Shadowing Practice: Ordering at a Coffee Shop | Daily English Conversation | Listening & Speaking Practice Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
Get comfortable with English and comfort.
347 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Get comfortable with English and comfort.
2
This is your English listening practice podcast to help you learn and improve naturally.
3
Learning English can make everyday situations feel overwhelming, right?
4
Totally.
5
Things like ordering groceries, visiting the doctor, or even booking appointments.
6
They're simple for some, but tricky when you're still learning the language.
7
And one of the most common stressful situations?
8
ordering at a coffee shop.
9
If you don't know the right phrases,
10
it's easy to feel stuck and sometimes not understood.
11
But don't worry.
12
That's why we're here.
13
For anyone new, I'm Liam.
14
And I'm Emily.
15
Welcome to English in Comfort,
16
the place where you learn real English while relaxing,
17
lying down, or even while you sleep.
18
No stress, just natural, real conversations.
19
Today, we're breaking down how to order coffee like a pro.
20
You'll hear exactly what to say and how to say it.
21
Coffee shops have tons of options,
22
which can feel confusing at first.
23
But by the end of this video,
24
you'll know all the key phrases.
25
So grab your tea, get comfy,
26
and let's make Coffee Shop English easy.
27
First, let's listen to these conversations.
28
worry if you don't understand everything,
29
because after, we will break it down and explain it.
30
Hi there, what can I get for you today?
31
Hi, I'd like, um, a medium latte, please.
32
Sure thing.
33
Whole milk or would you like oat or almond milk?
34
Oat milk, please.
35
And could I get that with less sugar?
36
Absolutely.
37
So that's a medium oat milk latte with less sugar.
38
Wait, Did you say medium or large?
39
I'm sorry, it's a bit loud in here.
40
No problem, I said medium.
41
Would you like me to make it large instead?
42
No, medium is perfect, thank you.
43
Great, and will that be for here or to go?
44
For here, please.
45
Got it, your latte will be ready at the end of the counter.
46
Name for the order?
47
Jessica.
48
Thanks, Jessica, we'll call you when it's ready.
49
Sarah?
50
Oh my, hi.
51
Hi.
52
Jessica, it's been so long.
53
How are you?
54
I'm good.
55
Just grabbing coffee.
56
What about you?
57
Same here.
58
I haven't seen you since the library study session.
59
Right.
60
That was months ago.
61
Hey, do you want to sit together?
62
Sure.
63
Let me just order first.
64
Hi.
65
What can I get started for you?
66
Hmm.
67
I'll take a small cappuccino, please.
68
Whole milk or oat?
69
Whole milk, thanks.
70
Look at that chocolate cake they got.
71
It looks so good.
72
Oh, wow, you're right.
73
I shouldn't, but maybe just a bite?
74
You know what?
75
Let's grab a dessert each.
76
It's on me.
77
No, you don't have to.
78
Come on.
79
It's been months since we met.
80
My treat.
81
Excuse me?
82
Yes.
83
Need anything else?
84
Yes.
85
What desserts do you have today?
86
We've got chocolate cake, lemon tart, and caramel cheesecake.
87
Hmm.
88
What do you recommend?
89
The lemon tart's my favorite.
90
It's not too sweet.
91
Perfect.
92
I'll take a lemon tart, please.
93
And Sarah, you want that chocolate cake?
94
Yes, please.
95
Oh, and could I get whipped cream on mine?
96
Sure thing.
97
So that's one lemon tart and one chocolate cake with whipped cream.
98
That's right.
99
Thanks.
100
Excuse me, could we get the bill, please?
101
Of course.
102
Together or separate?
103
Together.
104
Would you like to add a tip today?
105
Sure.
106
Let's do 10%.
107
Great.
108
I'll be right back with your receipt.
109
All set.
110
Thanks so much.
111
Thank you.
112
Everything was delicious.
113
Yeah, that chocolate cake was amazing.
114
So glad you liked it.
115
Have a wonderful day.
116
You too.
117
This was so fun.
118
We have to meet up again soon.
119
Definitely.
120
Maybe next time.
121
You're buying?
122
Deal.
123
Okay, let's break it down and start with the basics.
124
When you walk into a coffee shop,
125
the first thing to do is greet the barista.
126
You can say something simple like, Good morning!
127
Or even just, Hi!
128
If you're shy, a smile and a wave work too.
129
And if you're not sure what to order,
130
you can ask, What drinks do you have?
131
Or, Do you have lattes?
132
For example, in our conversation,
133
Jessica knew she wanted a latte,
134
so she said, Hi, I'd like a medium latte, please.
