In German
Kaffee
Meaning: coffee
Formal or informal? “Kaffee” is the everyday word. In a café, “ein Kaffee” usually means a black coffee, and “ein Milchkaffee” is a coffee with milk.
Example sentences
Ein Kaffee, bitte.
A coffee, please.
Der Kaffee ist sehr heiß.
The coffee is very hot.
Am Nachmittag trinken wir Kaffee und essen Kuchen.
In the afternoon we drink coffee and eat cake.
Grammar note
“Der Kaffee” is masculine, so it takes “der” and “ein”. Used in a café, you can simply say “Einen Kaffee, bitte” with the accusative “einen”.
Common mistake
Don't say “die Kaffee”. The article is “der Kaffee”, masculine. Also “ein Kaffee” without “bitte” sounds abrupt in a café.
Quick check
Which German word means “coffee”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you order a coffee politely in German?
“Einen Kaffee, bitte.”, with “einen” in the accusative.
What is the German word for cocoa?
“Der Kakao”, which is a different drink.