Ordering coffee in Korea is usually straightforward, but customizing your drink requires specific phrases. This guide focuses on how to ask for coffee with extra vanilla syrup, along with other useful expressions for navigating a Korean cafe and interacting with the barista.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 바닐라 시럽 많이 넣어주세요
Pronunciation: ba-nil-la si-reop man-i neo-eo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please put in a lot of vanilla syrup. (Used to ask for extra vanilla)
Basic Ordering Phrases
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Expression: 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.
Pronunciation: a-me-ri-ka-no han jan ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me one Americano. -
Expression: 카페 라떼 두 잔 주세요.
Pronunciation: ka-pe ra-tte du jan ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me two Cafe Lattes. -
Expression: 따뜻한 걸로 주세요.
Pronunciation: tta-tteu-tan geol-lo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me a hot one. -
Expression: 아이스로 주세요.
Pronunciation: a-i-seu-ro ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me an iced one. -
Expression: 톨 사이즈로 주세요.
Pronunciation: tol sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me a tall size. -
Expression: 그란데 사이즈로 주세요.
Pronunciation: geu-ran-de sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me a grande size. -
Expression: 여기서 드실 건가요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo deu-sil geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Will you drink it here? (For here?) -
Expression: 가지고 가실 건가요?
Pronunciation: ga-ji-go ga-sil geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Will you take it to go? (To go?) -
Expression: 테이크아웃이요.
Pronunciation: te-i-keu-a-u-si-yo
Meaning: Takeout, please. (To go.) -
Expression: 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is it? -
Expression: 카드 돼요?
Pronunciation: ka-deu dwae-yo?
Meaning: Do you accept cards?
Customizing Your Order
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Expression: 바닐라 시럽 추가해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ba-nil-la si-reop chu-ga-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please add vanilla syrup. -
Expression: 바닐라 시럽 많이 넣어주세요.
Pronunciation: ba-nil-la si-reop man-i neo-eo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please put in a lot of vanilla syrup. (Extra vanilla) -
Expression: 샷 추가해 주세요.
Pronunciation: syat chu-ga-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please add an espresso shot. -
Expression: 휘핑 크림 올려주세요.
Pronunciation: hwi-ping keu-rim ol-lyeo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please add whipped cream on top. -
Expression: 휘핑 크림 빼주세요.
Pronunciation: hwi-ping keu-rim ppae-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please leave out the whipped cream. -
Expression: 우유 대신 두유로 바꿔주세요.
Pronunciation: u-yu dae-sin du-yu-ro ba-kkwo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please substitute soy milk for regular milk. -
Expression: 얼음 적게 넣어주세요.
Pronunciation: eo-reum jeok-ge neo-eo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please put in less ice. -
Expression: 얼음 많이 넣어주세요.
Pronunciation: eo-reum man-i neo-eo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please put in a lot of ice. -
Expression: 덜 달게 해주세요.
Pronunciation: deol dal-ge hae-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please make it less sweet. -
Expression: 시럽 빼주세요.
Pronunciation: si-reop ppae-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please leave out the syrup. -
Expression: 디카페인으로 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: di-ka-pe-i-neu-ro ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is decaf possible?
Barista’s Responses
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Expression: 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to order? / Are you ready to order? -
Expression: 어떤 걸로 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon geol-lo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: What can I get for you? -
Expression: 네, 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-ge-sseum-ni-da
Meaning: Yes, I understand. / Okay. -
Expression: 사이즈는 어떻게 하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: sa-i-jeu-neun eo-tteo-ke ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: What size would you like? -
Expression: 바닐라 시럽 추가하시면 [금액]원 추가됩니다.
Pronunciation: ba-nil-la si-reop chu-ga-ha-si-myeon [geu-maek]-won chu-ga-doem-ni-da
Meaning: If you add vanilla syrup, there’s an additional charge of [amount] won. -
Expression: 바닐라 시럽 많이 넣어드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ba-nil-la si-reop man-i neo-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I put in a lot of vanilla syrup for you? (Confirming ‘extra’) -
Expression: 총 [금액]원입니다.
Pronunciation: chong [geu-maek]-won-im-ni-da
Meaning: The total is [amount] won. -
Expression: 결제는 어떻게 하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: gyeol-je-neun eo-tteo-ke ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: How would you like to pay? -
Expression: 진동벨 드릴게요. 잠시만 기다려주세요.
