A Beginner's Guide to Ordering Coffee in English
Choosing a drink at a coffee shop can be difficult — look at all the choices!
Of course, many words for those different drinks are similar across the world. But there are still a few things that might make ordering easier if you're not used to doing it in English.
If you're next in line, the barista might ask, "Who's next?" or say, "I can help whoever's next," to invite you to order.
If you're not quite ready, you could tell the person behind you, "Go ahead — I need a minute to decide."
When you get to the barista, they might say: "What can I get you?" or "What'll it be?"
If you're drinking your coffee in the shop, you could ask for your drink "for here," but if you're taking it away, ask for it "to go."
Now you'll have to choose! If you don't know an espresso from a latte, here are some common options:
Cafe au lait
Coffee with hot milk.
Espresso
A small, strong coffee made quickly with high-pressure water.
Americano
An espresso with extra hot water.
Cappuccino
An espresso with hot milk and foam.
Latte
An espresso with lots of hot milk.
Mocha
A latte with chocolate added.
You might like "an extra shot," making the coffee a little stronger, or one with some syrup — choose one "pump" if you'd like just a little syrup, or perhaps you'd like two pumps or more!
Or maybe you prefer a "skinny" drink — that's made with low-fat milk.
And before paying, the hardest part could be spelling your name so the barista knows what name to say when your drink is ready. Be prepared!
1. Are you a big coffee drinker? How do you usually have it at cafes?
2. Have you ever had trouble ordering coffee while traveling abroad?
3. What are your favorite places to get coffee in your town or city?
4. Do you own a coffee maker? Does it make good coffee?
5. Is tea or coffee more popular where you live?
6. Do you tend to order the same things at your favorite restaurants?
7. Do you know anyone who takes a long time to decide what to order?
8. What are the busiest bars or restaurants in your area? Do they ever have lines?
9. Have you ever worked in a restaurant? If so, what parts of it were enjoyable? If not, do you think you'd be good at it?