Drinking coffee is a common part of North American life. While you can drink coffee by yourself, cafés and coffee shops make coffee a part of many people’s social lives. In this episode, Andrew and Suzanne discuss their personal coffee habits and some of the interesting experiences they’ve had in cafés and coffee shops. So pour yourself a cup and get ready for a jolt of interesting English conversation!

Expressions included in the Learning Materials

* A jolt of something

* To take up space or time

* A mom-and-pop shop

* To go about your business

* To tip / a tip

* To do the trick

* To head out

* In a pinch

* Step by step

* To be on the receiving end of something

* To cause a scene

* To get ripped off

* To make a stink

* To make a feeling known

* To raise hell

* To be called on

Sample transcript

Andrew: 

So the other day, I woke up, and maybe it was 7:00 or 7:30 in the morning. And I felt like a cup of coffee, like I usually do in the morning.

Suzanne:   

Of course. Yes, definitely need a caffeine jolt.

Andrew: 

Exactly. So I went out to search for a café because I just moved here. I haven’t had time to buy a coffeemaker. I can’t brew my own cup at home, so I had to go out and look for a cup of coffee. And I noticed in my neighbourhood, there are lots of cafés—cafés all over the place.

Audio/Learning Materials: Culips English Learning Podcast