You have found a café you like. Now the menu is asking you to choose a drink, a temperature and perhaps a size. Start with those three decisions, then tell the staff whether you are staying or taking your drink away.
Start with the coffee you actually want
An Americano is espresso mixed with water. A café latte combines espresso and milk. If you want black coffee, an Americano is a useful option to look for; if you prefer a milky drink, look for 카페 라떼 (café latte). Recipes, sizes and sweetness vary, so ask before assuming a flavored latte comes without syrup. Official examples: Americano · latte (Starbucks Korea).
Look for 아이스 (iced) or 핫 (hot). If you are unsure which temperature is selected on a screen, check it before paying. A familiar drink name does not guarantee the same size or recipe as at home.
One short order you can use
아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.
“One iced Americano, please.”
Approximate romanization: a-i-seu a-me-ri-ka-no han jan ju-se-yo.
For a hot latte, you can say 따뜻한 카페 라떼 한 잔 주세요. (“One hot café latte, please.”) Showing the Korean sentence on your phone is fine if speaking feels difficult. Confirm the size separately.
Staying or taking it with you?
매장에서 마실게요. means “I’ll drink it here.”
포장해 주세요. means “To go, please.”
Tell the staff before the drink is prepared. If you have a clean reusable cup, ask whether they can use it before handing it over. Starbucks Korea promotes in-store mugs and personal cups, but another café may have different arrangements. Do not assume a particular discount or cup policy. reusable-cup information.
Ask about milk and decaf before paying
디카페인으로 가능해요? asks “Can you make it decaf?” Availability depends on the café and drink. A decaf option should not be treated as a guarantee of zero caffeine. Starbucks Korea: decaf information.
For a milk alternative, ask which options are available rather than assuming oat or soy milk is stocked. If you have an allergy, say so clearly and ask staff to check the ingredients and preparation. Changing the milk alone does not guarantee protection from cross-contact. If staff cannot confirm, choose another option you can verify.
Before you leave the counter
Check the drink, temperature, size and any milk or syrup request on the order. Ask how pickup works, then follow that café’s instructions. A few clear questions are more useful than memorizing a long script.
AI-generated illustration. This is an example scene, not a photograph of a real café.
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