A Perfect Cup: Ordering Coffee — Free ESL lesson plan

Lesson plan

Objectives

Students will be able to identify key information when listening to someone order coffee (e.g., type of coffee, size, additions).
Students will be able to understand common questions and requests made by a barista.
Students will be able to use basic phrases to order coffee politely.
Students will be able to recognize and state prices for coffee items.

Materials

Whiteboard or flipchart and markers
Audio recording of coffee shop dialogues (provided in lesson)
Transcript of audio recordings (for checking answers)
Handout: Coffee Shop Menu (simple, with prices)
Handout: Vocabulary list
Handout: Grammar explanation and exercises
Pictures of different coffee types (e.g., espresso, latte, cappuccino, americano)

Warm-up

To begin, ask students if they drink coffee or tea. If they drink coffee, ask: 'What is your favorite coffee?' and 'Where do you usually buy it?' If they don't drink coffee, ask: 'What is your favorite drink?' Show pictures of different coffee types (latte, espresso, cappuccino) and ask if they know the names. Write 'Ordering Coffee' on the board.

Presentation

Today we are going to learn how to order coffee. When we order something, we often use polite phrases like 'I'd like...' or 'Can I have...?' For example, 'I'd like a small latte, please.' or 'Can I have a cappuccino?' The barista might ask you: 'What size?' (small, medium, large) or 'Would you like milk or sugar?' Sometimes they ask 'To have here or to go?' (meaning 'sit in' or 'takeaway'). When you pay, they will say 'That will be [price].' and you can say 'Here you go.' or 'Thank you.' Let's look at some common coffee names and sizes. (Show menu/pictures and introduce vocabulary like 'espresso', 'latte', 'medium', 'sugar', 'cashier').

Guided practice

First, we will listen to a dialogue. I will play an audio recording of a customer ordering coffee. Your task is to listen carefully and answer these questions: 'What did the customer order?' and 'What size was it?' (Play audio 1). After listening twice, check answers as a class. Then, I will play another dialogue. This time, listen for: 'What did the customer order?' and 'How much was it?' (Play audio 2). Check answers. Finally, I will give you a simple coffee menu. Listen to a third dialogue and write down exactly what the customer ordered and the total price. (Play audio 3). Compare answers with a partner, then check as a class using the transcript.

Freer practice

Now, let's practice ordering coffee! In pairs, you will role-play a customer and a barista. I will give each pair a simple menu. One person is the customer, and the other is the barista. The customer will order two different items from the menu, and the barista will ask questions about size, milk, or sugar, and then tell the total price. Use the phrases we learned: 'I'd like...', 'Can I have...?', 'What size?', 'Would you like...?', 'That will be...'. After a few minutes, switch roles. Try to make a different order each time. Walk around and offer help with vocabulary or pronunciation.

Wrap-up

Great job everyone! Ordering coffee is a very useful skill. Let's quickly review some key phrases. What do you say when you want to order? (Elicit 'I'd like...' 'Can I have...?'). What does the barista ask about size? (Elicit 'What size?'). What was easy about today's lesson? What was difficult? How confident do you feel now about ordering coffee in English?

My Morning Coffee Ritual

Every morning, before I start my busy day, I visit 'The Daily Grind' coffee shop. It's a small, cozy place on the corner of Elm Street and Main Avenue. The smell of fresh coffee beans always welcomes me. The barista, a friendly woman named Sarah, knows my order by heart now. I always get the same thing: a large cappuccino with extra foam and no sugar. Today, I arrived at 7:30 AM. The shop was already quite full. There were people reading newspapers, working on laptops, and chatting with friends. I stood in line behind a man ordering a black coffee and a croissant. When it was my turn, I smiled at Sarah. 'Good morning, Sarah,' I said. She smiled back and started preparing my drink before I even said a word. 'Large cappuccino, extra foam, no sugar, right?' she asked. 'That's right! Thank you, Sarah,' I replied. While she was making my coffee, I looked at the menu on the wall. They have many different types of coffee: espresso, americano, latte, mocha, and even iced coffee for warmer days. They also have pastries like muffins, cookies, and croissants. The prices are reasonable. A small coffee is 3.00, a medium is 3.50, and a large is 4.00. My cappuccino is 4.50. I paid with my card and waited for my drink. I love watching Sarah work. She is very fast and makes beautiful coffee art on top of the lattes and cappuccinos. Soon, my name was called. 'Maria! Your cappuccino is ready!' I took my hot cup, said 'Thank you again!' and found a small table near the window. I sat down, took a deep breath, and enjoyed the first sip of my perfect morning coffee. It's the perfect start to my day, every single time. I always feel ready for anything after my visit to 'The Daily Grind'.

