7 Konglish Korean Café Menu Words — From Latte (라테) to Ade (에이드)

💝 Ordering Coffee in Korea? Learn These Konglish Café Expressions! – Part 10


Konglish Series: Korean Café Words – Latte, Decaffein, Whipping Cream, and Ade | Hangeulia

안녕하세요. I'm Hangeulia ^-^

Welcome back to the Konglish Series! ☕
If you’ve ever visited a café in Korea, you’ve probably seen English-looking words on the menu — but their meanings (and even pronunciation) can be a little different from what native speakers expect. 😉
This post helps you order confidently even when the menu looks like English but isn’t used the same way. I’ll show you what each word means in real café life — plus how to say it naturally in English.
And at the end, I added a quick FAQ for the most common café confusion in Korea ^^



💜 Latte (Ra-tte, 라테 / 라떼)


Situation
Two friends ordering at a café.

Dialogue
A: 나는 카페라떼 마실래.
(na-neun ka-pe-ra-tte ma-sil-lae)
B: 나는 딸기라떼!
(na-neun ttal-gi-ra-tte!)

Natural English
A: I’ll have a caffè latte.
B: I’ll have a strawberry milk latte!


💛 Story Note
In English, a latte usually means espresso + steamed milk (with a little foam).
But in Korea, 라떼 can mean any milk-based drink — coffee or non-coffee! ☕🥛
So you’ll see coffee drinks like 카페라떼 (caffè latte) and 바닐라라떼 (vanilla latte), but also non-coffee drinks like 딸기라떼 (strawberry latte), 녹차라떼 (green tea latte), and 초코라떼 (chocolate latte). 🍓🍵🍫
Pronunciation tip: In English, it’s /ˈlæteɪ/ (“LAH-tay”). In Korea, locals say 라-떼 (“lat-tte”) with a stronger double-t sound.

  • 라떼 (latte) = milk-based drink (coffee or non-coffee in Korea; espresso + milk in English)


💜 Decaffein (Di-ka-pe-in, 디카페인)


Situation
A customer ordering coffee late at night.

Dialogue
A: 카페라떼 디카페인으로 가능한가요?
(ka-pe-ra-tte di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro ga-neung-han-ga-yo?)
B: 네, 디카페인으로 바꿔드릴까요?
(ne, di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro ba-kkwo-deu-ril-kka-yo?)

Natural English
A: Can I get my caffè latte in decaf?
B: Sure, would you like me to make it decaf for you?


💛 Story Note
In Korea, menus often say 디카페인 (sometimes written as “Decaffein” or “Decaf”) for coffee with less or no caffeine.
In English, people don’t say “decaffein” — they simply say decaf (short for decaffeinated).
So in Korea, say 디카페인으로 해주세요 (di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro hae-ju-se-yo); abroad, just say decaf. ☕

  • 디카페인 (decaf) = coffee with less or no caffeine


💜 Whipping Cream (Hwi-ping-keu-rim, 휘핑크림)


Situation
At a café counter ordering a drink.

Dialogue
Barista: 휘핑크림 추가하시겠어요?
(hwi-ping-keu-rim chu-ga-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?)
Customer: 네, 추가할게요.
(ne, chu-ga-hal-ge-yo)

Natural English
Barista: Would you like to add whipped cream?
Customer: Yes, please add it.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, people call the fluffy topping 휘핑크림 (whipping cream).
But in English, whipping cream is the liquid before it’s whipped — and whipped cream is the soft topping you actually put on drinks.
In Korea, just say 휘핑크림 추가할게요 when you want extra cream. 😉

  • 휘핑크림 (whipping cream) = whipped cream (topping)


💜 Einspänner (Ain-shu-pe-neo, 아인슈페너)


Situation
Two friends relaxing in a café.

Dialogue
A: 이거 진짜 맛있다~ 크림이랑 커피 조합이 최고야.
(i-geo jin-jja ma-sit-da~ keu-rim-i-rang keo-pi jo-hab-i choe-go-ya)
B: 그거 아인슈페너야. 요즘 카페에서 인기 많아!
(geu-geo a-in-syu-pe-neo-ya. yo-jeum ka-pe-e-seo in-gi man-a!)

Natural English
A: This is so good — the mix of coffee and cream is perfect!
B: That’s a Vienna coffee. It’s super popular in Korean cafés now!