135
A latte is espresso with steamed milk, super popular.
136
Other drinks you might see are cappuccinos,
137
which have more foam, or Americanos,
138
which are espresso with hot water.
139
Jessica ordered a medium size.
140
Most coffee shops use sizes like small, medium, or large.
141
So you could say, I'd like a small cappuccino or can I get a large Americano?
142
Then the barista asked about milk,
143
whole milk or oat milk.
144
This is where you can customize.
145
Common options are whole milk,
146
skim milk, oat milk, or almond milk.
147
If you want something specific,
148
just ask, can I get that with almond milk or no sugar, please?
149
Jessica said, oat milk, please.
150
And could I get that with less sugar?
151
Don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
152
Baristas hear this all day.
153
Next, the barista asked, For here or to go?
154
For here means you're staying in the cafe,
155
and to go means you're taking it with you.
156
So you could say, To go,
157
please, or for here, thanks.
158
And if you didn't hear something,
159
it's totally okay to ask again.
160
Jessica did this when she said,
161
Wait, did you say medium or large?
162
You can also say Sorry, could you repeat that?
163
Or, I didn't catch that.
164
Let's put it all together.
165
Imagine you want a medium cappuccino with almond milk and no sugar.
166
You'd say Hi, I'd like a medium cappuccino with almond milk,
167
no sugar please, to go.
168
Also, if you mess up a word, don't worry.
169
Even native speakers get nervous sometimes.
170
I do get nervous and mess up too, by the way.
171
Oh, we all do.
172
The key is to start simple like,
173
hi, I'd like… and build from there.
174
Alright, let's talk about that phrase Sarah used, grabbing coffee.
175
She said, I'm just grabbing coffee.
176
Right.
177
Grabbing coffee is a super casual way to say you're getting coffee quickly,
178
like, let's grab coffee tomorrow,
179
or I grabbed a muffin on my way here.
180
Also, coffee shops often have desserts, too.
181
So if you want to order one but feel stuck or too shy to ask for the menu,
182
you can simply do what Jessica asked,
183
What do you recommend for dessert?
184
Which is a simple, great sentence to use.
185
What do you recommend for dessert?
186
Totally.
187
You could also say, What's your most popular dessert?
188
Or, Any sweet treats today?
189
Next, Jessica said, It's on me.
190
That's a fun way to say,
191
I'm paying You might also hear,
192
my treat, like, don't worry about it,
193
my treat And if you want to customize your order Take the example on how Sarah asked for extra whipped cream,
194
and you can do the same Try,
195
could I get that with no strawberries, please?
196
Just be polite Most coffee shops will try their best to help like saying,
197
please, or if it's possible.
198
Imagine you're ordering dessert.
199
Hi, what do you recommend?
200
The chocolate cake?
201
Awesome.
202
Can I get it with extra whipped cream?
203
Ah, and no nuts, please.
204
I'm allergic.
205
But if you're shy, well,
206
just point to one dessert you see and liked and say,
207
this one, please, or can I have this one, please?
208
Okay, time to talk about paying.
209
In our conversation, Jessica asked,
210
Could we get the bill, please?
211
That's the classic way to ask.
212
But in the U.S., you might hear check instead of bill.
213
So, can I get the check, please?
214
Then the barista asks, Together or separate?
215
Together means one person pays.
216
Separate means everyone pays their own.
217
For example, together, please.
218
Or we'll pay separate, please.
219
Now tipping.
220
In some countries, like the U.S., tipping is common.
221
The barista might ask, would you like to add a tip today?
222
You can say, yes, 10% please, or no thank you.
223
Or leave cash and say, keep the change.
224
But in other places, tipping isn't expected.
225
If you are in doubt,
226
just ask, Is tipping normal here?
227
Finally, when leaving, a friendly comment goes a long way.
228
For example, in the conversation,
229
Jessica said, Everything was delicious.
230
You could also say, This was amazing.
231
I'll be back.
232
Or have a wonderful day.
233
Imagine you're paying.
234
Could we get the bill, please?
235
Together.
236
And could you add a 10% tip?
237
Thanks.
238
The coffee was perfect.
239
See you next time.
240
Perfect.
241
Even a simple thanks.
242
Have a good one.
243
Makes everyone smile.
244
Now that we've explained everything,
245
let's go back to the conversation one more time.
246
This time, listen closely.
247
Feel free to slow it down,
248
pause, and repeat along if you want.
249
Hi there, what can I get for you today?
250
Hi, I'd like, um, a medium latte, please.
251
Sure thing.
252
Whole milk or would you like oat or almond milk?
253
Oat milk, please.
254
And could I get that with less sugar?
