Coffee Break German

On Track is our new series: a five-day race across Europe by train. Two teams of Coffee Break language experts, ten cities in four countries, and language challenges at every stop. Team Green is Francesca, from Coffee Break Italian, and Pablo, from Coffee Break Spanish. Team Blue is Max, from Coffee Break French, and Thomas, from Coffee Break German.

The series itself is on the Coffee Break Languages YouTube channel, starting on Sunday 1st November at 5pm UK time. That's where to watch the race.

Alongside it, here on Coffee Break German, there's...

We're back with a special bonus episode of the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026! 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 2026 - 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 entry form and for further details about the competition.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for the third clue of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2026, 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 Coffee Break German TV during September, as well as being entered into a prize draw to win lifetime access to our entire collection of German courses!

Don't miss out on this exciting adventure - click here for m...

We're back with the next episode of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2026, our virtual treasure hunt across Europe! Join us as we reveal clue number two which takes us one step closer to our final location. As we continue through this mini series we'll discover further clues to help you solve the mystery. Remember, you could be in with a chance of winning some great prizes!

For further details about how you can take part in the treasure hunt and enter the competition, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Welcome to the first episode of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2026 our virtual treasure hunt across Europe! Join us in this first episode as we reveal the initial clue. As you continue through this mini series you’ll discover further clues, solve the mystery and practise your German.

For further details about Clue 1 and how you can take part, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four mystery cities. Four cryptic clues. One week to work out where we're going.

The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt is back for 2026, and everything happens here: https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/treasurehunt

Each clue is a short poem describing a European city without ever naming it. Every clue is written from scratch in French, Italian, German and Spanish by the team who teach it, so it rhymes and reads properly in each one. Watch in whichever language you're learning.

WHEN THE CLUES GO LIVE (all 1pm UK)

Clue 1: Monday 24...

You probably learned 'stehen' as the German verb for "standing". In this episode, Thomas explains the range of other meanings it carries in everyday German, including expressions like 'auf jemanden stehen', where the English translation is nothing to do with standing at all. Small verb, surprisingly wide reach.

➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.

➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

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Thomas explains how German handles continuous actions, something that doesn't come with its own dedicated tense the way English '-ing' forms do. He also introduces the increasingly popular am-progressive: 'Wir sind gerade am Entspannen', 'Gestern waren wir am Wandern'. It's a handy shortcut that also means one less set of conjugation rules to worry about.

➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.

➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

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One English word, three German ones. In this episode, Thomas explains why "feel" splits into "fühlen", "sich fühlen" and "sich anfühlen" in German, and how to know which one you need. In this episode we provide a short summary of the three, alongside a mention of the exercises on the YouTube video.

➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.

➡️ To receive regular free mini-lessons like this straight to your inbox, visit: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

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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" rather than "ist Spaß". None of these are hard once you see what's going on, and fixing them makes a real difference to how natural your German sounds.

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 episode.

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Hoste...

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.

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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 of this episode.

➡️ Download the free practice exercises for this lesson here.

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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 tips just like these: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

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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 of this episode and access a free worksheet in the comments section.

➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

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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 learning in short bursts? Our free weekly newsletter is packed with tips just like these: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

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 den Tisch abräumt, als Charlotte das Café betritt – und diesmal ist Heinz auch dabei. Selbst sein Hund Kerlchen kommt wedelnd hinterher. Erna erkennt sofort, dass dies ein besonderer Moment ist.<...

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 strahlt und Felix manövriert geschickt zwischen den Tischen. Erna behält alles im Blick und gibt kleine Anweisungen, während die Erzählerin Kuchen zu den Gäste...

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 mit Nadine, und Erna ist sofort zur Stelle, um sie herzlich zu begrüßen. Die Erzählerin beobachtet die beiden verlegen kichernden Freundinnen, während die Sonne durch die Fenster f...

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 die Uhr schaut. Plötzlich betritt ein tätowierter Junge das Café und setzt sich zu ihr. Beide wirken sichtbar unwohl, und Erna eilt herbei, um die Situation vorsichtig aufzufangen...

