Coffee

EFL and ESL Materials and Topics – Coffee for ESL Students

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world and an important part of daily life in many cultures. It is made from roasted coffee beans, which come from the fruit of coffee plants grown mainly in tropical regions such as Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India.

For English language learners, talking about coffee helps them practice everyday vocabulary, ordering food and drinks, and describing tastes and habits. From cafés and coffee breaks to jokes and stories, coffee is a familiar topic that makes learning English more engaging and meaningful.

Coffee for ESL Students: Why Learn English Through the Topic of Coffee?

• Familiar and motivating topic for students
• Useful for real-life communication (cafés, travel, social situations)
• Rich vocabulary related to food, drinks, and daily routines
• Easy to integrate reading, vocabulary, and speaking activities

To help ESL and EFL students explore this topic, we offer the following learning resources.

A Brief History of Coffee

Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, where, according to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats became more energetic after eating coffee berries. From Ethiopia, coffee spread to the Arabian Peninsula, where it became an important social and cultural drink.

By the 15th century, coffee was widely consumed in Yemen, and coffeehouses—known as qahveh khaneh—became popular places for conversation, music, and learning. Coffee later reached Europe in the 17th century and quickly spread across the continent. Despite early controversy, it became one of the most popular beverages in the world.

Today, coffee is cultivated in numerous regions across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and it plays a significant role in global trade and daily life.

→ For a detailed ESL reading activity, see our internal page:
History of Coffee (Reading Comprehension)

ESL Activities Based on the Topic of Coffee

The topic of coffee is ideal for creating engaging ESL activities because it is familiar, practical, and culturally rich. Below are suggested classroom and self-study activities that help learners practice vocabulary, reading, speaking, and writing.

1. Coffee Vocabulary Matching

Students match coffee-related words (e.g., espresso, café, brew, beans, mug) with their definitions or pictures.
Skills: Vocabulary building, reading
Level: Beginner – Intermediate

2. Coffee Vocabulary Gap-Fill

Learners complete sentences using words from a coffee vocabulary list. This activity reinforces spelling and meaning in context.
Skills: Vocabulary, grammar
Level: Beginner – Intermediate

3. Reading Comprehension: Coffee

Students read a short text about coffee or its history and answer comprehension questions (true/false, multiple choice, or short answers).
Skills: Reading, comprehension
Level: Intermediate

4. Ordering Coffee Role-Play

In pairs, students role-play a conversation between a customer and a barista. They practice ordering drinks, asking about prices, and making polite requests.
Skills: Speaking, listening
Level: Beginner – Intermediate

5. Class Survey: Coffee Habits

Students ask classmates questions such as “How often do you drink coffee?” or “Do you prefer black coffee or coffee with milk?” and report the results.
Skills: Speaking, writing
Level: Intermediate

6. Writing Activity: My Coffee Routine

Learners write a short paragraph about when, where, and how they drink coffee (or why they don’t).
Skills: Writing
Level: Beginner – Intermediate

7. Discussion: Coffee and Culture

Students discuss questions like “Is coffee popular in your country?” or “Is coffee more popular than tea?”
Skills: Speaking, critical thinking
Level: Intermediate – Upper-Intermediate

→ Check this ESL activity about ordering coffee.

Coffee Learning Resources for ESL Students

1. Coffee (Reading Comprehension)
   Learn basic facts about coffee while practicing reading skills and understanding key ideas.
2. History of Coffee
   Discover where coffee comes from and how it spread around the world through an ESL-friendly reading text.
3. Coffee Vocabulary List
   Learn useful words and expressions related to coffee, cafés, and drinks.
4. Coffee Vocabulary Exercise
   Practice new vocabulary with an interactive exercise designed for English learners.
5. Coffee Joke
   Enjoy light, fun content with a black coffee joke and improve reading fluency and cultural understanding.

FAQs About Coffee (for ESL Learners)

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