German · Food & Drink
"Coffee" in German: Kaffee
der Kaffee
Coffee in German is der Kaffee, a masculine noun. Order einen Kaffee or be specific with Cappuccino and Milchkaffee. In the afternoon, Kaffee und Kuchen is a classic social ritual with cake.
At a café counter
Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Kaffee
Say it
KAH-fay
/ˈkafe/
kah-FAY, with stress on the second syllable in careful speech; many people stress the first: KAH-fay. The double f is a single clear f sound.
"Coffee" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Kaffee | coffee The drink and the beans. | The drink and the beans. |
| ein Kaffee | a coffee One cup; accusative: einen Kaffee. | One cup; accusative: einen Kaffee. |
| der Milchkaffee | coffee with lots of milk Closer to a latte than to black filter coffee. | Closer to a latte than to black filter coffee. |
| Kaffee und Kuchen | coffee and cake Afternoon get-together over coffee and cake. | Afternoon get-together over coffee and cake. |
| der Kaffee to go | coffee to go Common on signs; German also says zum Mitnehmen. | Common on signs; German also says zum Mitnehmen. |
How to use Kaffee in real life
- 1At a café counter
Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Hätte gern is a polite way to order.
- 2Inviting someone
Kommst du auf einen Kaffee vorbei?
Will you drop by for a coffee?
Auf einen Kaffee means for a quick coffee visit.
- 3Morning routine
Ohne Kaffee starte ich nicht in den Tag.
I don't start the day without coffee.
A very common complaint and joke.
Mistakes English speakers make with Kaffee
Incorrect: das Kaffee
Correct: der Kaffee
Kaffee is masculine. Order einen Kaffee in the accusative.
Incorrect: Kaffee trinken gehen? (missing article vibe)
Correct: Sollen wir einen Kaffee trinken?
Add einen for a cup, or say Kaffee trinken as an activity: Wollen wir Kaffee trinken?
Good to know
Kaffee und Kuchen on a Sunday afternoon is still a beloved tradition: filter coffee or Milchkaffee with cakes like Apfelkuchen or Cheesecake. Offices also have a strong Kaffeepause culture, a short coffee break that is as social as it is caffeinated.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a colleague in a café
ChatPal
Trinkst du lieber Kaffee oder Tee?
Do you prefer coffee or tea?
You
Kaffee, auf jeden Fall.
Coffee, definitely.
ChatPal
Dann hole ich zwei Kaffee. Milch bei dir?
Then I'll get two coffees. Milk for you?
You
Ja, ein bisschen Milch im Kaffee, bitte.
Yes, a little milk in the coffee, please.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Coffee" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Coffee" in German
Is Kaffee masculine?
Yes: der Kaffee. As an object it becomes den/einen Kaffee: Ich trinke einen Kaffee.
What is Milchkaffee?
Coffee with a large amount of hot milk. It is milder than espresso and popular at breakfast.
How do you say coffee to go?
Kaffee to go or Kaffee zum Mitnehmen. Both appear on café signs.
What does Kaffee und Kuchen mean socially?
It is an afternoon visit with coffee and cake, often on weekends, not just a quick caffeine stop.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
