Learn How to Order Coffee in German: 6 Phrases for the German Coffee Lovers (Kaffee und Kuchen)

Coffee can be much more than just a regular beverage. In Germany, and other German-speaking countries, you can enjoy the Kaffee und Kuchen culture.

If you’re curious about how Germans drink their coffee, you can check out this great video from Easy German:

In this blog post, we’ll share 6 essential phrases on how to order coffee in German, and explain everything you need to know about the German coffee culture. Ready for a great cup of coffee?!

(Side note: Language learning is my passion but I love coffee just as much as I love language learning. That’s why I also started a coffee blog where I share tips for home baristas and coffee enthusiasts. It’s called Emergent Brew, and I’d be honored if you checked it out.)

1. Coffee in German: a vocabulary for different types of coffee

First of all: if you want to order coffee in German, you have to know the different types of coffees you can get in any German-speaking country. Besides the regular ones that are known around the world, there are some specialties you can try in Germany.

Here’s a full list so you get on track with the German coffees:

How much do you know of these? The Wiener Melange is something that stands out from the rest of this, but what makes the German coffee culture interesting is its pairing with other desserts. A bit more on that later.

2. How to order coffee in German

In this section, we’ll share the most common ways to ordering coffee in German. We’ll also explain in what kind of situations and when you can use these common German sentences that are built with lexical chunks.

Here are the 6 most common ways you can order a coffee:

“Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee, bitte.” (I would like a coffee, please.)

This is a polite way to order coffee and can be used in both formal and informal situations.

It’s a perfect sentence for cafes, restaurants, and you can even use it when you’re at a friend’s house. The chunk “hätte gerne” is a polite expression that shows the necessary level of respect.

“Einen Cappuccino, bitte.” (A cappuccino, please.)

This straightforward sentence is suitable for most casual settings. You can casually use it in local coffee shops or cafes.

It’s probably the quickest and most effective way to order without unnecessary formalities, ideal for when you’re in a hurry or the atmosphere is relaxed.

“Könnte ich bitte einen Espresso bekommen?” (Could I please get an espresso?)

This is slightly more formal due to the use of “könnte” (could).

It’s good for more formal settings like upscale restaurants or when you want to show extra politeness. Perhaps when you’re a guest or in a business setting.

“Ich nehme einen Latte Macchiato.” (I’ll take a latte macchiato.)

This is a casual and confident way to place an order, perfect for informal settings like coffee shops and bars.

It shows that you are familiar with what you want and comfortable in the coffee environment.

“Bitte einen Filterkaffee.” (A filter coffee, please.)

This direct yet polite expression is great for local coffee stores and cafes. It’s simple and to the point!

It’s good for everyday scenarios where being quick and efficient is key.

“Darf es ein Eiskaffee sein?” (May it be an iced coffee?)

This common German phrase can be used conversationally. You can perhaps use it when asking someone else what they want or when ordering in a more laid-back, friendly setting.

Like a summer cafe or an outdoor bar?

3. Coffee lover’s additional phrases to order a coffee in German

Beside the basics, you also have to go in-depth, when you want more sugar, cream or a different kind of coffee.

Check out these important German dialogue phrases to order a decaf coffee or a coffee with soy or almond milk. Because coffee is pretty good with any ingredient, right?!

In this and the previous section, we mentioned chunks. What are they? If we’re talking about strict grammatical terms (which we don’t really like on Effortless Conversation), they are called lexical chunks. These are some of the most common word combinations and common word pairings that native speakers use in every language – you do that too in your mother tongue. The method we’re using focuses on teaching you the language with the help of chunks. And you can get that experience if you sign up right now!

4. Does German have a coffee culture? – Coffee and cake!

German coffee culture isn’t all about coffee. This might come as a surprise, but let us explain!

Germans enjoy their coffee at various times, throughout the day. Many Germans start their day with a cup of coffee together with a light breakfast – a roll or a croissant. According to the stats of World Population Review, Germans drink more than 6 kgs of coffee in a year per capita.

Here’s a comparison to other European countries:

Germans also enjoy their coffee during work hours. This phenomenon is called a “Kaffeepause“, and it’s not only about getting a boost of caffeine but also to socialize with your colleagues, and to take a mental break from work.

Many people enjoy coffee in the afternoon as well, often around 3 or 4 PM, which leads us to the beloved tradition of “Kaffee und Kuchen” (coffee and cake). If you’ve never heard of this before, it’s high time you got to learn about it. Germans love their coffee and pair it with a slice of cake or pastry. (We have to admit, it’s delicious!)

This German tradition is ingrained in the culture, just like tea is ingrained in the British culture. Let’s check the most important vocabulary for being an expert in coffee in German!

5. Practice coffee ordering in German with our worksheet

There are different ways to order coffee in German, here’s a few you can practice!

And if you want more, you can request the Full Practice Worksheet by clicking the button:

6. Learn more about the basic coffee culture in Germany with Conversation Based Chunking

Learning how to order a coffee in German is just one thing. Learning more about the German coffee culture is another. And completely immersing yourself in the language is the ultimate goal, isn’t it?!

We offer a FREE package of German Conversation Based Chunking Guide, where you’ll see what the fuss is all about the lexical chunks. In this guide, you can check the most common chunks in the German language, you can practice with our practice exercises, get access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library, see my favorite resources to learn German, and you’ll even get a chance to check the 7-in-7 German challenge.

If you’re ready, you can start right now!