cafetera
/kafeˈteɾa/feminine
The Spanish word for coffee pot is cafetera.
cafetera is the standard term for a coffee pot or a coffee maker. This includes manual pots used for brewing and electric coffee machines. In some Spanish-speaking countries, you may also hear the phrase máquina de café used to refer to a coffee maker or pot.
Meaning: pot for coffee (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word cafetera is formed from café (coffee) and the suffix -tera, which is used to denote a tool or container designed for a specific purpose.
Which one should you use?
You might encounter cafeterita in more casual settings. Additionally, máquina de café is an alternative way to refer to a coffee maker in certain regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking countries, the term máquina de café is used to refer to a coffee pot or coffee machine.
How does it change in a sentence?
cafetera is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kafeˈteɾa/
Did you know?
- The word cafetera was formed by adding a -t- and -era to café, specifically to mimic the structure of the French word cafetière.
- The suffix -era in cafetera is so versatile that it can turn almost any noun into a container, such as salera for a salt shaker.
- In Spanish, the same word cafetera can describe a tiny handheld manual pot and a massive industrial espresso machine.
Examples in context
- Si tomas café instantáneo, no necesitas una cafetera.If you drink instant coffee you do not need a coffee pot.This sentence shows that a coffee pot is unnecessary if one only drinks instant coffee.Tatoeba #7918084 by fpp, translation #3596555 by trieuho
- Me gustaría una taza de café de la cafetera, por favor.I would like a cup of coffee from the coffee pot, please.
- Podrías traer la jarra de café a la mesa, por favor?Could you bring the coffee pot to the table, please?
- ¿Me sirves un poquito de café de la cafeterita?Can you serve me a little bit of coffee from the coffee pot?
- Voy a preparar un café rico en la jarrita de café que nos regalaron.I'm going to make a delicious coffee in the coffee pot they gave us.
- La cafetera es de color azul.The coffee pot is blue.
- Necesito limpiar la cafetera nueva.I need to clean the new coffee pot.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
- Mateo¿Dónde está la cafetera?Where is the coffee pot?
- ElenaEstá sobre el mostrador, Mateo.It is on the counter, Mateo.
- MateoGracias, voy a preparar el café.Thanks, I am going to make the coffee.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo pongo las tazas.Perfect, I will get the cups.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee pot” translations and entries cafetera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cafetera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
