A cup of coffee
in SpanishUna taza de café
/OO-nah TAH-sah deh kah-FEH/
This is the literal translation for 'a cup of coffee.' You use this when describing the object itself or offering it to a guest at home. However, when ordering at a café, it is often shortened.
A classic 'taza de café' is usually enjoyed sitting down, not on the run.
💬Other Ways to Say It
Un café
/oon kah-FEH/
The most common way to order. It's short, efficient, and what you'll hear 90% of the time in shops.
Un tinto / Un tintico
/oon TEEN-toh / oon teen-TEE-koh/
In Colombia, black coffee is called 'tinto.' Adding '-ico' makes it sound warmer and friendlier.
Un café solo
/oon kah-FEH SOH-loh/
Literally 'coffee alone.' This is a small, strong black espresso without milk.
Un café americano
/oon kah-FEH ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh/
Espresso diluted with hot water, similar to standard US drip coffee.
Un café con leche
/oon kah-FEH kohn LEH-cheh/
Coffee with milk. In Spain and parts of LatAm, this is half strong coffee, half steamed milk.
Un cortado
/oon kor-TAH-doh/
An espresso 'cut' (cortado) with a small splash of milk to reduce acidity.
Un cafecito
/oon kah-feh-SEE-toh/
A 'little coffee.' The diminutive ending makes the offer sound warm, friendly, or social.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
.jpg&w=256&q=75)
📊Quick Comparison
Understanding the different types of coffee orders is crucial to getting what you actually want.
| Phrase | Meaning | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café solo | Neutral | A quick, strong energy boost (Espresso) | You want a large, mild coffee to sip slowly |
| Café Americano | Neutral | Drinkers who like US-style drip coffee | You want thick, creamy, strong coffee |
| Café con leche | Neutral | Breakfast or a comforting mid-day drink | You are lactose intolerant or want pure coffee flavor |
| Cortado | Neutral | Cutting the bitterness of espresso without too much milk | You want a large, milky latte |
📈Difficulty Level
Very straightforward. Just remember the stress is on the last syllable of 'café' (ka-FEH).
It's a simple noun phrase. The only challenge is remembering masculine (un café) vs feminine (una taza).
Knowing WHICH coffee to order (cortado vs. solo vs. tinto) varies heavily by country.
Key Challenges:
- Understanding regional coffee menus
- Using the correct polite verb for ordering (Poner vs. Dar vs. Regalar)
💡Examples in Action
Buenos días, ¿me da una taza de café, por favor?
Good morning, could you give me a cup of coffee, please?
¡Me muero por un cafecito!
I'm dying for a little coffee!
¿Te gustaría pasar a tomar una taza de café?
Would you like to come in to drink a cup of coffee?
Camarero, póngame un café solo y un cortado.
Waiter, get me a black coffee and a cortado.
🌍Cultural Context
The 'Sobremesa' Tradition
In Spain and many Latin American countries, coffee isn't just fuel to drink on the run; it's often the centerpiece of the 'sobremesa.' This is the time spent chatting at the table after a meal is finished. Rushing off with a coffee in a paper cup is much less common than sitting down to enjoy it from a ceramic cup.
Size Matters
If you are used to 'Grande' or 'Venti' sizes, be prepared for smaller portions. In Europe and South America, a standard 'taza de café' is usually 6-8 ounces, closer to an espresso size, but packed with flavor. If you want a big mug of coffee, you specifically need to ask for an 'americano' or a 'café largo.'
Ordering Etiquette
In Spain, it is very common to catch a waiter's attention and say '¡Me pone un café!' (Put me a coffee). While this sounds bossy to English speakers, it's standard bar etiquette there. In Latin America (like Mexico or Colombia), it's better to be softer: '¿Me regala un café?' (Gift me a coffee?) or '¿Me da un café?' (Give me a coffee?).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Ordering 'Un café negro' in Spain
Mistake: "Asking for 'café negro' when you want black coffee."
