How to order coffee at the bar in Italian
Vorrei un caffè e un cornetto, per favore
“I'd like a coffee and a croissant, please”
When: At the bar counter
The moment
You are standing at the bar of a Roman caffè ordering an espresso and a cornetto.
A1 · Unit 2 · Café & food
The lines
Ordering at the bar
In Italy you order with "vorrei" (I would like) or just name it with "un caffè, per favore". "Un caffè" is always an espresso.
Vorrei un caffè e un cornetto, per favore
“I'd like a coffee and a croissant, please”
When to use it: At the bar counter
What you’ll hear back: Subito. Altro?
Paying the Italian way
In many bars you pay first at the cassa, then bring the receipt (lo scontrino) to the counter. Ask "quanto è?" — how much is it?
Quanto è?
“How much is it?”
When to use it: Paying at the register
What you’ll hear back: Due euro e cinquanta.
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| vorrei... | vor-RAY | I would like... |
Vorrei un cappuccino, per favore. I would like a cappuccino, please. Tip: The polite conditional of volere (to want). | ||
| un cornetto | oon kor-NET-toh | an Italian croissant |
Un cornetto alla crema, per favore. A cream-filled cornetto, please. Tip: The classic breakfast pairing with espresso. | ||
| lo scontrino | loh skon-TREE-noh | the receipt |
Ecco lo scontrino. Here is the receipt. Tip: Pay first, show the scontrino at the bar. | ||
Your objective
Order a drink and say how you’d like it, then ask how much it is or ask for the bill.
- a drink
- how you’d like it
- the price or the bill
Lines that get it done
- Vorrei un caffè e un cornetto, per favore
- Quanto è?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. What do you get if you order "un caffè"?
- An espresso
- A latte
- A filter coffee
- An iced coffee
Show the answer
An espresso
In Italy, caffè means espresso by default.
2. "Vorrei" means...
- I would like
- I need
- Give me
- Do you have
Show the answer
I would like
The polite conditional — the backbone of ordering.
3. What is "lo scontrino"?
- The receipt
- The tip
- The menu
- The counter
Show the answer
The receipt
You often pay first and show the scontrino at the bar.