Pronunciation: jin-dong-bel deu-ril-ge-yo. jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: I’ll give you a pager. Please wait a moment. -
Expression: 주문하신 아이스 바닐라 라떼 나왔습니다.
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-sin a-i-seu ba-nil-la ra-tte na-wa-sseum-ni-da
Meaning: Your order, Iced Vanilla Latte, is ready. -
Expression: 맛있게 드세요.
Pronunciation: ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo
Meaning: Enjoy your drink. (Literally: Eat/drink deliciously)
Korean Culture Notes
Korea has a vibrant coffee culture, with cafes serving as popular spots for studying, socializing, and relaxing. You’ll find numerous independent cafes alongside large chains.
Customizing drinks is generally accepted and common. Using the polite ending “-주세요” (-ju-se-yo) when making requests is standard practice and shows respect.
Baristas will often repeat your customization requests to confirm, especially if they involve an extra charge (like adding syrup or shots). Listen carefully to ensure your order is correct.
Most cafes, especially larger ones, use vibrating pagers (진동벨 – jin-dong-bel) to notify customers when their order is ready. Keep it visible on your table.
Remember to say “감사합니다” (gam-sa-ham-ni-da – Thank you) when you receive your order and when leaving the cafe. Politeness is always appreciated.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer (B) is ordering an iced latte at a Korean cafe and wants extra vanilla syrup from the barista (A).
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Expression: A: 어서오세요. 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: eo-seo-o-se-yo. ju-mun-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: A: Welcome. Would you like to order? -
Expression: B: 네. 아이스 카페 라떼 한 잔 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne. a-i-seu ka-pe ra-tte han jan ju-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes. Please give me one iced cafe latte. -
Expression: A: 네. 아이스 카페 라떼 한 잔이요. 사이즈는 어떻게 해드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne. a-i-seu ka-pe ra-tte han jan-i-yo. sa-i-jeu-neun eo-tteo-ke hae-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: Okay. One iced cafe latte. What size would you like? -
Expression: B: 톨 사이즈로 주세요. 그리고 바닐라 시럽 많이 넣어주세요.
Pronunciation: tol sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo. geu-ri-go ba-nil-la si-reop man-i neo-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Please give me a tall size. And please put in a lot of vanilla syrup. -
Expression: A: 네, 톨 사이즈 아이스 라떼에 바닐라 시럽 많이 넣어드릴게요. 시럽 추가 비용 500원 괜찮으신가요?
Pronunciation: ne, tol sa-i-jeu a-i-seu ra-tte-e ba-nil-la si-reop man-i neo-eo-deu-ril-ge-yo. si-reop chu-ga bi-yong o-baek-won gwaen-cha-neu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: A: Okay, I’ll put extra vanilla syrup in the tall iced latte. Is the 500 won extra charge for the syrup okay? -
Expression: B: 네, 괜찮아요.
Pronunciation: ne, gwaen-chan-a-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, that’s fine. -
Expression: A: 총 5,500원입니다. 결제 도와드릴게요.
Pronunciation: chong o-cheon-o-baek-won-im-ni-da. gyeol-je do-wa-deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: The total is 5,500 won. I’ll help you with the payment. -
Expression: B: 카드로 할게요.
Pronunciation: ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: B: I’ll pay by card. -
Expression: A: 네. 여기 진동벨 받으시고요, 잠시만 기다려주세요.
Pronunciation: ne. yeo-gi jin-dong-bel ba-deu-si-go-yo, jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Okay. Please take this pager, and wait just a moment. -
Expression: (Later) A: 주문하신 아이스 바닐라 라떼 나왔습니다! 맛있게 드세요.
Pronunciation: (Later) A: ju-mun-ha-sin a-i-seu ba-nil-la ra-tte na-wa-sseum-ni-da! ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo.
Meaning: (Later) A: Your ordered iced vanilla latte is ready! Enjoy your drink. -
Expression: B: 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: B: Thank you!
Practice Tips
Getting your coffee just right in Korean involves knowing these key phrases! Pay close attention to the pronunciation, breaking down each word syllable by syllable~ Practice saying the phrases aloud, focusing on the intonation.
Try role-playing with a friend, taking turns being the barista and the customer. If you have the chance, visit a Korean cafe and try ordering with a simple customization like adding vanilla syrup. Don’t be afraid to ask the barista to speak slowly if needed using “천천히 말해주세요” (cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae-ju-se-yo)! Good luck! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
