You walk into a cozy café. The smell of fresh espresso and warm pastries hits you. Now what? In this lesson, you’ll learn exactly how to order coffee and snacks in Spanish — politely and confidently. We’ll cover key phrases, common items, how to customize your drink, and what the barista might ask you. Short, practical, and tasty.

En la cafetería: Start strong with greetings

A friendly start goes a long way. In Spain and Latin America, a quick greeting is expected.

• Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches — Good morning/afternoon/evening
• Hola — Hello
• Por favor — Please
• Gracias — Thank you

When the barista asks, “¿Qué le pongo?” (What can I get you?), be ready with a polite request:

• Quisiera un café con leche, por favor. — I’d like a coffee with milk, please.
• Me pone un cortado, por favor. — Could you give me a cortado, please? (usted form)
• Para llevar o para aquí. — To go or for here.

un café con leche, por favor.

Vocab rápido: Coffee and snacks you’ll actually order

Here are common items you’ll see on menus. Say them out loud and notice the patterns.

Customize your order: con, sin, sizes, and milk choices

You’ll often want to tweak your drink. Use “con” (with) and “sin” (without):

• con azúcar — with sugar
• sin azúcar — without sugar
• con hielo — with ice
• con leche de avena/soja — with oat/soy milk

Sizes vary by café, but you can say: pequeño, mediano, grande (small/medium/large).

• Un café mediano, sin azúcar, por favor. — A medium coffee, without sugar, please.
• ¿Puede ser con leche de avena? — Could it be with oat milk?
• Para llevar / Para aquí — To go / For here.

What the barista may ask you

Listen for these common questions:

• ¿Qué le pongo? — What can I get you? (formal)
• ¿Para aquí o para llevar? — For here or to go?
• ¿Algo más? — Anything else?
• ¿Con leche? ¿Con azúcar? — With milk? With sugar?
• ¿Con tarjeta o en efectivo? — By card or in cash?

Notice the formal “le” in Spain with customers (usted). In Latin America you’ll also hear it, or just a friendly tone.

“Por favor” and “gracias” etiquette

Spanish café culture is friendly but efficient. A simple “Por favor” and “Gracias” keeps things smooth. You can say “Nada más, gracias” (Nothing else, thanks) to close the order.

Little cultural bites

• In Spain, “café con hielo” is often served as a hot espresso with a separate glass of ice; you pour it over the ice. In other places, “café helado” or “iced coffee” may be more direct.
• Breakfast items: “tostada con tomate” is a classic in Spain. Snacks like “bocadillos,” “empanadas,” and “napolitanas” are common.
• Tipping: not mandatory in many Spanish-speaking countries for coffee; rounding up small change is appreciated but not required.

Keep your request short and clear; cafés can be busy!

, un bocadillo de jamón y queso. Eso es todo.

Para a llevar. → Para llevar. Don’t add the preposition “a.” Un grande café. → Un café grande. Adjectives like size usually go after the noun. Sin azúcares, por favor. → Sin azúcar, por favor. Use the uncountable “azúcar” for ‘sugar.’

Mini-dialogue you can reuse

Use this as a template. Practice it out loud.

• Cliente: Hola. Quisiera un café con leche mediano, sin azúcar.
• Barista: ¿Para aquí o para llevar?
• Cliente: Para aquí. ¿Tiene napolitana?
• Barista: Sí. ¿Algo más?
• Cliente: Nada más, gracias.
• Barista: Son 3,50 euros. ¿Con tarjeta o en efectivo?
• Cliente: En efectivo.

Short, polite, done.

Quick practice prompts

Try answering out loud:

1. You want: a medium decaf cappuccino with oat milk, to go.

• Say: “Quisiera un capuchino descafeinado mediano con leche de avena, para llevar.”

2. The barista asks “¿Algo más?” You add a pastry.

• Say: “Sí, una napolitana. Eso es todo, gracias.”

3. You prefer no sugar and to pay by card.

• Say: “Sin azúcar, por favor. Con tarjeta.”

Practice makes it natural. La próxima vez en la cafetería, you’ll order like a pro. ¡Buen café y buen provecho!