Everyday situations
How to order at a café in English
A1
Ordering your coffee the Starbucks way, asking to take it away, asking for another kind of milk, paying: the phrases you need when the queue is long.
Quick answer
Coffee shops in the UK and the US have their own mini-language. About 12 words describe the size, the milk, the temperature, the number of shots, the syrup and the here or to go choice. Many visitors feel lost when the barista asks three questions in five seconds. The good news: one phrase that always works is enough (Could I have a small flat white, please?). And decide what you want before you get to the counter. A common surprise: in many chains, a coffee gets you a big cup of American filter coffee, not an espresso. And watch out for large: in the US, a large can be 600 ml.
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Ordering a coffee
Could I have + size + type + please. Then the barista asks about the options.
- Other person
Hi! What can I get you?
- You
Could I have a small latte, please?
Neutral→ Could I have is the standard polite phrase.orAn espresso, please.
orA large Americano with milk on the side.
orA double-shot flat white.
- Other person
Decaf or regular?
- You
Regular, please.
orDecaf, please.
- Other person
Hot or iced?
- You
Hot, please.
orIced, please.
2. Choosing the milk, sugar and syrup
Plant milks are very common. Say what you want, or you will get whole milk.
- Other person
Soy milk or oat?
- You
Could you make it with oat milk?
orAlmond milk, please.
orSkimmed / semi-skimmed milk, please.
UKorSkim / 2 % milk, please.
US - Other person
Any syrup?
- You
Vanilla, please.
orNo sugar, thanks.
- You
Could I have an extra shot?
- Other person
Sure, that's 50p extra.
- You
Could I have it lukewarm? It's for my little brother.
- Other person
Of course, I'll keep it cooler.
3. Adding something to eat
Pastries, sandwiches, cakes: most coffee shops also sell light food.
- Other person
Anything else?
- You
Could I add a croissant?
orI'll have a blueberry muffin as well.
- You
What's in the chicken sandwich?
- Other person
Chicken, lettuce and mayo, on white or brown bread.
- You
Is the bread gluten-free?
- Other person
I'm afraid not, sorry.
orYes, we have a gluten-free option.
- You
Could you warm it up?
- Other person
Sure, it'll take a minute.
- You
Could I get a glass of water with that?
→ Tap water is often free if you ask for it. - Other person
Of course, I'll bring it over.
4. Eating in or taking away
The barista always asks this question. The words depend on the country.
- Other person
Eat in or takeaway?
UKorFor here or to go?
US - You
To take away, please.
UKorTo go, please.
USorEat in, please.
- You
Could I get a cup sleeve?
→ The cardboard ring that stops you burning your fingers. - Other person
Sure, here you go.
- You
Could you double-cup it? It's hot.
- Other person
Of course. Careful, it's hot.
5. Paying and tipping
Card or cash, the tip jar, the loyalty app: paying is quick.
- Other person
That'll be £4.50.
- You
Card, please.
- Other person
Contactless?
- You
Yes, contactless.
- Other person
Could you tap there?
→ The barista is pointing at the card machine. - You
Done.
- Other person
Would you like to leave a tip?
US→ This is normal in the US: the card machine suggests 10, 15 or 20%. - You
Could I have a receipt?
- Other person
Sure. Do you have a loyalty card?
- You
No, I don't.
- Other person
What's your name?
→ The barista writes your name on the cup. It is often spelled wrong: don't worry about it. - You
It's Emma, E-M-M-A.
6. Collecting your order and reporting a problem
Wait, check your drink and go back if there is a problem. At Starbucks, you collect your order yourself.
- Other person
Latte for Emma!
→ The barista calls out the order: go to the collection counter. - You
Sorry, this isn't what I ordered.
- Other person
Oh, sorry. What seems to be the problem?
- You
I asked for oat milk.
orIt's a bit cold, could you reheat it?
- Other person
I'm so sorry about that. Would you like me to make a new one?
- You
Sorry, could you remake it?
- Other person
Of course, it'll take two minutes.
- You
Where are the stirrers / lids / sugar?
- Other person
At the end of the counter.
- You
Could I get some napkins?
- Other person
Sure, here you go.
- You
What's the Wi-Fi password?
→ People ask this in almost every coffee shop. - Other person
It's on the receipt.
