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Ordering at a Café

Practise advanced café vocabulary, polite requests, and natural softening language as you order food and drinks with confidence. You’ll also listen to a realistic dialogue, rebuild key sentences, and write a concise order with a special request.

C1 Advanced60 minutesEnglishTeacher

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1. Image

A busy café is the perfect place to practise polite ordering, recommendations, and special requests. Look at the scene and think about what you might say as a customer.

Teacher note: A busy café is the perfect place to practise polite ordering, recommendations, and special requests. Look at the scene and think about what you might say as a customer.

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2. Vocabulary

  • Could I get…?
    a polite, relaxed way to order something.
  • I’d like to…
    a formal and very common way to place an order.
  • Could you recommend…?
    a courteous way to ask for advice.
  • What do you have that’s…?
    useful when you want something that fits a preference.
  • I’ll have…
    a concise ordering phrase; efficient but still polite.
  • Can I make that takeaway?
    ask for food or drink to go.
  • Could we get the bill, please?
    a respectful way to ask to pay.
  • I’m allergic to…
    say an allergy clearly and directly.
  • Could you hold the…?
    ask for one ingredient to be left out.
  • What’s in the house special?
    ask about the café’s signature item.
  • I’m after something light.
    natural, slightly informal way to describe a preference.
  • That sounds perfect.
    show agreement and satisfaction.

Teacher note: Advanced café phrases for polite ordering and requests

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3. Grammar

Polite requests and softeners with could, would, and I’d like

1) Why this grammar matters

In cafés, advanced speakers often sound confident without sounding demanding. English uses modal verbs and polite frames to soften requests, ask for changes, and make service interactions smoother.

2) Main patterns

A. Could I…? / Could we…?

Use could to make a request sound considerate and indirect.

  • Could I get a cappuccino, please?
  • Could we have two spoons as well?

B. Would it be possible to…?

This is slightly more formal and very tactful.

  • Would it be possible to swap the fries for salad?
  • Would it be possible to have the dressing on the side?

C. I’d like to… / I’d like…

A polished way to order or state a preference.

  • I’d like the avocado toast, please.
  • I’d like to have that in a takeaway cup.

D. Could you…? for service requests

Use this when you need help from staff.

  • Could you recommend a dessert that isn’t too rich?
  • Could you hold the cheese, please?

3) Direct vs. softened phrasing

DirectSofter / more natural
Give me a tea.Could I get a tea, please?
Put the sauce on the side.Could you put the sauce on the side?
I want the bill.Could we get the bill, please?
Make it takeaway.Would it be possible to make that takeaway?

4) Useful form reminders

  • Could + subject + base verb: Could I get…? / Could you recommend…?
  • Would it be possible to + base verb: Would it be possible to pay separately?
  • I’d like + noun: I’d like a flat white.
  • I’d like to + base verb: I’d like to split the bill.

5) Example sentences

  • Could I get a decaf latte, please?
  • I’d like the soup, but without the cream.
  • Could you recommend something light and filling?
  • Would it be possible to have a dairy-free option?
  • Could we get the bill separately, please?
  • I’m after something fresh, not too sweet.
  • Could you hold the onions and add extra greens?
  • That sounds perfect.

6) Common mistakes

  • ✕
    Could you to recommend something?
    Right: *Could you recommend something?
  • ✕
    I’d like that take away.
    Right: I’d like that takeaway. / *Can I make that takeaway?
  • ✕
    Would it possible to have the bill?
    Right: *Would it be possible to have the bill?
  • ✕
    Could I got a coffee?
    Right: *Could I get a coffee?

7) Best choice by situation

  • Use Could I…? for everyday ordering.
  • Use Would it be possible to…? when you want to sound especially diplomatic.
  • Use I’d like… when you want a clean, efficient order.
  • Use Could you…? when asking staff for advice or a modification.

Teacher note: Polite requests with could, would, and I'd like

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4. Listening

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Listen to the café conversation. Focus on the customer’s tone, the barista’s replies, and how special requests are handled.

