Talking About Coffee Culture in English | Easy English Podcast for Beginners

Hello everyone and welcome back to Everyday English Academy where we make English simple and enjoyable. I'm Sarah

and I'm Mike. Hello to all of our wonderful listeners wherever you are in the world right now.

Mike, can I ask you something?

Sure. When did coffee get so complicated?

What do you mean?

I went to a new cafe last weekend and the menu. I did not understand the menu.

the menu. I did not understand the menu.

Like the prices?

No, the words. There was no coffee on the menu. It said things like single

the menu. It said things like single origin pourover and oat milk cortado and cold brew with notes of chocolate.

Notes of chocolate. It's coffee, not a piano.

Exactly. I just stood there for like 2 minutes looking at this menu thinking, where is the normal coffee?

So, what did you do? I said, "Can I just have a regular coffee?" And the barista looked at me like I asked for water from the ocean.

Oh, no.

He said, "Do you mean a filter drip or an Americano?" And I said, "The one that

an Americano?" And I said, "The one that tastes like coffee."

Oh, that is amazing. But actually, I kind of like those fancy cafes.

Wait, you?

I like trying new things with coffee. I

just don't always understand what I'm trying.

What do you mean?

Like I ordered something called a cortado once because it sounded cool.

Did you know what it was?

No, not at all. I just liked the word Mike. So, you judge coffee by the name?

Mike. So, you judge coffee by the name?

It sounded fancy. I thought this must be good. And honestly, it was good. I just

good. And honestly, it was good. I just

couldn't tell you what was in it.

That is so funny because I'm the opposite. I want a normal simple coffee.

opposite. I want a normal simple coffee.

No special names, no notes of anything.

Just coffee.

Just brown liquid in a cup.

Yes. Brown liquid, hot, maybe some milk.

Done. Perfect. Why does it need a story?

Because it's not just coffee anymore, Sarah. It's an experience.

Sarah. It's an experience.

An experience? It's a drink, Mike.

Okay. Okay. But you have to admit, coffee culture has become a really big thing everywhere.

That's actually true. And that is what we're talking about today. Not how to order, but the whole culture of coffee.

How it became so important in our daily lives. And there are some really useful

lives. And there are some really useful English words and phrases connected to coffee culture that you can use in everyday conversations.

Exactly. And we have some really fun phrases coming up later that you can start using this week. So stay with us.

But first, if you enjoy learning with us, please subscribe to Everyday English Academy and give this episode a like.

It really helps us reach more learners like you. Okay, Mike, let's talk about

like you. Okay, Mike, let's talk about this. Simple coffee versus fancy coffee.

this. Simple coffee versus fancy coffee.

Where do you stand?

Okay, honestly, I like fancy cafes. I

like the atmosphere, the design, the music, the Instagram photos, maybe a little bit.

But I also genuinely enjoy trying different types of coffee. Like there's

a cafe near my house that does this cold brew that takes 12 hours to make.

12 hours for coffee. Mike, I can brew coffee in 3 minutes.

Ah, good word. To brew means to make coffee or tea by mixing it with hot water. But this cold brew uses cold

water. But this cold brew uses cold water and time instead of heat. I

understand how it works. I just don't understand why. 3 minutes, hot water,

understand why. 3 minutes, hot water, done.

But don't you think the taste is different?

Honestly, all coffee tastes like coffee to me.

See, I think some people need time to appreciate certain flavors. It's like an acquired taste.

What do you mean? An acquired taste is something you don't like the first time, but after you try it a few times, you start to enjoy it.

H like dark chocolate.

Exactly. Or black coffee. Most people

don't like black coffee the first time.

I still don't like black coffee.

Well, maybe you haven't acquired it yet.

And maybe I never will. Give me milk and sugar and I'm happy. Okay, but I want to ask our listeners, are you a fancy coffee person or a simple coffee person?

Tell us in the comments. I'm really

curious.

