Buying a Coffee or Drink in English
In this lesson, you will learn how to order a coffee, tea, juice or any drink at a café or coffee shop in English — with all the right phrases to sound confident and natural.
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Watch the Lesson
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Video coming soon
Lesson Explanation
Ordering at a café is one of the most common everyday situations in English. Whether you are at a Starbucks, a local coffee shop, or an airport café, knowing the right phrases will make you feel confident and comfortable.
Coffee shops often ask you several questions after you order — like the size, whether you want milk, sugar, or if it’s to stay or to go. Knowing how to answer these questions quickly is very useful.
Pro Tip: In most English-speaking countries, “to go” means you want your drink in a takeaway cup, and “to stay” or “for here” means you will drink it inside the café.
Common Drinks Vocabulary
| Drink | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | إسبريسو | Strong, small black coffee |
| Americano | أمريكانو | Espresso with hot water added |
| Cappuccino | كابتشينو | Espresso with steamed milk and foam |
| Latte | لاتيه | Espresso with a lot of steamed milk |
| Black coffee | قهوة سوداء | No milk or sugar |
| Tea | شاي | With or without milk |
| Green tea | شاي أخضر | Popular healthy option |
| Orange juice | عصير برتقال | Fresh or packaged |
| Sparkling water | مياه غازية | Water with bubbles |
| Still water | مياه عادية | Water without bubbles |
| Hot chocolate | شوكولاتة ساخنة | Popular in winter |
| Smoothie | عصير فواكه مخفوق | Blended fruit drink |
Ordering Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| I’d like a coffee, please. | أريد قهوة، من فضلك. | Standard order |
| Can I get a large latte? | هل يمكنني الحصول على لاتيه كبير؟ | Casual / common |
| I’ll have a green tea, please. | سآخذ شاياً أخضر، من فضلك. | Natural and polite |
| With milk, please. | مع الحليب، من فضلك. | Adding milk |
| No sugar, please. | بدون سكر، من فضلك. | Removing sugar |
| To go, please. | للمنزل / تيك أواي، من فضلك. | Takeaway order |
| For here, please. | للجلوس هنا، من فضلك. | Sitting inside |
| What sizes do you have? | ما هي الأحجام المتوفرة؟ | Asking about sizes |
| How much is that? | بكم هذا؟ | Asking the price |
| Can I pay by card? | هل يمكنني الدفع بالبطاقة؟ | Payment method |
What the Barista Says
| Barista’s Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| What can I get you? | ماذا يمكنني تقديمه لك؟ |
| What size would you like? Small, medium or large? | ما الحجم الذي تريده؟ صغير، وسط أم كبير؟ |
| Is that to stay or to go? | هل ستجلس هنا أم للمنزل؟ |
| Would you like milk or sugar? | هل تريد حليباً أو سكراً؟ |
| Can I get a name for the order? | ما اسمك للطلب؟ |
| That’ll be three pounds fifty, please. | سيكون المبلغ ثلاثة جنيهات وخمسين بنساً. |
| Your order will be ready in a moment. | طلبك سيكون جاهزاً بعد لحظة. |
Example Dialogue
At a coffee shop
Barista
Hi there! What can I get you?
Sara
Hi! I’d like a medium cappuccino, please.
Barista
Sure! Is that to stay or to go?
Sara
To stay, please. Oh, and no sugar.
Barista
Perfect. Can I get a name for the order?
Sara
It’s Sara. How much is that?
Barista
That’ll be three pounds eighty, please.
Sara
Here you go. Can I pay by card?
Barista
Of course! Your order will be ready in a moment. Thank you, Sara!
Sara
Thank you!
Practice Exercise
1. The barista asks: “Is that to stay or to go?” You want to drink inside. What do you say?
2. Which is the most polite way to order a drink?
3. What is “still water”?
4. You want to pay with your bank card. What do you ask?
✅ 1. B — For here, please. | ✅ 2. C — I’d like a coffee, please. | ✅ 3. C — Water without bubbles. | ✅ 4. C — Can I pay by card?
Listen and Repeat
Listen to the pronunciation of the key expressions:
🎧 Audio coming soon!