What tips are useful for ordering drinks in Spanish cafes

Here are some practical tips for ordering drinks in Spanish cafés:

Common Vocabulary and Phrases

• Un café, por favor — A coffee, please
• Un café con leche — Coffee with milk
• Un cortado — Espresso with a splash of milk
• Un té — A tea
• Una cerveza — A beer
• Un vaso de agua — A glass of water

You can add “por favor” to any request for politeness, and “gracias” after being served.

Cultural Tips

• In Spain, coffee culture is strong. People often stand at the bar to drink their coffee quickly instead of sitting down.
• Milk-based coffees (like café con leche) are more common in the morning, whereas espresso (sólo) or cortado are preferred in the afternoon.
• If you order café americano, you’ll get espresso diluted with hot water — not filter coffee.
• To ask for sugar or sweetener: ¿Me puede traer azúcar, por favor?
• For takeaway, say para llevar (“to go”).

Extra Expressions

• ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
• ¿Tienen leche vegetal? — Do you have plant-based milk?
• ¿Puedo pagar aquí o en la barra? — Can I pay here or at the counter?

Would you like me to include tips specific to Andalusian or Catalan cafés (they have unique coffee terminology)?