Coffee Break German

I bet you've done at least one of these. In this episode I walk through five mistakes German learners make all the time, from getting the construction behind "recht haben" right, to knowing when to use "wenn" and when to use "als", to the little contrast between "ich bin ..." and "mir ist ..." when you talk about how you feel. We'll also sort out "machen" versus "nehmen" and why fun "macht Spaß" r...

Ordering an ice cream might sound simple, but in German-speaking countries it can be a surprisingly different experience. In this episode, Thomas explains how it all works, from reading the menu to ordering at the counter, along with the words and phrases you need to get your 'Eis' just right. You'll be ready for your next visit to an 'Eiscafé'. ➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this epi...

We've all been there: you're mid-sentence and the word just won't come. In this episode, Thomas shares the little phrases German speakers reach for when they're lost for words or need a second to think. Learn how to buy yourself time and keep a conversation flowing naturally. ➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode . ➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straight to your inbox? S...

English gets by with one little word, after, but German has three: nach , nachdem and danach . In this episode, Thomas picks up where the 'before' episode left off and shows you when to use each one, along with während , the single German word for during. He finishes with some handy vocabulary for saying just, right and directly before or after something. ➡️ Click here to watch the video version o...

Thomas explains how German handles the word "before". You'll see when to use "vor", "bevor" and "davor", with clear example sentences that show each one in context. By the end, you'll know exactly which word to reach for and when. Which one trips you up the most? ➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode. ➡️ Love learning in short bursts? Our free weekly newsletter is packed with ti...

Thomas introduces five beautifully untranslatable German words that capture feelings and experiences English needs a whole sentence to describe. From "Kopfkino" and "Fernweh" to the warm, hard-to-define "Geborgenheit", you'll discover what each word means, how to use it, and why German has words for ideas other languages don't. Which one is your favourite? ➡️ Click here to watch the video version...

Are you ready for a test? In this episode, Thomas presents 10 German words that look just like English words and challenges you to decide whether they share the same meaning or not. You'll pick up some new vocabulary and learn to avoid some surprisingly common misunderstandings. ➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode and access a free worksheet in the comments section. ➡️ Love le...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Today, some regulars’ routines are unexpectedly changed. Die Erzählerin beobachtet eine Mutter, die...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Today, Felix works his final shift before starting a new job. Die Terrasse ist voll, die Sonne stra...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Today, friendships are tested – and hearts are lightened. Johanna betritt das Café Händchen haltend...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Während der Buchclub diskutiert, bemerkt die Erzählerin eine Frau mittleren Alters, die nervös auf...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Today is a big day for one of the café’s hardest workers.  Die Sonne scheint, die Gäste genieß...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. There are some scenes that touch everyone’s feelings. A girl with two daisies, her dad counting coi...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your language skills naturally through storytelling. The guests are gone… except for one couple. Caught up in each other, they don’t notice the time – or anythin...

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, you’ll follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your language skills naturally through storytelling. There’s always a story waiting to be told at Erna’s Café…
A group of men walk in—well-dressed, familiar....

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. With the book club debating at one table and a family celebration at another, things become lively...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Scenes from the Coffee Break German Café – willkommen in Staffel 2! If you joined us in Season 1 then you will already be familiar with Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, you’ll follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your lang...

In this thoughtful Coffee Break German mini-episode, Thomas takes you into one of the German-speaking world’s favourite end-of-year traditions: the Jahresrückblick . From nostalgic TV shows to personal memories, you’ll learn how Germans talk about looking back and how to do it yourself. Discover useful expressions like etwas Revue passieren lassen as Thomas guides you through each phrase with clea...

The holiday season is just around the corner, and in this mini-episode, we're bringing you a festive German lesson, perfect for an espresso-sized Coffee Break! 🎄☕ Join Jessica as she takes us on a nostalgic journey to the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, sharing her favourite memories from this iconic Christmas market. She’ll introduce you to some festive German vocabulary, including words for seasonal...

The winter holidays are almost here, and in this mini-episode, we’re keeping it short, fun, and most importantly wintery—just like a little espresso lesson from Coffee Break German! ❄️☕ Join Thomas as he shares some of his favourite German winter expressions about Schnee , Eis und Füße . We’ll explore the meanings behind each phrase, see how they’re used in everyday conversation, and get you read...

Join Mark and Thomas for this special episode of Coffee Break German where we're talking about something a bit different. We receive emails and messages all the time asking us "where should I start?", so we thought we'd answer that in this episode. We share details about how Coffee Break German first started and all of the resources we have released since then. We hope you enjoy hearing about the...

It’s market season! 🇨🇭🧅 In this short and cheerful episode, Thomas takes us to Bern for one of the country’s most famous traditions — the Zibelemärit, or Onion Market. Discover how this colourful event transforms the city into a sea of onions and learn some useful German market phrases along the way. From ordering Glühwein to asking for regionale Produkte, this mini-lesson will help you sound con...

We're back with a special bonus episode of the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt! Join us for a detailed explanation of this year's Treasure Hunt clues. Sit back, relax and enjoy listening to this episode on your next coffee break. ☕️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have reached the last clue of our virtual treasure hunt - Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2025 - which will lead us to the final location! Test your German and detective skills as we reveal everything you need to know to determine the last destination. Remember to submit your entry form listing the location from each episode to be in with a chance of winning a prize. Click here to locate the...

It's time for the third clue of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2025 , our virtual treasure hunt across Europe! Using the interesting facts we provide, and your language skills, can you work out where checkpoint number three is? In case you missed it - everyone who correctly identifies the four mystery locations will win a free month's subscription to the Coffee Break Club , as well as being en...