Meaning
To prepare coffee for drinking.
Cultural Background
The 'Maxim Gold' instant coffee culture is huge. Even though people 'make' (만들다) it, they almost always say '타다' (tada) because it involves mixing powder. In Korean offices, the youngest person often makes coffee for the team, though this is rapidly changing in modern corporate environments. Koreans love making 'aesthetic' coffee at home, using glass cups and layered ingredients, then posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #홈카페. A global trend that started in Korea during the 2020 lockdown. It involves making coffee by whipping instant coffee, sugar, and water 400 times.
The 'ㄹ' Rule
Always remember that '만들다' loses its 'ㄹ' when you use the honorific '만드세요' or the formal '만듭니다'.
Sound like a Native
If you're using a Nespresso or a drip bag, use '커피를 내리다' to sound more natural.
Meaning
To prepare coffee for drinking.
The 'ㄹ' Rule
Always remember that '만들다' loses its 'ㄹ' when you use the honorific '만드세요' or the formal '만듭니다'.
Sound like a Native
If you're using a Nespresso or a drip bag, use '커피를 내리다' to sound more natural.
Don't say '요리하다'
Never use '요리하다' (to cook) for coffee. It sounds like you're making coffee soup!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '만들다' in the polite present tense.
저는 매일 아침 커피를 ______.
The polite present tense of '만들다' is '만들어요'. The 'ㄹ' does not drop before '어'.
Which sentence is a polite request to make coffee?
Choose the correct honorific form.
In the honorific form '-(으)세요', the 'ㄹ' in '만들다' drops, resulting in '만드세요'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? B: 손님이 오셔서 ________________.
The question asks 'What are you doing (now)?', so the progressive form '-고 있어요' is the best fit.
Match the verb to the type of coffee.
Instant Coffee Mix (맥심)
'타다' is the specific verb for mixing powder into water.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises저는 매일 아침 커피를 ______.
The polite present tense of '만들다' is '만들어요'. The 'ㄹ' does not drop before '어'.
Choose the correct honorific form.
In the honorific form '-(으)세요', the 'ㄹ' in '만들다' drops, resulting in '만드세요'.
A: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? B: 손님이 오셔서 ________________.
The question asks 'What are you doing (now)?', so the progressive form '-고 있어요' is the best fit.
Instant Coffee Mix (맥심)
'타다' is the specific verb for mixing powder into water.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, but '차를 타다' (for powder/bags) or '차를 우려내다' (for leaves) is more common.
'만들다' is general. '타다' is specifically for mixing powder into a liquid.
Yes, but use the honorific form: '커피를 만들어 드릴까요?' (Shall I make coffee for you?)
It literally means 'to lower coffee,' referring to the water dripping down through the grounds.
친구를 위해 커피를 만들고 있어요.
Related Phrases
커피를 타다
similarTo mix instant coffee
커피를 내리다
specialized formTo brew/drip coffee
커피를 주문하다
contrastTo order coffee
바리스타
builds onBarista
