去咖啡店

Do you like drinking coffee? Do you also like going to a coffee shop by yourself, just to sit for a while?

I'm Xiao Yue. You might already know, I run a little dessert shop, and at home I have a little cat named Xiao Hua. Every day I make cakes and desserts in my shop. But today, I'm off, and I don't have to work. I want to go out by myself and really enjoy a cup of coffee. I'll speak slowly, so you can listen and learn Chinese at the same time.

After making cakes for many days, I'm a little tired. Today, I want to give myself a little time. I don't want to make desserts, and I don't want to work. I just want to go out for a walk, have a cup of coffee, and take a nice little break. This is a little gift I give myself.

Right next to my home, there's a coffee shop. I really like that shop. It's only a five-minute walk from my home. Today it's a little cold, but the sun is out and warm. As I walk, I look at the people and trees along the way, and I feel so relaxed inside.

Here I am. I open the door and slowly walk in. Wow, the coffee smells so good! I especially love this smell. There's soft music playing, and it's quiet and cozy. The moment I walk in, I feel happy.

It's a little funny, really. I make desserts and cakes myself, but I also love coming to sit in someone else's coffee shop. Here, I'm not the owner; I'm a customer. I don't have to work, I just have to enjoy my coffee. This feeling is really nice.

First, I look at the menu. There are many kinds of coffee here. There's latte, and there's americano. A latte has milk in it, so it tastes fragrant and a little sweet. An americano has no milk, so it tastes a little bitter. Which kind do you like?

I often drink latte, because I like the taste of milk. Today it's a little cold, so I want a nice hot latte. Okay, I'll order a latte then. I've decided, and I walk up to the counter.

Behind the counter, there's a barista. He smiles at me and asks: Hi, what would you like to order? I say: Hi, I'd like a latte.

The barista asks me: Would you like it hot, or iced? Today the weather is a little cold, so I want it hot. I say: I'd like it hot, thank you.

The barista asks again: Would you like a large, medium, or small? I'm not busy today, so I want to sip slowly and stay a while. So I say: I'd like a large one.

The barista asks once more: For here, or to go? Today I'm off, and I'm in no hurry to get home. I want to sit down and really relax. I say: I'll have it here.

Once I've ordered, I ask: How much is it all together? The barista says: One large latte, thirty-two yuan. I take out my phone, scan the code, and just like that, it's paid. Paying is really convenient and fast these days.

After paying, I stand to the side and wait a bit. The barista starts making my coffee. I watch him make it, step by step, and I find it really interesting. Watching someone else make coffee, I can learn a thing or two. After a little while, he hands me my coffee and says: Your latte is ready, please enjoy.

I take my coffee. The cup is warm, and it smells wonderful. I look around the shop, and find a seat by the window. I love window seats the most, sitting here, I can look outside.

This latte looks really pretty. I hold the cup with both hands. The cup is warm, my hands are warm too, and it feels so nice. First I take a sniff, then I drink slowly.

I take my first sip slowly. Ah, it's so good! The hot coffee, the sweet milk, little by little, make my whole body relax. The day's tiredness seems to melt away all at once.

I drink my coffee and look out the window. Outside, some people are walking, some are talking, and some are soaking up the sun. I don't have to do anything, or think about anything. I just have to sit here, and slowly drink my coffee. This afternoon is quiet and so comfortable.

I think that, sometimes, we all need to give ourselves a little time. Not working, not rushing, just quietly drinking a cup of coffee. This way, you feel relaxed, and happy inside too.

Okay, my coffee is almost finished, and it's time for me to go. Thank you for having coffee with me this afternoon. And you? What coffee do you like to drink? A latte, or an americano? Hot, or iced? Next time you go to a coffee shop, you can use what you learned today, to order a coffee you like. Let's have a slow cup together again next time, okay?