Useful vocabulary
Types of coffee
- an espressoa small cup of strong coffee
- a double shottwo portions of espresso in one drink
- a latteespresso with lots of hot milk
- a cappuccinoespresso with milk and thick foam
- a flat whiteespresso with very fine milk foam
- an Americanoespresso with hot water added
- a long blackhot water with espresso on top
- a macchiatoespresso with a little milk foam
Sizes and options
- small / medium / largethe three usual cup sizes
- tall / grande / ventiStarbucks names for small, medium, large
- hot / icedwarm, or cold with ice
- regular / decafwith caffeine / without caffeine
- extra shotone more portion of espresso
- a sugara small packet for sweetening
- a stirrera small stick to mix your drink
- a lidthe top that covers a cup
Milk and other options
- whole milk / full-fat milkmilk with all its fat
- semi-skimmed / 2 % milkmilk with some of the fat removed
- skimmed / skim milkmilk with almost no fat
- oat milka plant drink made from oats
- almond milka plant drink made from almonds
- soy milka plant drink made from soya beans
- coconut milka plant drink made from coconuts
- lactose-free milkmilk that is easier to digest
Something to eat
- a pastrya sweet baked snack
- a croissanta flaky, crescent-shaped pastry
- a muffina small, round cake
- a scone(UK)a small British bread-cake, eaten with jam
- a browniea square chocolate cake
- a sandwich / a panini / a wrapbread with a filling
- a salada dish of mixed raw vegetables
- gluten-free / vegan / vegetarianwithout gluten / animal products / meat
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Taking it with you | To take away / takeaway | To go / for here |
| Drinking it in the café | Eat in | For here |
| Milk with less fat | Semi-skimmed | 2% |
| Milk with almost no fat | Skimmed | Skim / non-fat |
| Cup sizes (Starbucks) | Tall / grande / venti | Tall / grande / venti |
| Cup sizes (other cafés) | Small / medium / large | Small / medium / large |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. A coffee ❌ (when you want an espresso)
In a British or American chain, a coffee often gets you American filter coffee (drip coffee), not a small, strong coffee. For a small, strong coffee, ask for an espresso or a short black. For a longer black coffee: an Americano. For coffee with milk: a latte or a flat white.
2. Large ❌ (in the US, it can be huge)
In the US, a large can be 600 ml or more (as big as a bowl). In the UK, a standard large is about 340 ml. At Starbucks (in every country): tall = small (354 ml), grande = medium (473 ml), venti = large (591 ml). If you want a normal cup, a small is usually the safest choice.
3. Coffee with milk ❌ (too vague)
Coffee with milk is the most general phrase, but it is not precise. Order a drink by its name: a latte (espresso + lots of milk), a cappuccino (espresso + milk + foam), a flat white (espresso + very fine foam, stronger than a latte). The barista will understand at once.
4. lat-TAY ❌
In English, latte has the stress on the first syllable: /ˈlæteɪ/ (LAT-ay) in British English, /ˈlɑːteɪ/ in American English. Cappuccino has the stress on the third syllable: /ˌkæpəˈtʃiːnəʊ/ (cap-uh-CHEE-no). A small mistake is not a problem, but practising helps people understand you the first time at a busy counter.
5. I want a coffee ❌ (too direct)
Just like in a restaurant, I want a coffee sounds too direct. Say Could I have, I'll have or I'll get (US). The barista is not a waiter and the service is fast, but being polite matters as much as being precise. Hi, could I have a small latte, please? is the perfect all-purpose phrase.
Practice quiz
Related pages: At the café
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Frequently asked questions
How do you order a coffee in English?+
A phrase that always works: Could I have a + size + type of coffee + please? Examples: Could I have a small latte, please? / An espresso, please. / A large Americano with milk on the side. The barista will then ask about the type of milk, decaf, and whether you want to drink it there or take it away.
What are the Starbucks cup sizes?+
Tall = small (about 354 ml). Grande = medium (about 473 ml). Venti = large (about 591 ml). Trenta = extra large (about 916 ml, US only). Only Starbucks uses this system. Other cafés use small / medium / large, and the sizes change from country to country (an American large can be 600 ml).
How do you ask for oat milk in English?+
Ask for oat milk: Could you make it with oat milk? Other options: almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, lactose-free milk (milk that is easier to digest). For normal milk, know these words: whole milk (with all its fat), semi-skimmed (UK) or 2% (US) for milk with less fat, and skimmed (UK) or skim (US) for milk with almost no fat.
What is the difference between a flat white, a latte and a cappuccino?+
All three are espresso + milk. A latte has a lot of milk and a little foam: it is soft and mild. A cappuccino is espresso + milk + a thick layer of foam, the traditional Italian way. A flat white is espresso + very fine foam (microfoam). It is stronger than a latte. It comes from Australia and New Zealand and is now popular all over the world.
What is the difference between takeaway and to go?+
In the UK: eat in (you stay) or takeaway / to take away (you take it with you). In the US: for here or to go. So the barista asks Eat in or takeaway? (UK) or For here or to go? (US). People understand both in both countries.
Do you have to tip in a coffee shop?+
In the US: yes, it is common. The card machine often suggests a 10, 15 or 20% tip. It is expected for table service, but optional for a simple takeaway. In the UK, nobody expects a tip for a takeaway coffee. Sometimes there is a tip jar next to the till, and leaving some change is appreciated. In mainland Europe, there is no strict rule.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/at-the-cafe
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.