The idea
Kaffee und Kuchen, also called Kaffeetrinken, is a widespread afternoon custom in Germany, often on Sundays, birthdays or family visits, typically somewhere between about three and four o’clock. Guests get coffee or tea and one or more cakes, sometimes homemade. It usually replaces neither lunch nor dinner, so a long evening meal is not implied, though families differ. Grammar: “denken an” takes the accusative (“an einen kurzen Besuch”); “zum Kaffee” is short for “zu dem Kaffee”; “sollen” in “Soll ich …?” asks what the host would like.
Other ways to say it
“Um wie viel Uhr wollt ihr Kaffee trinken?” – Casual; asks about the time of the afternoon coffee.
“Kann ich einen Kuchen beisteuern?” – Friendly offer; “beisteuern” means to contribute.
“Wie lange wollt ihr ungefähr zusammensitzen?” – Neutral way to find out how long the visit will last.
Examples
- Bei der Einladung zum Kaffee dachte ich an einen kurzen Besuch.For the coffee invitation, I was thinking of a short visit.
- Wir möchten auch zusammen Kuchen essen.We would also like to eat cake together.
- Soll ich dafür etwas mitbringen?Should I bring anything for that?
- Wenn du möchtest, kannst du Obst mitbringen.If you like, you can bring fruit.
- Mit einem ganzen Abendessen soll ich also nicht rechnen?So I should not expect a full dinner?
- Für heute haben wir nur Kaffee und Kuchen geplant.For today, we have planned only coffee and cake.
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Watch out
“Ich dachte über einen kurzen Besuch.” → “Ich dachte an einen kurzen Besuch.”: English “thinking of/about” leads to “über”, but “denken über” means to hold an opinion on something. Having something in mind is “denken an” with the accusative.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: For the coffee invitation, I was thinking of a short visit.
Show answer or example answer
Bei der Einladung zum Kaffee dachte ich an einen kurzen Besuch.
“Bei der Einladung” (dative) sets the topic at the start, so the verb “dachte” comes second and the subject “ich” follows. “An einen kurzen Besuch” is accusative after denken an.
Put the words in order: dafür / etwas / ich / mitbringen / Soll
Show answer or example answer
Soll ich dafür etwas mitbringen?
“Soll ich …?” asks what the other person wants you to do. “Dafür” means “for that”, and the separable verb “mitbringen” stays together at the end after the modal.
Write this sentence in German: For today, we have planned only coffee and cake.
Show answer or example answer
Für heute haben wir nur Kaffee und Kuchen geplant.
The perfect “haben … geplant” frames the plan; “nur” limits it to coffee and cake, and “Für heute” in first position shows the limit applies to this occasion.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: For the coffee invitation, I was thinking of a short visit.
Bei der Einladung zum Kaffee dachte ich an einen kurzen Besuch.
Put the words in order: dafür / etwas / ich / mitbringen / Soll
Soll ich dafür etwas mitbringen?
Write this sentence in German: For today, we have planned only coffee and cake.
Für heute haben wir nur Kaffee und Kuchen geplant.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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A neighbour invites you “zum Kaffee” on Sunday. Write two sentences asking what time suits them and whether you should bring a cake or something else.