Order Coffee in Korea Like a Pro: From ‘Ah-Ah’ to ‘Dda-Latte’!

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever walked into a bustling café in Seoul and felt a little overwhelmed by the menu? Don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn how to express your preferences and order your favorite drink just the way you like it.

These days in Korea, ordering a drink isn’t just about getting caffeine; it’s a way to express your personal style! From idols sharing their custom orders to viral drink trends, knowing how to ask for what you want is a super useful skill. Let’s learn how to order your perfect drink and sound like a local!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three essential phrases to master your café order.

1. 저는 ~ 주세요 (Jeoneun ~ juseyo)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: Jeoneun ~ juseyo
• English Meaning: I’ll have ~, please. / Please give me ~.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most important and polite phrase for ordering anything in Korea, not just drinks! “저는 (jeoneun)” means “I” (as for me), and “주세요 (juseyo)” is the polite way to say “please give me.” You just put the name of the drink you want in the blank space. It’s simple and perfect for any situation.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘세(se)’ in 주세요(juseyo) is pronounced like ‘say’ in English, not ‘see’. Practice saying it smoothly: ju-say-yo.

2. ~보다 ~가 더 좋아요 (…boda …ga deo joayo)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: …boda …ga deo joayo
• English Meaning: I like ~ more than ~.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a great way to express a preference between two options. You put the thing you like less before “~보다 (boda)” and the thing you like more before “~가 더 좋아요 (ga deo joayo)”. For example, “저는 커피보다 차가 더 좋아요 (Jeoneun keopi-boda cha-ga deo joayo)” means “I like tea more than coffee.”
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: In 좋아요(joayo), the letter ‘ㅎ(h)’ in ‘좋’ is silent when it comes after a vowel sound. So, instead of pronouncing it like ‘joh-a-yo’, it sounds much more natural when you say [jo-a-yo]. It just flows better!

3. 덜 달게 해주세요 (Deol dalge haejuseyo)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: Deol dalge haejuseyo
• English Meaning: Please make it less sweet.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a game-changer for customizing your drink! “덜 (deol)” means “less,” and “달게 (dalge)” means “sweetly.” This phrase is perfect if you find standard Korean drinks a bit too sugary for your taste. You can also use “더 (deo)” for “more” (e.g., “샷 추가 해주세요 – syat chuga haejuseyo” – Please add an extra shot).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The syllables in 달게(dalge) are pronounced clearly and separately: [dal-ge]. Be careful not to blend them. The ‘ge’ sounds like the ‘ge’ in ‘get’, not like ‘gye’.

Example Dialogue at a Café

Let’s see these phrases in action! Imagine you’re at a café in Hongdae.

• A (Barista): 어서 오세요! 주문하시겠어요? (Eoseo oseyo! Jumunhasigesseoyo?)
  • Welcome! Are you ready to order?
• B (You): 네, 저는 따뜻한 라떼 주세요. (Ne, jeoneun ttatteuthan latte juseyo.)
  • Yes, I’ll have a hot latte, please.
• A (Barista): 시럽 넣어 드릴까요? (Sireop neoeo deurilkkayo?)
  • Would you like syrup in it?
• B (You): 아니요, 괜찮아요. 저는 단 것보다 쓴 커피가 더 좋아요. 혹시 덜 달게 할 수 있나요? (Aniyo, gwaenchanayo. Jeoneun dan geot-boda sseun keopi-ga deo joayo. Hoksi deol dalge hal su innayo?)
  • No, it’s okay. I like bitter coffee more than sweet things. Is it possible to make it less sweet?
• A (Barista): 그럼요! 알겠습니다. (Geureomyo! Algesseumnida.)
  • Of course! I understand.

Culture Tip: Sound Like a Local with Drink Slang!

Want to really impress your Korean friends? Try using these popular abbreviations that the Z generation uses on social media and in daily life!

• 아아 (Ah-Ah): This is short for 아이스 아메리카노 (Aiseu Amerikano – Iced Americano). It’s the unofficial national drink of Korea. You’ll even hear the phrase “얼죽아 (Eoljuka),” which means “I’ll drink an Iced Americano even if I freeze to death!”
• 따라 (Tta-Ra): Short for 따뜻한 라떼 (Ttatteuthan Ratte – Hot Latte). A cozy choice for a cold day.
• 딸바 (Ttal-Ba): Short for 딸기 바나나 주스 (Ttalgi Banana Juseu – Strawberry Banana Juice). A super popular non-caffeinated option.

Next time you order, try saying, “아아 하나 주세요! (Ah-Ah hana juseyo!)” – “One Iced Americano, please!” You’ll sound just like a native speaker!

Let’s Review & Practice!

Great job today! We learned how to order drinks (~ 주세요), state our preferences (~보다 ~가 더 좋아요), and customize our order (덜 달게 해주세요).

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to order a cold vanilla latte. How would you say it?
   

   저는 아이스 바닐라 라떼 _______.

2. Make a sentence: You like juice more than soda. How would you express this in Korean?

Leave your answers in the comments below! We’d love to see you try using today’s phrases. What’s your favorite drink to order?