Drinks and staples make up the first layer of food vocabulary. "Das Wasser" (water), "der Kaffee" (coffee), "der Tee" (tea), and "die Milch" (milk) cover the basics of beverages, while "das Bier" (beer) and "der Wein" (wine) are the alcoholic options you will encounter on most menus. "Das Brot" (bread) is the staple carbohydrate, perfect for pairing with the other food items you will learn.
For meals and ingredients, German offers a rich set of nouns. "Der Apfel" (apple), "das Ei" (egg), "das Fleisch" (meat), "der Fisch" (fish), "der Reis" (rice), and "der Käse" (cheese) span fruits, proteins, and sides. Combined with "das Brot," these allow you to name and order a wide variety of foods in restaurants and grocery stores.
When shopping or dining out, a few phrases complete the experience. "Das Geld" is money, and the question "Was kostet das?" means "How much does it cost?" — useful whenever you are unsure about a price. If something is "kostenlos," it is free of charge. To order politely, you can say "Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte," meaning "I would like a coffee, please," combining "möchte" (would like) with the noun and the familiar "bitte."