While you listen

  1. What does the customer order first?
  2. Which item does the barista suggest?
  3. What modification does the customer ask for?
  4. How does the customer want to pay?
  5. Which phrase sounds especially polite?
  6. What does the barista offer at the end?

After listening

Answer in complete sentences if you can.

Teacher audio script
Nora: Good afternoon. Could I get a long black and the beetroot tart, please?
Barista: Of course. Would you like the tart with cream, or without?
Nora: Without, thanks. And could you recommend something savoury as well? I’m after something light.
Barista: The spinach and feta pastry is popular, or we have a dairy-free soup today.
Nora: The soup sounds ideal. Could I have that with extra bread on the side?
Barista: Certainly. Would you like it here or to go?
Nora: Here, please. And could we split the bill, if that’s possible?
Barista: No problem at all. I’ll bring the card machine over in a moment.
Nora: Perfect, thank you.

Teacher note: Listening: a natural café order with preferences and payment

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5. Word ordering

Put the words in order to make each café sentence.

Sentence 1 / 4

Your sentence

Tap words to place them here

Word bank

Sentence 1 of 4: 0 / 9 words placed

Teacher note: Reorder advanced café sentences

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • Slide 1Could I get the mushroom toastie without onions, please?
  • Slide 2I’d like a flat white and a slice of carrot cake.
  • Slide 3Would you recommend something light for lunch?
  • Slide 4Could we have the bill together, please?

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6. Writing task

Write a short message or dialogue of 70–100 words. Students should order food and drinks at a café, ask for one recommendation, and include one special request or allergy note. Use polite, natural English suitable for an adult C1 learner.

Aim for at least 70 words.

Teacher note: Write a concise café order with one special request

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7. Text

Context

You are in a busy neighbourhood café at lunchtime. The customer wants something light, asks for advice, and makes one careful adjustment to the order.

Model dialogue

Customer: Good morning. I’d like a cappuccino and the vegetable frittata, please. Barista: Certainly. Would you like the frittata with salad or potatoes? Customer: Salad, please. Could you recommend a dessert that isn’t too heavy? Barista: The lemon posset is very popular, and it’s quite light. Customer: That sounds perfect. Could you hold the chives on the frittata? Barista: Of course. Anything else? Customer: No, that’s all. Could we get the bill together when you have a moment?

Why this sounds natural

  • I’d like… gives a polished, efficient opening.
  • Could you recommend…? is courteous and specific.
  • That sounds perfect. shows positive engagement without sounding overly casual.
  • Could you hold…? is a precise, respectful way to request a change.
  • Could we get the bill together…? sounds smooth and customer-friendly.

Grammar note

Polite café English often uses could for requests and would for offering options. These forms reduce pressure and make the interaction feel cooperative.

Discussion questions

  1. Which line sounds most formal, and why?
  2. How would the dialogue change if the customer wanted takeaway?
  3. What other dessert question could sound equally natural?

Teacher note: Model café dialogue with notes on natural phrasing

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8. Grammar practice

Choose the most appropriate polite request or response in each café situation.

1.

A customer wants to sound polite but still direct when asking for a drink. Which sentence is best?

2.

A customer is asking the barista for advice on a pastry. Which option sounds most natural and courteous?

3.

A customer wants a sandwich without one ingredient. Which sentence is the best special request?

4.

A customer is speaking to staff in a more formal way. Which phrase sounds most tactful?

5.

A customer is finishing the order and wants to pay together. Which response is most natural?

Teacher note: Grammar practice on polite café requests with nuanced form selection, suitable for C1 learners.

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.

  • Q1B. Could I get a cappuccino, please?
  • Q2B. Could you recommend a pastry?
  • Q3B. Could I have the sandwich without pickles, please?
  • Q4A. Would it be possible to have the soup on the side?
  • Q5B. Could we split the bill, please?

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