Comprehension

What is the name of the coffee shop Maria visits?
Answer: The coffee shop is called 'The Daily Grind'.
What time does Maria arrive at the coffee shop today?
Answer: Maria arrives at 7:30 AM.
What is Maria's usual coffee order?
Answer: Maria always orders a large cappuccino with extra foam and no sugar.
Who is the barista at 'The Daily Grind'?
Answer: The barista's name is Sarah.
What other items does the coffee shop sell besides coffee?
Answer: They also sell pastries like muffins, cookies, and croissants.
How much does a large coffee cost?
Answer: A large coffee costs 4.00.
How much does Maria's cappuccino cost?
Answer: Maria's cappuccino costs 4.50.
What does Maria do after she gets her coffee?
Answer: She finds a small table near the window, sits down, and enjoys her coffee.
What is special about how Sarah makes coffee?
Answer: Sarah is very fast and makes beautiful coffee art.
How does Maria feel after drinking her coffee?
Answer: She feels ready for anything.

Grammar — Polite Requests: 'I'd like...' and 'Can I have...?'

When you want to order food or drinks, it's important to be polite. In English, we often use 'I'd like...' or 'Can I have...?' to make polite requests. 'I'd like' is a short form of 'I would like' and is very common. For example, 'I'd like a large coffee, please.' or 'I'd like a muffin.' This is a polite way to say 'I want'. 'Can I have...?' is also a very common and polite way to ask for something. For example, 'Can I have an espresso?' or 'Can I have some sugar?' Both 'I'd like...' and 'Can I have...?' are good choices for ordering in a coffee shop or restaurant. Remember to always add 'please' to be extra polite!

Fill in the gap with 'I'd like' or 'Can I have'.
Answer: I'd like
1. ______ a small latte, please.
Answer: I'd like
2. ______ a glass of water?
Answer: Can I have
3. ______ the menu, please?
Answer: Can I have
4. ______ a chocolate cookie.
Answer: I'd like
5. ______ some sugar with my tea.
Answer: Can I have
6. ______ a large americano, please.
Answer: I'd like
7. ______ two croissants, please.
Answer: I'd like
8. ______ a receipt?
Answer: Can I have
9. ______ an extra napkin, please?
Answer: Can I have
10. ______ a medium cappuccino to go.
Answer: I'd like

Pronunciation

Focus: /w/ sound (as in 'would', 'want', 'with')

Minimal pairs

would / wood
we / wee
wet / met
whale / wail
where / wear
wine / whine
weather / whether

Drill

Listen and repeat the following words, focusing on making a clear /w/ sound. Remember to round your lips. Words: want, with, would, water, where, why, wait, away, always, sandwich. Sentences: 1. I would like a coffee. 2. Do you want water with that? 3. Where do you want to wait? 4. We always order a sandwich. 5. She wants to go away with us.

Conversation — A customer is ordering coffee and a snack at a busy coffee shop. The barista needs to confirm the order and price.

Role A

Role A: Customer **Your Goal:** Order a medium latte with extra sugar and a chocolate chip cookie. Ask for the total price. Pay with a 10.00 bill and expect change. **Language Hints:** * Start with: 'Hi, I'd like...' or 'Can I have...' * Specify size and additions: 'medium latte', 'extra sugar' * Order the snack: 'and a chocolate chip cookie' * Ask for price: 'How much is that?' or 'What's the total?' * When paying: 'Here you go.'

