Café Conversations in German: Basic Phrases for New Learners!

Hello everyone! This is Mimiko.

Ninja

I want to try ordering in German at a café in Germany!

Ordering in German at a café in Germany can make your experience more enjoyable!

Today, I’ll introduce simple German expressions you can use when ordering at a café in Germany. This is perfect for those planning a trip to Germany or just starting to learn German.

Let’s challenge ourselves to order in German at a café together!

About the author:

Mimiko

Hello, my name is Mimiko!

In 2023, I moved to Düsseldorf, Germany,
and started this blog.

・Life in Germany
・German Language
・Travel abroad

I mainly post about the above themes:)
Hope you enjoy reading!

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STEP1: Ordering

◼︎Greeting

Customer

Hallo!

Hello!

Server

Hallo!

Hello!

◼︎I would like~

Customer

Ich hätte gerne XX, und YY.

I’d like a XX and YY.

Customer

XX, bitte.

XX, please.

Server

Gerne.

Sure.

Other Expressions

Ich würde gerne XX, bitte.
　I’d like XX and YY.

Ich möchte XX, bitte.
　I’d like XX and YY.

◼︎Do you have~? Is there~?

Customer

Haben Sie XX?

Do you have XX?.

Customer

Gibt es XX?

Is there XX?.

STEP2: Answering Questions from the Server

⚪︎For here or to go?

Server

Zum hier oder mitnehmen?

For here or to go?

◼︎To go, please.

Customer

Mitnehmen bitte.

To go please.

◼︎For here, please.

Customer

Zum hier bitte.
For here, please.

⚪︎Would you like regular milk?

Server

Möchten Sie normale Milch?
Would you like regular milk?

◼︎Normal milk, please.

Customer

Normale Milch, bitte.

Normal milk, please.

◼︎I’d like low-fat milk, please.

Customer

Ich möchte fettarme Milch, bitte.

I’d like low-fat milk, please.

⚪︎Would you like large or small?

Server

Möchten Sie es groß oder klein?
Would you like large or small?

◼︎Large, please.

Customer

Groß, bitte.

Large, please.

◼︎Small, please.

Customer

Klein, bitte.

Small, please.

⚪︎ Do you want anything else?

Server

Sonst noch (et)was?
Anything else?

Server

Kommt noch etwas dazu?
Anything else?

Server

Noch einen Wunsch?
Anything else?

Server

Das Alles?
Is this everything?

+α Learn the omitted phrases!
・Sonst noch was? ＝ Wünschen Sie sonst noch etwas?
・Noch einen Wunsch? ＝ Haben Sie noch einen Wunsch?
・Das Alles?/Alles? ＝ Ist das Alles?

◼︎That’s all.

Customer

Das ist Alles.

That’s all.

STEP3: Payment

⚪︎Would you like to pay by card or cash?

Server

Möchten Sie mit Karte oder Bar bezahlen?
Do you want to pay by card or cash?

◼︎By card please.

Customer

Mit Karte bitte.

By card please.

◼︎Cash please.

Customer

Bar bitte.

Cash please.

⚪︎Do you need a receipt?

Server

Möchten Sie einen Beleg dazu?
Do you want receipt?

Server

Beleg（Kassenbon/Rechnung/Quittung） dazu?
Do you want receipt?

There are several words for “receipt” as shown below, but in everyday conversation, there isn’t much difference among them.
◻︎Beleg
◻︎Kassenbon
◻︎Rechnung
◻︎Quittung

◼︎Yes, please.

Customer

Ja, bitte.

Yes, please.

◼︎No, thank you.

Customer

Nein, Danke.

No, thank you.

Conclusion

How was it?

This time, I gathered simple and easy expressions.

Ordering at a café is a great opportunity to try out simple expressions, making it a perfect practice ground for those just starting to learn German! Please give it a try☺︎