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 아인슈페너 is espresso topped with sweet whipped cream.
Outside Korea, the drink is more often described as Vienna coffee or espresso topped with whipped cream.
So in Korea, say 아인슈페너; in English, say Vienna coffee (or describe it).

  • 아인슈페너 (Einspänner) = Vienna coffee / espresso with whipped cream


💜 Hot Choco (Hat-cho-ko, 핫초코)


Situation
Two friends ordering drinks at a café.

Dialogue
A: 뭔가 달달한 거 땡긴다. 난 핫초코 먹을래.
(mwon-ga dal-dal-han geo ttaeng-gin-da. nan hat-cho-ko meo-geul-lae)
B: 나도. 난 아이스초코!
(na-do. nan a-i-seu-cho-ko!)

Natural English
A: I’m craving something sweet. I’ll have hot chocolate.
B: Me too. I’ll get an iced chocolate!


💛 Story Note
In English, people say hot chocolate or iced chocolate drink.
But in Korea, you’ll see 핫초코 (hot choco) and 아이스초코 (iced choco) on almost every café menu. ☕🍫
To sound like a real local, try: 핫초코 하나 주세요 or 아이스초코 하나 주세요. 😉

  • 핫초코 (hot choco) = hot chocolate
  • 아이스초코 (iced choco) = iced chocolate drink


💜 Ade (E-i-deu, 에이드)


Situation
Two friends ordering summer drinks.

Dialogue
A: 난 자몽에이드 마실래.
(nan ja-mong e-i-deu ma-sil-lae)
B: 난 레몬에이드!
(nan le-mon e-i-deu!)

Natural English
A: I’ll have a grapefruit soda.
B: I’ll get a lemonade!


💛 Story Note
In Korean café culture, 에이드 refers to a fizzy, fruit-based drink — usually fruit syrup or juice mixed with sparkling water. 🍹
Popular flavors include 레몬에이드, 자몽에이드, and 청포도에이드.
In English, you might say lemonade, fruit soda, or grapefruit soda. (And yes — in Korea, “ade” is usually carbonated.)

  • 에이드 (ade) = fizzy fruit drink / fruit soda


💜 Hand Drip (Haen-deu-deu-rip, 핸드드립)


Situation
Two coffee lovers talking.

Dialogue
A: 나 요즘 핸드드립 배우는 중이야.
(na yo-jeum haen-deu-deu-rip bae-u-neun jung-i-ya)
B: 오~ 직접 내리는 거 멋있다!
(o~ jik-jeop nae-ri-neun geo meo-sit-da!)

Natural English
A: I’ve been learning manual brewing lately.
B: Oh~ that’s cool, making coffee yourself!


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 핸드드립 means coffee made by hand-pouring hot water over grounds.
In English, “hand drip” isn’t common — people say pour-over coffee or manual brewing.
If you see V60 on a menu, that’s a very popular pour-over method.

  • 핸드드립 (hand drip) = pour-over coffee / manual brewing


💜 Mini Order Guide — Useful Café Phrases in Korea


Now that you understand the menu, let’s move on to actually ordering like a local. These simple phrases will help you customize your drink confidently at any Korean café. ☕


☕ Decaf Requests

디카페인으로 가능한가요?
(di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro ga-neung-han-ga-yo?)
Is decaf available?

디카페인으로 해주세요.
(di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro hae-ju-se-yo)
Please make it decaf.


☁️ Whipped Cream Options

휘핑크림 추가해주세요.
(hwi-ping-keu-rim chu-ga-hae-ju-se-yo)
Please add whipped cream.

휘핑크림은 빼 주세요.
(hwi-ping-keu-rim-eun ppae ju-se-yo)
Please leave out the whipped cream.


⚡ Extra Shot Requests

샷 추가 가능한가요?
(syat chu-ga ga-neung-han-ga-yo?)
Can I add an extra shot?

샷 추가 해주세요.
(syat chu-ga hae-ju-se-yo)
Please add an extra shot.


✨ Tip: In Korean cafés, it’s very common to customize drinks. Feel free to mix these phrases — the staff will understand you right away.



💜 FAQ — Korean Café Menu Guide


1) Does “decaf” in Korea always mean zero caffeine?

Not always. In many Korean cafés, 디카페인 (decaf) usually means coffee with significantly reduced caffeine, not completely caffeine-free.


