Korean: Letters of Light

How to Order Coffee in Korean – Real Cafe Phrases for K-Culture Fans

Mint_mindful 2025. 7. 1. 18:07

☕ How to Order Coffee in Korean – Real Cafe Phrases for K-Culture Fans

Have you ever dreamed of walking into a café in Seoul and ordering your coffee just like your favorite K-drama character? Whether you're traveling to Korea, learning Korean through K-pop, or just love café culture, knowing how to order coffee in Korean is a must. In this post, we'll guide you through essential Korean phrases you can use at any café — including Hangul, pronunciation, and English translations. 🎓🇰🇷

This post is perfect for learners searching for “how to order coffee in Korean” or “Korean cafe phrases”. Let’s make your Korean sound natural and confident!


👋 1. Basic Greetings

Start with a polite greeting when entering a café:

  • 안녕하세요? (annyeong-haseyo?) – Hello 😊
  • 어서 오세요! (eoseo oseyo!) – Welcome 👋 (staff’s greeting)

💡 Tip: A smile goes a long way in Korea — it’s a big part of friendly service culture!


🛍️ 2. Phrases for Ordering Coffee

Here’s how to say “One Americano, please” in Korean:

  • 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. (amerikano han jan juseyo) – One Americano, please.
  • 이거 주세요. (igeo juseyo) – I’ll take this one.
  • 뜨거운 거요. (tteugeoun geoyo) – Hot, please 🔥
  • 아이스요. (aiseu-yo) – Iced, please 🧊

🗣 Example Dialogue

🧍‍♂️ You: 안녕하세요. 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.
          (annyeong-haseyo. amerikano han jan juseyo.)
👩‍💼 Staff: 뜨거운 거요, 아이스요?
            (tteugeoun geoyo, aiseu-yo?)
🧍‍♂️ You: 아이스요.
          (aiseu-yo.)

📏 3. Size and Customization

☕ Many Korean cafés use Starbucks-like sizing. Here’s how to customize your drink:

  • 톨 사이즈요. (tol saijeu-yo) – Tall size, please.
  • 샷 하나 추가해 주세요. (syat hana chuga-hae juseyo) – Add one espresso shot, please ⚡
  • 바닐라 시럽 추가해 주세요. (banilla sireop chuga-hae juseyo) – Add vanilla syrup, please 🍯

💳 4. Paying for Your Order

  • 카드로 결제할게요. (kadeuro gyeolje-halgeyo) – I’ll pay by card 💳
  • 영수증 주세요. (yeongsujeung juseyo) – Receipt, please 🧾

💡 Note: Credit cards are widely used — even for a single cup of coffee!


📚 5. Helpful Words You Should Know

🈷️ Korean (Hangul) 🔤 Pronunciation 💬 Meaning
jan cup (counter)
뜨거운 tteugeoun hot
아이스 aiseu iced
추가 chuga add-on
시럽 sireop syrup

🏙️ 6. Culture Tip: What Makes Korean Cafés Unique?

Korean cafés are famous for their Instagrammable interiors, themed menus, and quiet study atmospheres. ✨

Did you know? 💜 Many cafés are inspired by K-pop groups — especially BTS and EXO fans! You might even find fan-made events or birthday cups at your local café.


🎙️ 7. Practice These Sentences Before Your Trip!

🗣 Practice saying these aloud to sound natural and confident:

  • 카페라떼 하나 주세요. (kaperaette hana juseyo) – One café latte, please.
  • 아이스로 주세요. (aiseuro juseyo) – Iced, please.
  • 샷 추가요. (syat chuga-yo) – Add a shot, please.

🎧 Pro Tip: Use apps like HiNative, HelloTalk, or Tandem to get pronunciation help from native speakers!


✅ Conclusion: Be a K-Café Pro!

Ordering coffee in Korean doesn’t have to be scary. With just a few basic phrases, you can confidently place an order, connect with locals, and enjoy Korean culture like a true fan. 💖

Practice a little every day, and soon you’ll be ordering your 아이스 아메리카노 like a pro.