Café role-play cards
Indicative level: CEFR A2–B1 (a rough guide only)
Scenario 1 · First order: Your first order
Your first order
Situation: You are new to the café. You want a flat white with oat milk to take away.
Your goal: Order clearly and pay.
Useful phrases:
- Could I get a flat white, please?
- Oat milk, please.
- Takeaway, thanks.
Challenge: Ask how much it is.
Your first order
Situation: A customer comes to the counter. Take the order and check the details.
Your goal: Get the drink, milk and size right.
Useful phrases:
- What can I get you?
- Regular or large?
- Here or takeaway?
Challenge: Repeat the order back before you take payment.
Scenario 2 · Not sure: Asking for a recommendation
Asking for a recommendation
Situation: You do not know the coffee names on the menu.
Your goal: Ask for help and choose a drink.
Useful phrases:
- What do you recommend?
- What is a flat white?
- I will try that, thanks.
Challenge: Say what you like: strong, milky or sweet.
Asking for a recommendation
Situation: A customer looks unsure.
Your goal: Help them choose in simple English.
Useful phrases:
- Do you like strong or milky coffee?
- Most people start with a flat white.
- Would you like to try that?
Challenge: Explain one drink in one short sentence.
Scenario 3 · Paying: Card, cash or split
Card, cash or split
Situation: You and a friend want to pay separately.
Your goal: Ask to split the bill.
Useful phrases:
- Could we pay separately, please?
- Can I tap?
- Could I get a receipt?
Challenge: Ask if there is an extra fee for card.
Card, cash or split
Situation: Two customers want to pay separately.
Your goal: Take two payments politely.
Useful phrases:
- Sure. Who is first?
- Tap here, please.
- Would you like a receipt?
Challenge: Say the total clearly for each person.
Scenario 4 · Card problem: Card declined
Card declined
Situation: Your card does not work.
Your goal: Stay calm and find another way to pay.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, could we try again?
- I have another card.
- Can I pay cash?
Challenge: Say sorry politely and do not blame the machine.
Card declined
Situation: The card was declined.
Your goal: Tell the customer kindly and offer options.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, it did not go through.
- Would you like to try again?
- You can use another card or cash.
Challenge: Keep your voice quiet so others do not hear.
Scenario 5 · Waiting: Still waiting for my coffee
Still waiting for my coffee
Situation: You ordered a while ago and your drink has not come.
Your goal: Ask politely about your order.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, I ordered a while ago.
- It was a long black under [name].
- Could you check, please?
Challenge: Say thank you when they fix it.
Still waiting for my coffee
Situation: A customer says they are still waiting.
Your goal: Check the order and say sorry.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry about the wait.
- What name was it under?
- I will check that for you now.
Challenge: Give a clear time: “It will be about two minutes.”
Scenario 6 · Wrong order: Wrong coffee, remake please
Wrong coffee, remake please
Situation: Your coffee has milk but you ordered a long black.
Your goal: Say it is not right and ask for a new one.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, I think this is not mine.
- I ordered a long black.
- Could you remake it, please?
Challenge: Stay friendly the whole time.
Wrong coffee, remake please
Situation: A customer says the coffee is wrong.
Your goal: Apologise and offer to fix it.
Useful phrases:
- No worries, I will make you a new one.
- Sorry about that.
- A long black, is that right?
Challenge: Ask one question to check the order.
Scenario 7 · Food safety: Asking about ingredients
Asking about ingredients
Situation: You must avoid some foods. You ask about a dish.
Your goal: Ask clearly and wait for a real answer.
Useful phrases:
- Does this contain nuts?
- I have an allergy.
- Could you check with the kitchen, please?
Challenge: If staff are not sure, ask them to check.
Asking about ingredients
Situation: A customer asks about ingredients.
Your goal: Be honest. If you do not know, check.
Useful phrases:
- Let me check for you.
- I will ask the kitchen.
- I am not sure, so I will check.
Challenge: Never guess about an allergy.
Scenario 8 · Repair: I did not understand
I did not understand
Situation: The barista speaks fast and you miss the question.
Your goal: Ask them to repeat or speak more slowly.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, could you say that again?
- Could you speak a bit slower, please?
- Do you mean oat milk or soy milk?
Challenge: Repeat what you heard to check.
I did not understand
Situation: You are busy and you spoke too fast.
Your goal: Say it again clearly and simply.
Useful phrases:
- Sure. Which milk would you like?
- Full cream, soy or oat?
- Sorry, I will say it again.
Challenge: Use shorter sentences the second time.
Scenario 9 · Group order: Ordering for friends
Ordering for friends
Situation: You are ordering four drinks.
Your goal: Order one drink at a time and check the list.
Useful phrases:
- Could I get two flat whites, please?
- And one latte and one hot chocolate.
- Could I check that back with you?
Challenge: Give a name for the order.
Ordering for friends
Situation: A customer is ordering four drinks.
Your goal: Write each drink and repeat the list.
Useful phrases:
- Anything else?
- So that is two flat whites, one latte and one hot chocolate.
- Name for the order?
Challenge: Ask which drinks need special milk.
Scenario 10 · Loyalty: Stamp card
Stamp card
Situation: You buy coffee here often.
Your goal: Ask about a stamp card.
Useful phrases:
- Do you have a loyalty card or an app?
- Could you stamp it for today?
- How many stamps do I need for a free drink?
Challenge: Say you left your card at home and ask politely for help.
Stamp card
Situation: A customer asks about rewards.
Your goal: Explain the card in simple words.
Useful phrases:
- We have a stamp card. Would you like one?
- You get a stamp with each coffee.
- It is printed on the card.
Challenge: Only promise what your café really offers.
Scenario 11 · Friends: Arranging a coffee catch-up
Arranging a coffee catch-up
Situation: You want to meet your classmate for a coffee.
Your goal: Suggest a time and place.
Useful phrases:
- Would you like to grab a coffee?
- How about Thursday at 3?
- Where would you like to meet?
Challenge: If the time does not work, suggest another.
Arranging a coffee catch-up
Situation: Your classmate asks you for a coffee.
Your goal: Accept, decline or suggest another time.
Useful phrases:
- That sounds great.
- Sorry, I cannot on Thursday. How about Friday?
- See you there.
Challenge: End the chat in a friendly way.
Scenario 12 · At work: A busy morning shift
A busy morning shift
Situation: You are on your first busy shift.
Your goal: Keep orders clear and stay calm.
Useful phrases:
- What can I get for you?
- Sorry, could you repeat that?
- Your coffee is ready, [name].
Challenge: Call the name clearly and say thank you.
A busy morning shift
Situation: You are in a hurry and change your mind.
Your goal: Change your order politely.
Useful phrases:
- Sorry, could I change my order?
- Actually, could I get a large?
- Thanks, no worries.
Challenge: Say thank you even if you are in a hurry.
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