咖啡厅用语 Cafe Related Words in Chinese
Order exactly what you want, however you want it — drink names, sizes, syrups, and the phrases for asking for a swap or an extra shot. Coffee shop menus in Taiwan mix English loanwords with their own local names!
Coffee Selections
Size (oz. Conversion)
Note: The same words mean different sizes depending on whether you’re at a regular coffee shop or Starbucks!
Syrups
Customization Options
Adjusting an order
Sugar & Ice Levels
Taiwanese coffee and drink counters let you dial in sugar and ice separately. Here’s how to order perfectly.
Sugar Level (甜度)
Ice Level (冰量)
Useful Phrases
Cafe Culture & Rules
Taiwan: Cafe rules to know (咖啡厅规定)
Independent cafes — the kind with good wifi and a laptop crowd — often post house rules by the door. Two terms are worth knowing:
- 低消 (dīxiāo) – Minimum spend: Many cafes require at least one drink per person (低消一杯).
- 限时 (xiànshí) – Time limit: Some cafes cap how long you can sit, especially if you’re plugged into a power outlet. (e.g., 限时2小时).
At convenience stores, coffee orders get compressed into 3-character shorthand. E.g., 大冰美 dàbīngměi (Large Iced Americano) or 中热拿 zhōngrèná (Medium Hot Latte).
Mainland China: Ordering by App (小程序)
In China, chains like Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) are massive. Almost entirely app-ordered — many locations don’t take counter orders at all.
- 小程序 (xiǎochéngxù): A WeChat “mini-program” most Chinese cafes use for ordering.
- Scan the QR code on the table, order and pay from your phone, and a number gets called when it’s ready.
☕ Cafe Ordering Challenge
Choose the correct Chinese response!