2) Why does “latte” in Korea include non-coffee drinks?

In Korea, 라떼 (latte) is commonly used to describe any milk-based drink, not just espresso with milk. That’s why café menus often include items like strawberry latte, green tea latte, or chocolate latte.


3) What’s the difference between whipping cream and whipped cream?

In English, whipping cream refers to liquid cream before it’s whipped, while whipped cream is the fluffy topping added to drinks. In Korea, however, 휘핑크림 usually means the finished topping.


4) What does an Einspänner taste like?

An Einspänner is espresso topped with sweet whipped cream. It combines strong coffee bitterness with smooth sweetness, making it a popular dessert-style coffee in Korean cafés.


5) Are “ade” drinks always carbonated in Korea?

Most of the time, yes. In Korean cafés, 에이드 (ade) is usually made with fruit syrup or juice mixed with sparkling water. If you prefer a non-carbonated drink, you can ask if it’s possible to remove the fizz.


6) How is hand drip coffee different from an Americano?

An Americano is typically espresso diluted with hot water. Hand drip (pour-over) coffee is brewed by slowly pouring hot water over coffee grounds, which often results in a cleaner taste and more delicate aromas.



💜 Quick Recap


Before you head to the counter, here’s a quick recap you can screenshot ^^

  • 라떼 (latte) = milk-based drink
  • 디카페인 (decaf) = coffee with less or no caffeine
  • 휘핑크림 (whipping cream) = whipped cream
  • 아인슈페너 (Einspänner) = Vienna coffee / espresso with whipped cream
  • 핫초코 (hot choco) = hot chocolate
  • 에이드 (ade) = fizzy fruit drink / fruit soda
  • 핸드드립 (hand drip) = pour-over coffee


💜 Final Thoughts


Now you can order drinks in Korea like a local! ☕🥤 From 라떼 to 에이드, these Konglish café words are everywhere — so next time you visit a Korean café, you’ll not only enjoy the taste, but also understand the language behind the menu. 💬✨

With love,
한글리아 😊



Part 10 of the Konglish series — ← Previous: Part 9. 7 Konglish Korean Shopping Terms — From Open Run (오픈런) to One Plus One (원플러스원)

Popular posts from this blog

K-Drama Spots from K-Pop Demon Hunters You Can Actually Visit in Korea!

Image
💝 7 Real Places in Korea That Capture the Heart of K-Pop Demon Hunters — Plus Bonus Spots 안녕하세요! I’m Hangeulia ^-^ Lately, I’ve been totally obsessed with K-Pop Demon Hunters — in Korea, everyone casually calls it 케데몬 [keh-deh-mohn]. If you love Netflix K-dramas, K-pop, and planning your next trip to Korea, you’re in the right place. ^^ While watching the movie, so many scenes felt strangely familiar — like places I had actually walked through before. As someone living in Korea, I could immediately recognize the vibes of certain streets, towers, palaces, and even traditional villages. This is a practical travel guide for K-Pop Demon Hunters fans who want to visit real-life locations in and around Seoul. In this post, we’ll explore: 7 must-visit locations in and around Seoul that capture the feeling of the movie Bonus spots that inspired key scenes and concepts in K-Pop Demon Hunters Ready to step into 👣 the world of Huntrix and the Saja Boy...
Read more

Korean Sunbae & Hoobae Etiquette — Meaning, K-Pop Examples & Korean Seniority Culture

Image
💝 What Do Sunbae & Hoobae Really Mean? A Deep Dive into Korean Respect Culture 안녕하세요, I’m Hangeulia ^-^ 💗 If you’ve watched K-dramas, listened to K-pop, or followed idol interviews, you’ve probably heard the words sunbae (선배, seon-bae) and hoobae (후배, hu-bae) . They sound simple — “senior” and “junior” — but in Korean culture, they carry deep layers of respect, hierarchy, and social etiquette . In this guide, I’ll walk you through the hidden rules behind these terms — how they work in K-pop, why idols call each other sunbae-nim (선배님) , and what foreigners often misunderstand about Korean seniority culture. This etiquette guide covers: What sunbae & hoobae really mean in Korea Why debut or entry year matters more than age How the system works in K-pop, school, and everyday life How etiquette changed after COVID (backstage rules & dance challenges) K-drama & K-pop examples, including K-Pop Demon Hunters and G-Dragon Co...
Read more