Me, too. And no judgment either way.

Okay, so here's something I want to talk about. My relationship with coffee is

about. My relationship with coffee is complicated.

Complicated? How? Well, I love it, but I also need it. And that's different.

What do you mean?

Like yesterday, I didn't have coffee in the morning because I was late. And by

noon, I had a headache. I was in a bad mood and I almost fell asleep at my desk.

Oh, no.

It's not funny, Mike. I was sitting there like a zombie. Okay, it's a little funny, but I actually understand that's because

of caffeine. Caffeine is the ingredient

of caffeine. Caffeine is the ingredient in coffee that makes you feel awake and alert.

And when you don't have it, your body gets angry.

Exactly. Your body gets used to it. So,

when it's missing, you feel terrible.

That's me. Every time I skip my morning cup, I just wait for the caffeine to kick in and then I feel human again.

Yes, kick in means when the effect starts to work. So, after you drink coffee, you wait maybe 20 or 30 minutes and then the caffeine kicks in.

Suddenly, you feel awake.

It's like a switch. Before coffee,

everything is slow and gray. After the

caffeine kicks in, colors return, birds are singing, life is beautiful.

That's a little dramatic.

I'm being completely honest.

Have you ever thought about cutting back on coffee?

Cutting back on?

Yes. To cut back on something means to reduce it, to have less of it. Like, I'm

cutting back on sugar means you're eating less sugar than before. Have I

thought about cutting back on coffee?

Yes. Have I done it? Absolutely not.

At least you're honest.

I tried once. I lasted two days. Mike,

the headaches were terrible.

What about decaf? Decaf is coffee without caffeine. It tastes similar, but

without caffeine. It tastes similar, but doesn't have the ingredient that keeps you awake. Mike, decaf is not real

you awake. Mike, decaf is not real coffee. That's like a concert with no

coffee. That's like a concert with no music. What's the point?

music. What's the point?

Some people like it.

Some people also enjoy waking up at 400 a.m. I don't understand those people

a.m. I don't understand those people either.

Fair enough. How many cups do you drink per day?

Uh, three, sometimes four.

Four.

Don't look at me like that.

What about you?

Two maximum.

How do you survive on two cups?

I drink tea in the afternoon. It's a

lighter pickme up.

Oh, nice word. What does that mean?

A pickme up is something that gives you energy when you're feeling tired. Coffee

is a pickme up. Tea is a pickme up. Even

a short walk can be a pickme up.

So, it doesn't have to be a drink.

No. Anything that lifts your energy. I

need a little pickme up this afternoon.

That's really useful. But my pickme up is always coffee. Surprise, surprise.

And what about everyone listening? How

many cups of coffee do you drink per day?

Okay, now let's talk about something interesting. Coffee is not just a drink,

interesting. Coffee is not just a drink, right? It's also social.

right? It's also social.

So social? Think about it. When you want to meet someone, what do you say?

Hey, let's grab a coffee.

But do you actually care about the coffee?

Not really. I care about seeing my friend.

Exactly. Coffee is just the excuse. The

real reason is the conversation, the connection.

That's true. And there's a great phrase for this. When you meet someone to talk

for this. When you meet someone to talk about life and what's been happening, you catch up with them.

Yes. To catch up means to meet someone and talk about what's new in your lives.

I haven't seen Maria in months. We need

to catch up.

Or let's catch up over coffee this weekend. It sounds so natural.

weekend. It sounds so natural.

And the coffee shop is the perfect place for that because it's relaxed, it's casual, nobody's in a rush. Well, unless

there's only one table and six people waiting.

True, but usually it's a calm place to sit and talk.

You know what's funny? Some of my best conversations have happened in coffee shops, like real deep talks about life.

There's something about holding a warm cup that makes people open up.

Are you being poetic about coffee now?

Maybe, but it's true. You never have deep conversations at a fast food place.

It's always at a cafe with slow sips.

