How to Order Coffee in Chinese Like a Local

Introduction

In modern China, coffee is more than just a beverage – it’s a lifestyle statement, a social catalyst, and a window into contemporary Chinese urban culture. Whether you’re a visitor to China or someone keen to understand modern Chinese society, this guide will take you beyond simple ordering phrases to help you navigate China’s unique coffee landscape.

Chinese Coffee Culture: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity

The Evolution of Coffee in Urban China

Coffee has evolved from a Western novelty to an essential part of urban Chinese life. Today’s Chinese coffee scene uniquely blends:

• Traditional tea-drinking customs with modern coffee culture
• Local innovations with global coffee trends
• Social media influence with physical cafe spaces

The Social Significance of Coffee

In China, ordering coffee often means:

• Participating in modern urban lifestyle
• Engaging in social networking
• Demonstrating cultural sophistication
• Being part of the “working professional” identity

Basic Coffee Types with Cultural Context

Americano (美式咖啡, měishì kāfēi)
– Popular among business professionals
– Often ordered during meetings

Latte (拿铁, ná tiě)
– Favored by young urbanites
– Common for social media sharing

Cold Brew (冷萃咖啡, lěng cuì kāfēi)
– Trending among young professionals
– Popular in summer months

Unique Types of Coffee in Chinese

Brown Sugar Latte (黑糖拿铁, hēi táng ná tiě)
– Fusion of traditional Asian flavors
– Popular on social media

Cheese Coffee (芝士咖啡, zhī shi kā fēi)
– Local adaptation of coffee
– Trending among young consumers

Red Bean Coffee (红豆咖啡, hóng dòu kā fēi)
– Traditional Chinese ingredient meets coffee

Navigating Coffee Spaces in China

Modern Coffee Ordering Scenarios

Digital Ordering (Mobile Apps)

Essential phrases for app ordering:

Self-pickup (自提, zì tí)
Delivery (外送, wài sòng)
Special requests (特殊要求, tè shū yāo qiú)

In-Store Experience

Common scenarios:

“I’d like to have it here” (在这里喝, zài zhè lǐ hē)
“For takeaway” (打包, dǎ bāo)
“Less sugar please” (少糖, shǎo táng)

Choosing Your Coffee Size in Chinese

When ordering coffee, you’ll also need to specify your preferred size. Here’s how to say different cup sizes in Chinese:

• Small cup (小杯, xiǎo bēi)
• Medium cup (中杯, zhōng bēi)
• Large cup (大杯, dà bēi)
• Venti (超大杯, chāo dà bēi)

Example:
B: Dà bēi, xièxiè!
(大 杯, 谢谢！)
“Large, please!”

Cultural Insight:
In China, larger sizes like “dà bēi” (大杯) and “chāo dà bēi” (超大杯) are especially popular, as many consumers prefer to savor their drinks for longer periods, often enjoying their coffee as part of a leisurely experience.

Coffee Flavours in Chinese

Caramel         焦   糖    jiāo táng
Vanilla            香    草   xiāng cǎo
Hazelnut        榛   子    zhēn zi
Chocolate      巧克力   qiǎo kè lì
Peppermint    薄   荷    bò hé
Cinnamon      肉    桂   ròu guì

Coffee Temperature

Hot coffee       热咖啡    rè kāfēi
Hot beverage   热  饮     rè yǐn
Iced coffee       冰咖啡    bīng kāfēi
Iced beverage  冰镇饮料 bīngzhèn yǐnliào

Customizing Your Coffee in Chinese

Want to customize your coffee? Here are some common customizations you can use:

• Add milk (加牛奶, jiā niúnǎi)
• Add sugar (加糖, jiā táng)
• No sugar (不要糖, bú yào táng)
• Add an extra shot (加浓, jiā nóng)
• Decaf (低咖啡因, dī kāfēiyīn)
• Whipped cream (鲜奶油, xiān nǎiyóu)

Example:
Qǐng jiā diǎnr niúnǎi, xièxiè!
(请 加 点儿 牛奶, 谢谢！)
“Please add some milk, thank you!”

Coffee Flavors and Temperatures in Chinese

Flavors:

• Caramel (焦糖, jiāo táng)
• Vanilla (香草, xiāng cǎo)
• Hazelnut (榛子, zhēn zi)
• Chocolate (巧克力, qiǎo kè lì)

Temperature:

• Hot coffee (热咖啡, rè kāfēi)
• Iced coffee (冰咖啡, bīng kāfēi)

Fun Fact:
Iced coffee (冰咖啡) has become extremely popular in China, especially among younger generations, who see it as a refreshing alternative to traditional hot tea, particularly during the summer months.

For Here or To Go? Practical Phrases

When ordering coffee, you’ll often be asked if you want your coffee “for here” or “to go.” Here’s how to answer:

• For here (在这儿喝, zài zhèr hē)
• To go (打包, dǎ bāo)

Example:
Wǒ zài zhèr hē.
(我 在 这儿 喝.)
“I’ll have it for here.”

Example Sentences for Ordering Coffee in Chinese

Here are a few example sentences to help you confidently place your order:

1. Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào yī bēi bīng nátiě.
   (你好，我 要 一杯 冰拿铁.)
   “Hello, I’d like an iced latte.”
2. Wǒ yào yī xiǎo bēi nátiě zài zhèr hē, xièxiè!
   (我 要 一小杯 拿铁 在这儿喝, 谢谢！)
   “I’d like a small cup of latte for here, thank you.”
3. Wǒ yào yī bēi chāodà jiāotáng mǎqíduǒ, dǎbāo, xièxiè!
   (我要一杯超大焦糖玛奇朵，打包，谢谢!)
   “I’d like a venti caramel macchiato to go, thank you!”

Coffee Culture Insights

Social Context

• Coffee shops as workspace (“打卡地点”, dǎ kǎ dì diǎn)
• Coffee as social media content (“晒咖啡”, shài kā fēi)
• Business meeting etiquette in coffee shops

Local Chains vs International Brands

• Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) phenomenon
• Starbucks’ adaptation to Chinese market
• Emergence of boutique local cafes

Practical Tips for Different Scenarios

Business Settings