Phrasebook
Ordering coffee in French: what to say and what you’ll hear
Order coffee in French, ask for milk or decaf, answer “sur place ou à emporter ?”, and finish with a clear payment request. A1 phrases with practice.
- A1
- 22 phrases
- 4 situations
- Learn this in the A1 notebook →
In short
Start with Bonjour, je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. Then listen for a choice: Avec du sucre ? means “With sugar?”, and Sur place ou à emporter ? means “For here or to take away?” Short answers work: Non merci or À emporter, s’il vous plaît.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
In France, un café commonly means a small black coffee. To make your order precise, name the preparation or ask for milk. Use the filters below to practise your lines, then switch to the server’s questions.
1 · Greet and order
Say the quantity before the drink.
2 · Milk, sugar and decaf
Choose the line that fits your drink.
3 · Here or to take away
4 · Repeat, correct and pay
How do you order a coffee in French?
| You want | After je voudrais |
|---|---|
| A hot chocolate | un chocolat chaud, s’il vous plaît. |
| A herbal tea | une tisane, s’il vous plaît. |
| An orange juice | un jus d’orange, s’il vous plaît. |
Avec du lait means “with milk”; sans lait means “without milk”. After un peu, use de: un peu de lait. For takeaway orders, keep à emporter exactly as it is: un café à emporter, deux cafés à emporter.
Build one order from three choices
- Choose one drink and a quantity from the phrases.
- Add a preference: avec un peu de lait or sans sucre.
- Answer Sur place ou à emporter ?, then close with C’est tout, merci.