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 genießen ihre Getränke und Felix ist auch schon da. Jedoch ist er heute nicht hier, um zu arbeiten. Er bereitet sich auf ein wichtige...

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 coins, and a birthday cake that almost wasn’t. The gesture that follows will melt your heart. 

Ein Vater und seine Tochter verbringen den Tag zusammen und kommen...

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 anything else.

Ein junges Pärchen während ihrem ersten Date, verloren in Blicken, Gesten, kleinen Berührungen. Wer könnte so etwas Zartes und Unschuldiges nu...

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. Slowly, memories surface and emotions shift.

Es braucht eine Weile bis Erna die vier ehemalige Stammgäste am Tisch erkennt. Doch als sie und die Erzählerin...

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 quickly in Chapter 2 of Scenes from the Coffee Break German Café.

Der Buchclub diskutiert heute über Max Frischs Stiller und vergisst dabei ganz, dass sie nicht alleine...

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 language skills naturally through storytelling.

We’re returning to Erna’s Café for a brand-new season of Scenes, filled with some surprises, familiar faces, and plenty of st...

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 clear examples. 

Whether you’re wrapping up your year, revisiting highlights from 2025, or simply expanding your vocabulary, this cosy end-of-year episode is the perfect way to reflect auf Deutsch.

Subscribe to the C...

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 foods, drinks, and activities, all while describing the sights and scents of the market.

Whether you're dreaming of visiting Vienna, reminiscing about your own holiday traditions, or simply brushing up on your German...

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 ready to use them yourself in a message or postcard to a German-speaking friend.

Whether you’re enjoying a snowy day, a cosy cup of cocoa, or just brushing u...

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 history of Coffee Break, with a few secrets revealed along the way!

The links mentioned at the end of this...

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 confident and curious on your next trip to a German-speaking market. Whether it is an onion or a Christmas market, after this episode, you will be able to naviga...

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 entry form and for further details about the competition.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 entered into a prize draw to win lifetime access to our entire collection of German courses!

Don't miss out on this exciting adventure - click here for more details.

We're back with the next episode of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2025, our virtual treasure hunt across Europe! Join us as we reveal clue number two which takes us one step closer to our final location. As we continue through this mini series we'll discover further clues to help you solve the mystery. Remember, you could be in with a chance of winning some great prizes!

For further details about how you can take part in the treasure hunt and enter the competition, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Welcome to the first episode of Die große Coffee Break Schatzsuche 2025, our virtual treasure hunt across Europe! Join us in this first episode as we reveal the initial clue. As you continue through this mini series you’ll discover further clues, solve the mystery and practise your German.

For further details about how you can take part, click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New mini-series!

Starting on Monday 20th October, join Mark and the Coffee Break German Team for a virtual treasure hunt across Europe, in which we'll discover clues, solve the mystery and practise our German.

But this is not just a language lesson – it's a competition! By taking part you could win some amazing prizes which will help you take your German to the next level.

For everything you need to know about this mini series and how to take part in the competition, click here.

Die große C...

In this short episode, Thomas gives you a quick lesson on talking about quantities in German! ☕✨

We’ll cover the tricky difference between viel (for uncountable nouns) and viele (for countable nouns), plus some handy related words like wenig/wenige, manche or jede Menge. You’ll hear clear examples, practise a few short exercises, and pick up some grammar tips that make using these words much easier.

By the end, you’ll know not only how to say “much” and “many,” but also a few advanced ways to express exactly how much of something there is...

In this Coffee Break German mini-episode, Thomas shares a quick and friendly guide to expressing gratitude in German. ☕🙏

We’ll explore the usual Danke, along with many other options depending on the situation and if you are talking to a police officer, an old friend or your colleagues at work. 

With short examples and a touch of humour, this episode will help you thank people confidently in any situation, and maybe even impress a German speaker with your variety!

➡️ To get more helpful content like this directly in your inbox, be sure to s...