English Learning Content for Beginners: At the Café

Dialogue

Alice: Hi, Bob! Fancy meeting you here. Are you getting your morning coffee?

Bob: Alice! What a surprise! Yeah, I am. And you? Getting your usual plain black coffee?

Alice: You know me too well! But today, I’m feeling adventurous. I might get a latte. What about you? Still on the super sweet caramel train?

Bob: Hey, that “train” is delicious! But actually, I’m also feeling adventurous today. Prepare yourself.

Alice: Oh no. What wild concoction have you dreamed up now? Is it going to glow in the dark?

Bob: Even better! I’m ordering an “iced mocha with extra whipped cream, sprinkles, and a small side of pickles.”

Alice: Pickles?! Bob, seriously? That’s… uniquely you. Are you feeling okay?

Bob: Never better! It’s the perfect sweet and sour balance. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!

Alice: I don’t think I can trust your taste buds on this one, my friend. Look, the barista is ready for us.

Bob: Wish me luck! (To barista) Hi! Can I get an iced mocha with extra whipped cream, sprinkles, and a small side of pickles, please?

Alice: (Whispering) She looks so confused. Very, very confused.

Bob: (Smiling) They get a lot of strange orders, I’m sure. It’s fine.

Alice: So, about this dare… Was it a dare? Please tell me it was a dare.

Bob: It started as a dare, but now I genuinely love it. You want to try a pickle with your latte?

Alice: Absolutely not, thank you. But good luck with your adventurous snack!

Current Situation

In this dialogue, Alice and Bob meet at a café. A café (or coffee shop) is a popular place where people go to buy drinks like coffee, tea, and sometimes snacks or light meals. It’s a common spot for friends to meet, study, or simply relax. In many countries, ordering coffee can be quite specific, with different sizes, types of milk, and added flavors. Bob’s unusual order of “iced mocha with pickles” adds a humorous twist to their everyday conversation, highlighting how friends can tease each other.

Key Phrases

• Fancy meeting you here: A friendly and often surprising way to say “It’s nice to see you here unexpectedly.” Example: “Fancy meeting you here, Sarah! I didn’t know you came to this gym.”
• What a surprise!: An expression used when something unexpected happens. Example: “What a surprise! I thought you were on vacation.”
• Getting your usual…?: Asking if someone is ordering or doing the thing they typically do. Example: “Are you getting your usual cheese sandwich for lunch?”
• I’m feeling adventurous: Saying you want to try something new or different. Example: “Normally I eat pasta, but today I’m feeling adventurous and will try sushi.”
• Don’t knock it ’til you try it!: A common saying meaning you shouldn’t criticize something before you experience it yourself. Example: “Broccoli ice cream? Don’t knock it ’til you try it!”
• Can I get…?: A polite and common way to ask for something, especially when ordering food or drinks. Example: “Can I get a large water, please?”
• Good luck with that! / Good luck explaining that!: Used to wish someone well, often when their task seems difficult or unusual. Example: “You want to carry all those bags by yourself? Good luck with that!”

Grammar Points

1. Simple Present Tense for Habits and Routines

   We use the simple present tense to talk about things that happen regularly or are generally true.

   • “Are you getting your morning coffee?” (Asking about a regular activity)
   • “Getting your usual plain black coffee?” (Asking about a habit)
   • “They get a lot of strange orders.” (A general truth about the café)

   Structure: Subject + Verb (base form or verb + -s/-es for he/she/it)

   Example: I drink coffee every morning. He often visits this café.

2. Present Continuous Tense for Current Actions or Plans

   We use the present continuous tense (am/is/are + verb-ing) to talk about actions happening now or plans for the near future.

   • “Are you getting your morning coffee?” (Referring to the current action/intention)
   • “I’m feeling adventurous.” (Describing a current state/feeling)
   • “I’m ordering an iced mocha…” (Talking about an action happening now or very soon)

   Structure: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing

   Example: I am drinking coffee right now. She is meeting a friend later.

3. Modals for Requests and Possibility (Can)

   The modal verb “can” is used for making polite requests or talking about ability/possibility.

   • “Can I get an iced mocha…?” (A polite request for an item)
   • “I don’t think I can trust your taste buds…” (Talking about possibility or ability)

   Structure for requests: Can I get/have…? + Noun

   Example: Can I get a menu, please? Can I have a moment?

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the key phrases from the list. (Fancy meeting you here, What a surprise!, Getting your usual…?, I’m feeling adventurous, Don’t knock it ’til you try it!, Can I get?, Good luck with that!)

1. “Oh, look who it is! Sarah, ______________!”
   Answer: Fancy meeting you here
2. “You want to climb that mountain today? ______________!”
   Answer: Good luck with that!
3. “This new soup tastes strange, but ______________!”
   Answer: don’t knock it ’til you try it!
4. “Excuse me, ______________ a glass of water, please?”
   Answer: can I get
5. “______________ a coffee, Dad? Or something else?”
   Answer: Getting your usual
6. “I always order pizza, but tonight ______________ and want to try Thai food.”
   Answer: I’m feeling adventurous
7. “I saw you at the cinema yesterday. ______________!”
   Answer: What a surprise!

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Tense

Choose the correct form of the verb (Simple Present or Present Continuous) to complete each sentence.

1. I usually (drink/am drinking) tea in the morning.
   Answer: drink
2. Look! The barista (makes/is making) your coffee now.
   Answer: is making
3. What (do you do/are you doing) right now?
   Answer: are you doing
4. She always (goes/is going) to that café on Fridays.
   Answer: goes
5. Today, I (try/am trying) something new.
   Answer: am trying

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions about the Dialogue

Read the dialogue again and answer these questions in complete sentences.

1. What does Alice usually order at the café?
   Answer: Alice usually orders plain black coffee.
2. What unusual item does Bob want with his iced mocha?
   Answer: Bob wants a small side of pickles with his iced mocha.
3. How does Alice react to Bob’s order?
   Answer: Alice is surprised and confused, asking if Bob is feeling okay.
4. Why does Bob say “Don’t knock it ’til you try it!”?
   Answer: Bob says “Don’t knock it ’til you try it!” because Alice is judging his unusual order without tasting it.
5. Did Bob’s unusual order start as a dare?
   Answer: Yes, Bob’s unusual order started as a dare.