomas is sometimes credited for popularizing the use of this in comedy."
~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spit-take

"I invented a certain kind of spit take. You know, you're sipping a cup of coffee, and someone says, "Guess what, Danny, Uncle Tunoose is dead!" and you spew coffee all over the first few rows of the studio audience. That's the classic spit take, but it works just as well with grape soda, or chocolate milk, especially if it shoots out your nose or if you’re sitting on a white couch."
~http://mfinley.com/articles/zany.htm