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Asking a Barista for a Recommendation in English

You're in a new café and don't know what to order. These four lines help you ask for a recommendation, explain that you dislike sweet drinks, check the coffee's strength, and finish your order.

· 1 min read

From a recommendation to an order

You: It’s my first time. What would you recommend?

The barista asks whether you’ve been here before. It’s my first time answers that question, then What would you recommend? politely asks for help choosing a drink.

You: I’m not a big fan of sweet drinks. Is the house blend strong?

The barista suggests the house blend and a caramel latte. Not a big fan of gently explains a preference. Strong asks about the coffee’s intensity, rather than the size of the cup.

You: Let’s do that. A medium house blend, please.

The barista offers to make the coffee a little stronger. Let’s do that accepts the offer. In a medium house blend, medium is the cup size; the earlier question was about strength.

You: No, that’s all. Thanks for the help.

This answers Anything else for you today? That’s all says you don’t want to add anything, and Thanks for the help closes the exchange politely.

Now say it yourself

Cover the English lines and say these ideas aloud: it’s your first visit and you want a recommendation / you dislike sweet drinks and want to check the strength / accept stronger coffee and order a medium / say you don’t want anything else and thank the barista. If you get stuck, look at the original, then say the whole line again.

This conversation is free in Unscript. Go from reading the lines to saying them without the script: practice asking for a recommendation.