Oh, good word. To sip means to drink slowly in small amounts. Not like

drinking a glass of water fast, more like small, slow sips.

She sipped her coffee while watching the rain. Very relaxing image, right? Very

rain. Very relaxing image, right? Very

relaxing and very different from me at 7 a.m. drinking my coffee like it's

a.m. drinking my coffee like it's medicine.

Not exactly sipping.

Now, Mike, I want to be honest about something. You know those really fancy

something. You know those really fancy lattes, the ones with caramel and cream and special flavors?

Yes. I said I like simple coffee and I do, but those fancy sweet lattes, they're my guilty pleasure.

Your guilty pleasure? Wait, you just spent 5 minutes saying fancy coffee is unnecessary.

I know. That's why it's a guilty pleasure. A guilty pleasure is something

pleasure. A guilty pleasure is something you enjoy even though you feel a little bad about it.

So, you secretly love them?

Secretly? Yes. Sometimes on a bad day, I go to a cafe and I order the most ridiculous sweet latte on the menu and I

enjoy every single sip.

Sarah, you're a secret fancy coffee person.

No, I'm a simple coffee person with occasional weaknesses.

Sure. Sure. So, what's your guilty pleasure, everyone? Coffee related or

pleasure, everyone? Coffee related or not? Tell us in the comments.

not? Tell us in the comments.

Yes, we all have one.

Okay, this is going to be fun. Let's

play a little game. I call it, "What does your coffee say about you?"

Oh, no. Okay, go.

If you drink black coffee with nothing, you're a very direct, nononsense person.

I agree. Black coffee people are usually very honest and efficient. Maybe a

little scary.

And if you drink a latte with oat milk, you probably do yoga and own a plant called something like Gerald.

Why Gerald?

I don't know. Plant people name their plants.

Okay. What about people who drink espresso? Just a tiny strong cup.

espresso? Just a tiny strong cup.

They're always in a hurry, always busy.

They drink it in one shot and they're gone.

Like a coffee action hero.

And people who order sweet drinks with lots of cream and syrup. They are fun people. They enjoy life. They don't care

people. They enjoy life. They don't care what anyone thinks.

Okay, I accept that. All right, before we finish, let's do our word tour. We'll

go through the useful words from today so you can remember them.

First one, brew. To brew means to make coffee or tea using hot water. I brew my coffee every morning at home.

Next, acquired taste. Something you

don't like at first, but you learn to enjoy after trying it a few times. Black

coffee is an acquired taste.

Sip. To drink slowly in small amounts.

She sipped her tea while reading a book.

Next. Caffeine. The ingredient in coffee that makes you feel awake and alert. I

try not to have caffeine after 300 p.m.

Kick in. When the effect of something starts to work. The coffee usually kicks in after about 20 minutes.

Cut back on. To reduce how much of something you do or consume. My doctor

told me to cut back on caffeine.

Caffeine is the natural stimulant in coffee that makes you feel more awake.

Too much caffeine can keep you asleep.

That's why my doctor told me to cut back on caffeine.

Decaf. Coffee without caffeine. I

sometimes drink decaf in the evening so I can sleep.

Pick me up. Something that gives you energy when you're tired. I need a little pickme up this afternoon.

Catch up. To meet someone and talk about what's been happening. Let's catch up over coffee this weekend.

And guilty pleasure. Something you enjoy even though you feel a little bad about it. Fancy caramel lattes are my guilty

it. Fancy caramel lattes are my guilty pleasure.

Those are 10 really useful phrases you can start using right away.

All right, everyone. That's our episode for today.

Thank you so much for spending time with us. And remember, whether you like

us. And remember, whether you like simple coffee or fancy coffee, the important thing is enjoying the moment.

And if you enjoyed this moment, please subscribe to Everyday English Academy and give us a like.

Share this with a friend who loves coffee or a friend who needs coffee to survive like me.

Stay caffeinated, stay curious, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Bye everyone.

Bye.