☕ 10 Popular Coffee Drinks in Chinese & How to Order Like a Local
Do you love 咖啡 (kāfēi coffee)? Whether you prefer a 美式 (měishì Americano) or a creamy 拿铁 (nátiě latte) learning how to order coffee in Chinese will make your experience even better!
With the growing coffee culture in China, knowing the names of popular coffee drinks can help you order with confidence from 卡布奇诺 (kǎbùqínuò cappuccino) to 摩卡 (mókǎ mocha).
☕ Explore the most common coffee terms and impress baristas with your Mandarin skills! Learn how to order your favorite coffee in Chinese ☕️
PART 01. CLASSIC DRINKS
Americano (美式 Měishì) ☕
美式 (měishì) literally means “American style” coffee in Chinese. This popular coffee choice is known for its smooth bold flavor perfect for those who enjoy a classic black coffee without milk.
Whether you’re ordering at a café in China or learning coffee related vocabulary knowing how to say Americano in Chinese will come in handy!
美式
měishì
americano
美式 (měishì) literally translates as “American-style”.
Cappuccino (卡布奇诺 Kǎbùqínuò) ☕
卡布奇诺 (kǎbùqínuò) is a loanword in Chinese meaning it’s a phonetic translation of the Western name. In many cafés in China people often shorten it to 卡布 (kǎbù) when ordering.
With its rich espresso steamed milk and creamy foam cappuccino remains a favorite among coffee lovers in China If you want to sound like a local try ordering your 卡布奇诺 with confidence!
卡布奇诺
kǎbùqínuò
cappuccino
卡布奇诺 (kǎbùqínuò) is a so-called loanword – a Chinese translation of a western name. It’s often shortened to 卡布 (kǎbù).
Latte (拿铁 Nátiě) ☕
拿铁 (nátiě) is another loanword in Chinese directly adapted from the Western name. Known for its smooth blend of espresso and steamed milk the 拿铁 is one of the most popular coffee choices in China.
If you’re ordering at a café simply ask for a 拿铁 (nátiě) and enjoy your creamy comforting coffee!
拿铁
nátiě
latte
拿铁 (nátiě), or latte, is a loanword, too.
PART 02. NEW DRINKS
Flat White (澳白 Àobái) ☕
澳白 (àobái) or 澳式白 (àoshìbái) literally means “Australian style white coffee” in Chinese. This smooth and velvety espresso based drink is a favorite among those who love a strong coffee flavor with a silky milk texture.
澳白
àobái
flat white
澳白 (àobái), or 澳式白 (àoshìbái), is “Australian-style” coffee.
Mocha (摩卡 Mókǎ) ☕
摩卡 (mókǎ) is a phonetic translation of the word “Mocha” in Chinese. This delicious coffee combines rich espresso steamed milk and chocolate syrup making it a great choice for those who love a sweeter coffee experience.
摩卡
mókǎ
mocha
摩卡(mókǎ) is a Chinese translation of mocha, which is a mixture of coffee and chocolate.
Cortado (科尔塔多 Kē’ěrtǎduō) ☕
科尔塔多 (kē’ěrtǎduō) is another loanword in Chinese. The name “Cortado” means “the cut” referring to how warm milk “cuts” the espresso to create a balanced smooth drink.
科尔塔多
kē’ěrtǎduō
cortado
Dirty Coffee (陨石 Yǔnshí) ☕
陨石 (yǔnshí) is a relatively new coffee trend in China. Made by pouring hot espresso over extremely cold milk this drink creates a rich contrast in texture and temperature. It’s popular in Asian countries like China Japan South Korea and Thailand
陨石
yǔnshí
dirty
PART 03. COFFEE AT HOME
With coffee shops becoming less accessible many people in China have turned to brewing coffee at home. Here are some popular at home coffee options and their names in Chinese!
Coffee Capsule (胶囊咖啡 Jiāonáng Kāfēi) ☕
胶囊咖啡 (jiāonáng kāfēi, coffee capsules) are small single serving coffee pods made of plastic or aluminum. Simply pop one into a coffee machine for a quick and consistent brew!
胶囊咖啡
jiāonáng kāfēi
coffee capsule
胶囊咖啡 (jiāonáng kāfēi), or coffee capsules, are plastic packs with a single portion of coffee powder. Convenient to use at home if you have a coffee machine.
Drip Coffee (挂耳咖啡 Guà’ěr Kāfēi) ☕
挂耳咖啡 (guà’ěr kāfēi, drip coffee bags) means “hanging ear coffee” in Chinese referring to the small pouches that hook onto a cup. Just pour hot water over the grounds no machine needed!
挂耳咖啡
guà’ěr kāfēi
drip coffee
挂耳咖啡 (guà’ěr kāfēi), or drip coffee bags (lit. “to hang-ears”), are small pouches of ground coffee that can be suspended over cups. Convenient to use at home, too – no coffee machine required.
Cold Brew Shots (冷胶咖啡液 Lěng Jiāo Kāfēi Yè) ☕)
冷胶咖啡液 (lěng jiāo kāfēi yè, cold brew coffee liquid) is a coffee shot that can be poured over ice or milk for a refreshing drink.
冷胶咖啡液
lěng jiāo kāfēi yè
cold brew shot(s)
ORDER YOUR COFFEE IN CHINESE
Want to order like a pro at a café in China? Here are some essential Chinese phrases to help you sound more natural when getting your favorite coffee!
☕ “I’d like a cup of Flat White, thank you.”
👉 我要杯澳白, 谢谢。
Wǒ yào yī bēi àobái, xièxie.
☕ “Two cups of Cappuccino to go, please.”
👉 请来两杯卡布, 带走, 谢谢。
Qǐng lái liǎng bēi kǎbù, dài zǒu, xièxie.
☕ “Please, add some sugar, thanks.”
👉 请加点糖, 谢谢。
Qǐng jiā diǎn táng, xièxie.
If you prefer a bolder coffee flavor you can ask the barista:
👉 “Please make coffee little stronger.”
✅ 请把咖啡做浓点，谢谢。
Qǐng bǎ kāfēi zuò nóng yīdiǎn, xièxie.
TIP:
Many coffee shops in China have bilingual menus (Chinese & English) making it easy to learn new coffee names while ordering!
We hope these useful phrases and tips will help you order coffee in Chinese with confidence! Next time you visit a café try using these expressions to enhance your Mandarin skills. To find out more interesting phrases and questions in Chinese, check out one of our blog posts:
5 Small Talk Phrases in Chinese
