Hospitality and workplace English · English through Australian life

How to Take a Customer’s Coffee Order in English

Practical English for café workers taking coffee orders, clarifying milk and size choices, and confirming a bill.

Melbourne café employee writing down a customer's coffee order while confirming their drink choice.

Published 14/10/2026 · Educational guide

What you need to know

Taking orders is a listening skill as much as a speaking skill. Ask one question at a time and repeat key details back to the customer.

Listen for the drink type, size, milk choice, extras and whether the customer wants takeaway or dine-in. Confirm details without making assumptions.

Before payment, read the order back and give the customer a chance to correct it.

Useful English phrases

What can I get for you?
Would you like that regular or large?
Was that oat milk or full cream?
Having here or takeaway?
Let me check I have that right.

Real-life conversation practice

Staff: Hi, what can I get for you?

Customer: A large flat white with oat milk, takeaway.

Staff: One large oat flat white to take away. Is that right?

Customer: That's right, thanks.

Try it yourself

Practise the conversation with a friend. Swap roles, use one new phrase, then ask a polite clarification question. Speak slowly first, then repeat at a natural pace.

Phrase Wall practice: use this phrase

Let me check I have that right.

Say the example aloud, then try it in a real conversation. Discover more useful phrases and save your favourites to My Learning.

Explore Phrase Wall

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Official Australian references

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