K-Demon Hunters Itinerary: A 3-Night, 4-Day Seoul Trip Inspired by K-Drama Vibes

Image
💝 Let the K-Drama Adventure Begin: 3 Nights, 4 Days in Seoul Inspired by 케데헌 Hello~ I'm Hangeulia ^-^ 💗 If you watched K-Pop Demon Hunters (케데헌) and thought, “Wow… I wish I could visit places like that in real life...”, this itinerary is for you. This is a practical 3-night, 4-day Seoul itinerary for K-drama and K-pop lovers. It’s designed for travelers who: Plan to stay near Myeongdong as a home base Want to visit real places that match 케데헌 vibes Prefer an easy pace using subway + taxi (not too exhausting!) You’ll walk through palaces, hanok alleys, night markets, riverside parks, and classic K-drama viewpoints — with food tips and photo ideas along the way. For detailed info on each filming-inspired location (addresses, hours, and maps), check out this companion guide first 👉 7 K-Drama Spots from K-Pop Demon Hunters You Can Actually Visit in Korea Now, let the 케데헌일정 (K-Demon Hunters itinerary!) be your guide to a ...
Read more

How to Eat Hangang Ramyeon Like a Local — Inspired by Our Unwritten Seoul

Image
💜 The Real Hangang Ramyeon Experience Electronic ramyeon cookers at the Han River — where locals make their favorite Hangang ramyeon. 안녕하세요. I’m Hangeulia ^-^ 💗 If you’ve watched Our Unwritten Seoul , you probably fell in love with the warm, cozy Hangang ramyeon scene with Mi-ji and Ho-su . Eating ramyeon by the Han River isn’t just a snack — it’s a little Korean ritual. In this guide, you’ll learn: Where to buy ramyeon at the Han River How to use the electronic ramyeon cooker step by step Popular sides Koreans pair with ramyeon Best time to visit & what it costs Essential Hangang etiquette & safety tips for first-time visitors K-drama + K-culture insights to enjoy the moment even more Ready to eat Hangang ramyeon like a real local? Let’s start! 🍜✨ ❤ K-Culture Tip: Ramyeon vs. Ramen In Korea, ramyeon (라면) refers to our spicy instant noodles. Ramen usually refe...
Read more

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call K-Drama Review | Based on a True Story, Starring Joo Ji-hoon

Image
💝 The Trauma Code K-Drama Review — A Powerful True-Story Medical Drama With No Filler 안녕하세요, I'm Hangeulia ^-^ If you're searching for your next must-watch K-drama , The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (중증외상센터: 골든 아워) is the one. Rooted in real trauma cases, real emergency rescues, and real doctors’ fight for change, this series is so intense and authentic that you’ll likely finish all eight episodes in one or two days. This review covers the drama’s true-story origins, standout performances, binge-worthy appeal, a spoiler-light episode guide, and FAQs (including Season 2 news!) — so you can easily decide if this powerful medical drama deserves a spot on your watchlist. In this post, I’ll walk you through: The real-story background behind The Trauma Code The cast and why their acting hits so hard Why viewers binge all 8 episodes A clear story overview ✨ Spoiler-light summaries of Episodes 1–8 FAQ (including Season 2 & 3 updates) Let’...
Read more

Our Unwritten Seoul Review — A Warm, Healing K-Drama You Shouldn’t Miss

Image
💖 Our Unwritten Seoul Review — A Heartwarming K-Drama About Healing and Life in Seoul Hello, I’m Hangeulia ^-^ Sometimes a K-drama comes along that feels less like a show and more like a quiet conversation with your heart. Our Unwritten Seoul is exactly that kind of story — soft, heartfelt, and beautifully Seoul in every way. I found myself completely drawn in. 😄 If you loved My Mister or Misaeng , you’ll feel right at home here. Our Unwritten Seoul carries that same warm tone that embraces you slowly, scene by scene — it’s the kind of show that whispers instead of shouts. Highly recommended if your heart needs something gentle today. In this review, I’ll walk you through five things: a spoiler-light story overview, the healing themes that make this drama feel like Seoul’s heartbeat, a cast guide focused on Yoo Mi-ji & Yoo Mi-rae’s duality, a full Official OST tracklist with my top pick, and a mini “Korean vibes” guide so you can recreate the Hangang ram...
Read more