What's the difference between "Can I get" and "May I have" when ordering at a cafe?

“Can I get” is extremely annoying and irritating and wrong, whereas “may/can I have” is entirely acceptable and correct. Don’t say “can I get”, the person is quite happy to get it for you. Rant over, as you were.

“ Can I get" is casual and focuses on the action of getting something, while “May I have" is polite and emphasizes permission. In a café setting, using either phrase is generally acceptable, but choosing one over the other can set the tone of your interaction

Technically "Can I get?" is asking whether or not it is possible, while "May I have" is asking whether or not it's permissible. This will only be brought up by English teachers and pedantic parents; in actual usage there's no difference, although "May I have" is considered more formal/polite.

"May I have" is in a slightly more polite and formal register than "can I get." They're both acceptable in most instances, especially since the customer has leeway.

“May I have” sounds a bit formal, but no server would be put out if you use it. You can also say “I would like”.

There is none.

We don’t really say “Can I get” in England

Nothing.

As others have said, "may I have" may be more polite than "can I get", but the difference between the two can be bridged with a friendly intonation. Depending on how it's said, "can I have" can sound friendly, rude, or anywhere in between.

I would only use "May I have" for some extra request that you might not be entitled to, like a substitution. > May I have fresh vegetables instead of potatoes?

A slight degree of formality. Generally speaking, when making a request, being more indirect means being more polite / formal. *I'd like a coffee.* Extremely direct, most informal. At the very least you should probably add a *please* or you may come off rude. *Can I get a coffee?* Less direct, still somewhat casual but more polite than the direct statement. This is usually how I'd order at a restaurant. *May I have a coffee?* A little bit less direct, and a bit more formal. This would be something I might say at a fancy restaurant.

You can use either. May I have is a bit more formal

Either is fine, but "may" usually means asking permission, and you really don't need to ask permission to order off of a menu. But it might be that you can't order something, because the kitchen is out of it.

Wrong: "can I get a coffee" is asking if it is possible. The answer would not involve providing coffee, only stating the possibility. Wrong: "may I have a coffee" is asking for approval. The answer would not involve providing coffee, only granting or denying approval. Correct: "I would like a coffee" is placing an order. The possibility and approval is presumed because you are a customer. You are stating what you want to a service provider.

“May I have” is more polite and formal. “Can I get” is common, but can come off as rude to some people.

"May I have" is correct English. "Can I have" is more common. It's technically incorrect, as it is asking whether it is physically possible, rather than requesting to be given something. >"Can I have a coffee?" >"Yes, the machine works." "Can I get" is a pervading Americanisation. It is understood perfectly well, but sounds wrong to anyone over about 35. It sounds like you're asking if you're allowed to go to the kitchen and collect the food yourself. Give it 15 years and the kids will say "I'm gonna do the burger". It's generational more than anything.

Absolutely no difference. I always thought "may I" was inappropriately polite in that context, but it all means the same. You pay, they get you want you would like. As an aside, "Gimme a . . . " is unnecessarily rude. Or rude sounding--I think. Servers must be used to hearing that and I guess it's just a way of speaking.

The word "can" is generally used in the sense of higher possibility, while the word "may" suggests a lower possibility of the occurrence of some event or happening. "Can" often implies a person's capability or potential to do something, while "may" generally suggests permission or a possibility that something will happen.

This is VERY region and age dependent. I used to work in a cafe in the UK. If someone said: * May I have a coffee - I would get it for them and reflect on how polite they were * Can I have a coffee - I would get it for them but not see them as excessively polite * Can I get a coffee - I would stop and say to them "No you cannot get a coffee. Only bar staff can get the drinks. Tell me what you want and I WILL GET IT FOR YOU". But that is in the UK and I was a particularly pedantic barista. In the US saying "can I get..." is perfectly OK.

I don't really get why my teacher always says "yes you can, but you may not" when I ask her "can I go to the bathroom". Can someone kindly explain it:>

There are regional variations on this. For instance, at a busy deli counter in New York City, it is entirely appropriate to say “give me a X.” but it would be considered rude in a slower-paced setting virtually anywhere else.

Formality of register

“May I have” is more polite. “Can I get” and “can I have” are less formal and more direct. The actual meaning is the same. Either is fine, but in a fancy place, you might use the first just to maintain the formal atmosphere.

Both of these work. If you really must know the minute differences, "can" connotes possibility, whereas "may" connotes a request. "Can I get" sounds kinda like "is this in stock?" But "may I have" sounds like "are you willing to give this to me?"