Role B

Role B: Barista **Your Goal:** Take the customer's order, confirm details, state the total price, and give change. **Menu Prices:** * Small Latte: 3.50 * Medium Latte: 4.00 * Large Latte: 4.50 * Chocolate Chip Cookie: 2.00 **Language Hints:** * Start with: 'Hello, what can I get for you?' or 'What would you like?' * Confirm details: 'A medium latte with extra sugar, right?' * State the snack: 'And a chocolate chip cookie.' * Calculate total: 'That will be [total price].' * When taking money: 'Thank you.' * When giving change: 'And here's your change.'

Useful phrases

Hello, what can I get for you?
I'd like a...
Can I have a...?
What size would you like?
Medium, please.
Would you like milk or sugar?
Yes, please. / No, thank you.
Anything else for you today?
That will be [price].
How much is that?
Here you go.
And here's your change.
To have here or to go?
Thank you!

My Coffee Order & Review

**Listening Practice:** Find a short audio clip or video online (e.g., YouTube) of someone ordering coffee in English. Listen at least twice. Write down what they ordered and any special requests.
**Vocabulary Review:** Write five new sentences using five different vocabulary words from today's lesson (e.g., 'barista', 'espresso', 'takeaway').
**Writing Task:** Imagine you are in a coffee shop. Write a short dialogue (5-7 lines) between you (the customer) and the barista. Include your order, a question from the barista, and the total price.
**Speaking Preparation:** Practice ordering your favorite coffee aloud. Imagine you are talking to a barista. Try to use 'I'd like...' and 'Can I have...' and remember to say 'please'.
**Research:** Look up 2-3 other common coffee drinks you didn't learn today (e.g., flat white, macchiato) and write down their names and a simple definition.

Vocabulary

barista · noun: A person who works in a coffee shop and makes coffee drinks.; "The barista made a beautiful design on my latte."
espresso · noun: A strong, black coffee drink made by forcing hot water through ground coffee beans.; "I like to drink a small espresso after lunch."
latte · noun: A coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk, often with a small amount of foam.; "She ordered a vanilla latte with extra milk."
cappuccino · noun: A coffee drink made with espresso, hot milk, and a thick layer of foam.; "My favorite drink is a cappuccino with cinnamon on top."
americano · noun: A coffee drink made by adding hot water to espresso.; "He drinks an americano every morning for a strong start."
mocha · noun: A coffee drink made with espresso, chocolate, and milk.; "On cold days, I prefer a hot mocha."
takeaway · noun/adjective: Food or drink that you buy from a shop and take somewhere else to eat or drink; British English for 'to go'.; "I bought a takeaway coffee to drink on the train."
sit in · verb phrase: To eat or drink inside the shop, not take it away.; "Would you like to sit in or take it away?"
foam · noun: A mass of small bubbles on the surface of a liquid.; "My cappuccino has a lot of milk foam."
menu · noun: A list of food and drink available in a restaurant or cafe.; "Can I see the menu, please?"
cashier · noun: A person whose job is to receive and pay out money in a shop or bank.; "The cashier asked if I wanted a receipt."
receipt · noun: A piece of paper that shows that you have paid for something.; "Always ask for a receipt when you buy something."
croissant · noun: A rich, flaky bread roll made in the shape of a crescent.; "I like to eat a croissant with my coffee in the morning."
pastry · noun: A baked food made from dough, often sweet and eaten with coffee or tea.; "The coffee shop sells delicious pastries."

Activities

Coffee Preference Discussion · 8 minutes
In pairs, ask each other about your coffee habits and preferences. Use the prompts below to guide your conversation. Remember to ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.
Order Builder · 10 minutes
Work in small groups of 3-4. Each person creates a 'dream coffee order' including type, size, and any additions (e.g., milk, sugar, extra shot). Take turns telling your group your order using 'I'd like...' or 'Can I have...'. The other group members can ask clarifying questions like 'What size is that?' or 'Do you want sugar?'.
Coffee Shop Role-Play (Basic) · 12 minutes
In pairs, one student is the 'Barista' and the other is the 'Customer'. The customer will order one coffee and one pastry from a simple menu (provided by teacher). The barista will take the order, ask about size/additions, and state the price. After 5 minutes, switch roles. Focus on polite language and clear pronunciation.

💬A Perfect Cup: Ordering Coffee