How to Order Coffee in Japanese

Useful Japanese phrases, café culture, and everything you need to order like a local

Ordering coffee might seem like a small part of your trip to Japan.

But if you’re learning Japanese, a coffee shop is actually one of the best places to practice.

You walk in, choose what you want, answer a few questions, pay, and hopefully walk away with the right coffee!

You don’t need perfect Japanese. You just need a few useful phrases — and the confidence to try them.

Don’t just learn Japanese. Use it in Japan.

Practice Japanese with Japanguin

That’s exactly what we do at Japanguin.

Before your trip, our Pre-Arrival Online Japanese Lessons help you practice practical Japanese for situations you’ll actually experience in Japan — cafés, restaurants, shopping, transportation, and more.

Already in Tokyo? Our Survival Japanese Lesson takes learning out of the textbook and focuses on Japanese you can actually use during your stay.

And if coffee isn’t strong enough, join our Learn Japanese While Bar Hopping experience. Learn useful Japanese over a few drinks, then actually use it in local izakayas.

The idea is simple:

Learn it. Use it. Connect.

Café or Kissaten?

First, there’s something you should know about coffee culture in Japan.

You’ll see both カフェ (kafe) and 喫茶店（きっさてん / kissaten）.

A modern café might have lattes, cakes, Wi-Fi, and a bright contemporary atmosphere.

A kissaten is a more traditional Japanese-style coffee shop.

Many have been around for decades and serve carefully brewed coffee alongside classics like toast, sandwiches, Napolitan spaghetti, and cream soda.

They’re a wonderful part of Japanese culture.

If you visit Japan, don’t only go to Starbucks. Try a local kissaten at least once.

Seat First or Order First?

This can be confusing because there is no single rule.

At some cafés, you order first and then find a seat.

At others, you find a seat before ordering.

And at traditional kissaten, you’ll often sit down first and a staff member will come to your table.

Not sure?

Just ask:

Saki ni chūmon desu ka?　先に注文ですか？

(Do I order first?)

Or simply look around and see what the locals are doing.

What Is “Morning”?

If you see モーニング (mōningu) at a Japanese coffee shop, it doesn’t necessarily just mean “morning.”

It can refer to a special breakfast service where ordering a drink comes with — or gives you access to — a simple breakfast such as toast, eggs, or salad.

This culture is particularly famous in Nagoya, where some cafés offer surprisingly generous breakfasts with your morning coffee.

So if you see モーニング, take a look at the menu. You might get more than just coffee!

Japanese You’ll Actually Use

You’ve practiced your order perfectly.

But then the staff member replies in fast Japanese... 😳

Knowing what you’ll hear is just as important as knowing what to say.

店内でお召し上がりですか？

Tennai de omeshiagari desu ka?

(For here?)

→ 店内でお願いします。

→ Tennai de onegaishimasu.

お持ち帰りですか？

Omochikaeri desu ka?

(To go?)

→ はい、持ち帰りで。

→ Hai, mochikaeri de.

サイズはいかがなさいますか？

Saizu wa ikaga nasaimasu ka?

(What size would you like?)

→ Mサイズでお願いします。

→ Emu saizu de onegaishimasu.

ホットとアイス、どちらになさいますか？

Hotto to aisu, dochira ni nasaimasu ka?

(Hot or iced?)

→ アイスでお願いします。

→ Aisu de onegaishimasu.

お支払い方法はいかがなさいますか？

Oshiharai hōhō wa ikaga nasaimasu ka?

(How would you like to pay?)

→ カードでお願いします。

→ Kādo de onegaishimasu.

Café Vocabulary

Japanese	Romaji	English
コーヒー	Kōhī	Coffee
アイスコーヒー	Aisu kōhī	Iced coffee
砂糖	Satō	Sugar
ミルク	Miruku	Milk
豆乳	Tōnyū	Soy milk
氷	Kōri	Ice
ストロー	Sutorō	Straw
カップ	Kappu	Cup
ふた	Futa	Lid
店内	Tennai	For here / inside
持ち帰り	Mochikaeri	Takeout
注文	Chūmon	Order
会計	Kaikei	Bill / payment
レシート	Reshīto	Receipt
喫茶店	Kissaten	Traditional Japanese cafe