🇩🇪 At a German Café

🇬🇧 → 🇩🇪 · 10 essential phrases

German café culture — or Kaffeekultur — is all about Kuchen and gemütlichkeit. Here's how to order like a local.

📝 Key phrases

🇩🇪 German 🇬🇧 Translation
Einen Kaffee, bitte. A coffee, please.
Mit Milch und Zucker. With milk and sugar.
Einen Cappuccino, bitte. A cappuccino, please.
Haben Sie Kuchen? Do you have cake?
Zum Mitnehmen oder zum Hier-Trinken? To go or to drink here?
Was kostet das? How much is that?
Haben Sie WLAN? Do you have Wi-Fi?
Die Rechnung, bitte. The bill, please.
Ein Glas Wasser, bitte. A glass of water, please.
Stimmt so. Keep the change.
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Cultural tip

In Germany, tap water is rarely served free in restaurants and cafés. You'll usually need to order sparkling water (Sprudel/Mineralwasser) or still water (Stilles Wasser) — both cost money.

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Did you know?

Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) is a beloved German tradition, usually enjoyed around 3–4 PM on weekends. It's the German equivalent of British afternoon tea.

💬 Conversation with Emma

E
Guten Tag! Was darf es sein?
Good day! What can I get you?
You
Einen Cappuccino, bitte. Mit Hafermilch, geht das?
A cappuccino, please. With oat milk, is that possible?
E
Ja, natürlich! Zum Mitnehmen?
Yes, of course! To go?
You
Nein, zum Hier-Trinken. Haben Sie Kuchen?
No, to drink here. Do you have cake?
E
Ja, heute haben wir Apfelkuchen und Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.
Yes, today we have apple cake and Black Forest cake.
You
Ein Stück Apfelkuchen, bitte!
A piece of apple cake, please!

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