255
Absolutely.
256
So that's a medium oat milk latte with less sugar.
257
Wait, did you say medium or large?
258
I'm sorry, it's a bit loud in here.
259
No problem.
260
I said medium.
261
Would you like me to make it large instead?
262
No, medium is perfect.
263
Thank you.
264
Great.
265
And will that be for here or to go?
266
For here, please.
267
Got it.
268
Your latte will be ready at the end of the counter.
269
Name for the order?
270
Jessica.
271
Thanks, Jessica.
272
We'll call you when it's ready.
273
Sarah?
274
Oh my, hi.
275
Jessica, it's been so long.
276
How are you?
277
I'm good.
278
Just grabbing coffee.
279
What about you?
280
Same here.
281
I haven't seen you since the library study session.
282
Right.
283
That was months ago.
284
Hey, do you want to sit together?
285
Sure, let me just order first.
286
Hi, what can I get started for you?
287
Hmm, I'll take a small cappuccino, please.
288
Whole milk or oat?
289
Whole milk, thanks.
290
Look at that chocolate cake they got.
291
It looks so good.
292
Oh wow, you're right.
293
I shouldn't, but maybe just a bite?
294
You know what?
295
Let's grab a dessert each.
296
It's on me.
297
No, you don't have to.
298
Come on, it's been months since we met.
299
My treat.
300
Excuse me?
301
Yes, need anything else?
302
Yes, what desserts do you have today?
303
We've got chocolate cake, lemon tart, and caramel cheesecake.
304
Hmm, what do you recommend?
305
The lemon tart's my favorite.
306
It's not too sweet.
307
Perfect.
308
I'll take a lemon tart, please.
309
And Sarah, you want that chocolate cake?
310
Yes, please.
311
Oh, and could I get whipped cream on mine?
312
Sure thing.
313
So that's one lemon tart and one chocolate cake with whipped cream.
314
That's right.
315
Thanks.
316
Excuse me, could we get the bill, please?
317
Of course.
318
Together or separate?
319
Together.
320
Would you like to add a tip today?
321
Sure.
322
Let's do 10%.
323
Great.
324
I'll be right back with your receipt.
325
All set.
326
Thanks so much.
327
Thank you.
328
Everything was delicious.
329
Yeah, that chocolate cake was amazing.
330
So glad you liked it.
331
Have a wonderful day.
332
You too.
333
This was so fun.
334
We have to meet up again soon.
335
Definitely.
336
Maybe next time.
337
You're buying?
338
Deal.
339
And that's a wrap.
340
Did you find this helpful?
341
If yes, share it with a friend who's learning English, too.
342
It might make their coffee runs way less stressful.
343
And if you're new here,
344
hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
345
For more listening and speaking practice,
346
thanks for hanging out with us today.
347
Keep practicing, keep improving, and take care, everyone.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Why practice speaking with this video?
Ordering at a coffee shop is a common yet challenging situation for anyone learning English. This video, "Ordering at a Coffee Shop," focuses on real-life conversations that help you gain confidence in navigating such scenarios. Engaging with this content not only improves your listening skills but also enhances your speaking abilities. By practicing with the audio provided, you can use the shadowing technique to mimic the intonation and rhythm of native speakers. Shadowing allows you to automatically recall phrases and structures, making you more fluent and comfortable in actual conversation.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Throughout the video, several essential phrases and grammatical structures are highlighted. Here are three key expressions discussed:
- “I’d like a medium latte, please.” - This polite request structure is useful for ordering in various contexts, making it essential to remember when placing any order.
- “Would you like oat milk or almond milk?” - This demonstrates a common way to offer choices in conversation, helping you sound friendly and engaged.
- “For here or to go?” - This quick, concise question is typical in a coffee shop context and reflects how native speakers efficiently manage conversations.
By analyzing these expressions, you can start to incorporate them into your own speaking practice, helping you respond more naturally to similar questions in everyday life.
Common Pronunciation Traps
When ordering coffee, some words and accents can be tricky to pronounce. For example, terms like “latte” and “oat milk” may need extra attention. In the video, you might hear variations in accent that could influence how you understand and pronounce these words. Pay close attention to the intonation of phrases like “medium” and “Would you like me to make it large instead?” These phrases can be easy to misinterpret due to their fast delivery. As you practice with this video, utilize the shadow speak method to imitate the speaker's pronunciation and rhythm, allowing you to refine your own accent and speech clarity.
Incorporating this engaging content into your English learning journey will aid in building essential conversational skills. Utilize this video along with the shadowing site techniques to enhance your speaking confidence while learning English with YouTube.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