Correction: Un café solo
Confusing 'Tinto' with Wine
Mistake: "Hearing '¿Quieres un tinto?' and thinking it means red wine."
Correction: Understand the context (especially in Colombia)
Asking for 'Un vaso' instead of 'Una taza'
Mistake: "Asking for 'un vaso de café'."
Correction: Una taza de café
💡Pro Tips
Specify the Milk Immediately
Unlike in some US diners where you get black coffee and add milk later at the table, in Spanish-speaking countries, the milk is usually steamed and added by the barista. You should order 'café con leche' right away if you want white coffee.
The Verb 'Tomar' vs 'Beber'
While 'beber' means to drink, it is much more common to use the verb 'tomar' (to take) when talking about coffee. 'Voy a tomar un café' sounds more natural than 'Voy a beber un café' in most regions.
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
Coffee is almost always espresso-based. Ordering is direct ('Me pone...'). Breakfast coffee is usually 'con leche', while after-lunch coffee is often 'solo' or 'cortado'.
Colombia
Colombia is famous for coffee, but 'tinto' is the everyday black coffee (often not espresso, but filter/panela sweetened). Be careful with 'perico'—in other countries, it can mean scrambled eggs or even cocaine!
Mexico
In traditional settings, try 'Café de olla'—it's brewed with cinnamon and piloncillo (raw sugar). It's sweet and delicious.
Argentina
Café culture is huge in Buenos Aires. You can sit for hours with one cup. A 'lágrima' is essentially reversed coffee—mostly milk.
💬What Comes Next?
The waiter asks how you want your coffee
¿Cómo lo quiere?
How do you want it?
Con leche y azúcar, por favor.
With milk and sugar, please.
Ordering at a bar
¿Algo más?
Anything else?
Nada más, gracias.
Nothing else, thanks.
🧠Memory Tricks
To remember 'Taza' (Cup), imagine you are done with your coffee and you 'TOSS A' cup into the sink.
🔄How It Differs from English
In English, 'coffee' is a mass noun, but we often say 'a coffee' to mean a cup. Spanish does the same ('un café'). The biggest difference is cultural: to-go culture is newer in Spanish-speaking regions. Coffee is meant to be drunk from a ceramic cup while stationary.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: You might try to translate 'brown' to describe coffee with milk.
Use instead: Use 'Café con leche'. Never describe coffee by color adjectives like 'café marrón'.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to ask for the bill
Once you finish your coffee, you'll need to pay.
How to say breakfast
Coffee is the most important part of breakfast vocabulary.
How to say please
Essential for making your coffee order polite.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: A cup of coffee
Question 1 of 3
You are in Madrid and want a small, strong black coffee. What do you order?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just say 'Quiero café'?
You can, but it sounds a bit like a caveman ('I want coffee'). It's much more natural and polite to say 'Un café, por favor' or 'Me pone un café' (in Spain).
Is 'café' masculine or feminine?
'Café' is masculine, so you say 'UN café' or 'EL café.' However, 'taza' (cup) is feminine, so you say 'UNA taza de café.'
How do I ask for iced coffee?
This varies! In Spain, ask for 'café con hielo' (they give you hot coffee and a glass of ice separately). In hip cafes in LatAm, you can ask for 'café helado' or 'café frío.'
What if I want decaf?
Ask for 'descafeinado.' In Spain, asking for a 'descafeinado de máquina' gets you decaf espresso beans, while 'descafeinado de sobre' gets you a packet of instant decaf powder.
📚Continue Learning Spanish Phrases
Explore More Phrases in These Categories
Find similar phrases to expand your Spanish vocabulary:
Want to Learn More Spanish Phrases?
Browse our complete collection of Spanish phrases organized by situation, from basic greetings to advanced conversations. Perfect for travelers, students, and anyone learning Spanish.
View All Spanish Phrases →