Italian · Real conversations
Cafés: Italian conversation practice
Order a drink and clarify a small detail. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A customer ordering at a café.
Goal: Order a drink and clarify a small detail.
Read the conversation
Partner
Che cosa vuole nel caffè?
Show English translation
What would you like in your coffee?
You
Potrei averlo senza zucchero?
Show English translation
Could I have it without sugar?
Partner
È da consumare qui o da portare via?
Show English translation
Is this for here or to take away?
You
Da asporto, per favore.
Show English translation
To take away, please.
Partner
Certamente. Vuole un caffè normale?
Show English translation
Certainly. Would you like regular coffee?
You
Potrebbe farlo decaffeinato?
Show English translation
Could you make it decaf?
Partner
Sì, possiamo farlo. Vuole altro da bere?
Show English translation
Yes, we can do that. Anything else to drink?
You
Potrei avere dell'acqua del rubinetto?
Show English translation
Can I have tap water?
Partner
Ecco l'acqua. Il totale è indicato qui.
Show English translation
Here's your water. The total is shown here.
You
Il servizio è incluso?
Show English translation
Is service included?
Try your part first
Partner says: What would you like in your coffee? Your goal: Could I have it without sugar?
Reveal a sample reply
Potrei averlo senza zucchero?
Could I have it without sugar?
Partner says: Is this for here or to take away? Your goal: To take away, please.
Reveal a sample reply
Da asporto, per favore.
To take away, please.
Partner says: Certainly. Would you like regular coffee? Your goal: Could you make it decaf?
Reveal a sample reply
Potrebbe farlo decaffeinato?
Could you make it decaf?
Partner says: Yes, we can do that. Anything else to drink? Your goal: Can I have tap water?
Reveal a sample reply
Potrei avere dell'acqua del rubinetto?
Can I have tap water?
Partner says: Here's your water. The total is shown here. Your goal: Is service included?
Reveal a sample reply
Il servizio è incluso?
Is service included?
Make it your own
- Change the drink.
- Ask for a different ingredient to be left out.
- Stay at the café instead of taking the order away.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Italian
Use tu with friends and Lei with someone you address formally. A request with vorrei or potrebbe can soften the tone; it still helps to say what you need clearly. The examples label the situation so you can choose the appropriate relationship.
Read doubled consonants distinctly and keep the written accents. The English translation explains the intended message; Italian often chooses a different construction rather than matching each English word.
