Order at the Café Counter
Bestellung am Café-Tresen
Order coffee and water at a café counter, choose for here or to go, pay, and handle a simple follow-up politely in basic German.
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Dialogue
You
Hallo!
Hi!
Barista
Hallo! Was darf's sein?
Hi! What can I get you?
You
Einen Kaffee, bitte.
A coffee, please.
Barista
Gern. Klein oder groß?
Sure. Small or large?
You
Klein, bitte.
Small, please.
Barista
Mit Milch?
With milk?
You
Ja, bitte.
Yes, please.
Barista
Mit oder ohne Zucker?
With or without sugar?
You
Ohne Zucker, bitte.
Without sugar, please.
Barista
Noch etwas?
Anything else?
You
Ja, ein Wasser, bitte.
Yes, a water, please.
Barista
Still oder mit Gas?
Still or sparkling?
You
Still, bitte.
Still, please.
Barista
Hier oder zum Mitnehmen?
For here or to go?
You
Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.
To go, please.
Barista
Alles klar.
All right.
Barista
Das macht fünf Euro zwanzig.
That comes to five euros twenty.
You
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Barista
Ja, gern. Bitte hier.
Yes, sure. Right here, please.
You
Einen Moment.
One moment.
Barista
Hat es geklappt?
Did it work?
You
Ja, fertig.
Yes, done.
Barista
Möchten Sie den Kassenbon?
Would you like the receipt?
You
Nein, danke.
No, thanks.
Barista
Hier sind Ihr Kaffee und Ihr Wasser.
Here are your coffee and water.
You
Danke!
Thanks!
Barista
Bitte schön.
You're welcome.
You
Entschuldigung, der Kaffee ist zu heiß.
Sorry, the coffee is too hot.
Barista
Einen Moment, ich mache einen neuen Kaffee.
One moment, I'll make a new coffee.
You
Super, danke!
Great, thanks!
Key Vocabulary
Cultural Notes
Order First, Then Sit
In many cafés with a counter, you order and pay first, then sit down. If you are unsure, ask: "Hier bestellen?".
Say Your Order Clearly
Short, polite phrases are best: "Einen Kaffee, bitte." Adding "bitte" sounds natural and friendly.
To Go Phrase
"Zum Mitnehmen" is the standard phrase for take-away in Germany. You hear it in cafés, bakeries, and snack bars.
Card and Receipt
Card payment is common in cities, but some places still prefer cash. You may be asked: "Möchten Sie den Kassenbon?".
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