Ήταν να πάμε για καφέ μετά τη δουλειά, αλλά έτυχε να μείνω περισσότερο στο γραφείο.

Ήταν να πάμε is an idiomatic way to say we were supposed to go, we had planned to go, or we were meant to go.

Literally, ήταν means it was, but in this pattern it does not simply describe the past. It expresses an expected or arranged action that did not necessarily happen.

So:

• Ήταν να πάμε για καφέ = We were supposed to go for coffee
• It often suggests that this plan existed, but something got in the way

You may also hear similar structures like:

• Ήταν να φύγω νωρίς = I was supposed to leave early
• Ήταν να συναντηθούμε χθες = We were supposed to meet yesterday

After να, Greek normally uses the subjunctive-related verb form, not a normal past tense.

So in Ήταν να πάμε:

• πάμε is the form used after να
• it does not mean present tense here
• the past meaning comes from Ήταν

In other words:

• ήταν places the whole idea in the past
• να πάμε expresses the intended action

This is very common in Greek. English learners often expect a past infinitive or another past form, but Modern Greek does not use infinitives the way English does.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

Here, πάμε is 1st person plural, so it already means we go / we should go / for us to go, depending on context.

That is why Greek does not need εμείς here.

So:

• να πάμε = for us to go / that we go
• εμείς να πάμε would be possible, but more emphatic

Greek is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns are often omitted.

για καφέ means for coffee or more naturally in English, for a coffee / for coffee.

In Greek, πάω/πηγαίνω για καφέ is a very common expression meaning:

• go out for coffee
• meet for coffee
• sometimes even hang out over coffee

The lack of an article is normal in this kind of expression. Greek often uses για + noun to express purpose or the kind of outing:

• πάμε για φαγητό = let’s go for food / go eat
• βγήκαμε για ποτό = we went out for a drink
• πήγαν για μπάνιο = they went swimming / to the beach

You could also hear για έναν καφέ, which sounds a bit more specific: for one coffee / for a coffee. But για καφέ is the very natural general expression.

Both are related to the same article την, but in normal modern Greek the final -ν is often dropped before certain consonants.

So:

• την δουλειά can become τη δουλειά

After μετά, both spellings may be seen depending on style, pronunciation, and the sound that follows, but μετά τη δουλειά is completely normal and very common.

This is not a change of meaning. It is just a very common feature of pronunciation and spelling in Greek.

Also, μετά τη δουλειά means after work.

Here μετά τη δουλειά means after work.

The noun δουλειά can mean:

• work
• job
• task
• business, depending on context

In this sentence, it refers to the workday or work in general, not specifically to a particular task.

So:

• μετά τη δουλειά = after work
• βρήκα καινούρια δουλειά = I found a new job

έτυχε να means something like:

• it happened that
• I happened to
• it so happened that
• sometimes I ended up

In this sentence:

• έτυχε να μείνω περισσότερο στο γραφείο = I happened to stay longer at the office
• more natural English: I ended up staying longer at the office

The verb τυχαίνω is related to chance or coincidence. In the past, έτυχε να often introduces something unplanned or accidental.

Examples:

• Έτυχε να τον δω χθες. = I happened to see him yesterday.
• Έτυχε να είμαι εκεί. = I happened to be there.

Because έτυχε να is followed by να + verb, not by a simple past-tense form.

So:

• έτυχε να μείνω = it happened that I stayed / I happened to stay

Here μείνω is the form used after να. It is not an independent future tense, even though it may look unfamiliar to learners. The past meaning comes from έτυχε.

This is the same kind of pattern as:

• ήθελα να φύγω = I wanted to leave
• μπορούσα να έρθω = I could come
• έτυχε να αργήσω = I happened to be late / I ended up being late

Yes. μείνω is the perfective form connected to μένω.

Very roughly:

• μένω = imperfective/basic dictionary form, I stay / I live
• να μείνω = perfective subjunctive-type form, often used for a single complete event

In this sentence, the speaker is talking about one completed situation in the past: staying longer than expected at the office. That is why να μείνω fits naturally.

Greek often alternates between imperfective and perfective stems, and learners just have to get used to these pairs.

Here περισσότερο means more or, more naturally in English, longer.

So:

• να μείνω περισσότερο στο γραφείο = to stay longer at the office

Greek uses περισσότερο as an adverb here, modifying the verb μείνω.

Compare:

• δούλεψα περισσότερο σήμερα = I worked more today
• έμεινα περισσότερο εκεί = I stayed there longer

English often prefers longer in this context, even though Greek uses the general idea of more.

στο γραφείο means at the office or in the office here.

It is a contraction of:

• σε + το = στο

The noun γραφείο can mean:

• office
• desk
• study, depending on context

In this sentence, because of μετά τη δουλειά and the whole situation, it clearly means the office/workplace, not desk.

A very natural translation would be:

We were supposed to go for coffee after work, but I ended up staying longer at the office.

Other good translations:

• We were meant to go for coffee after work, but I happened to stay longer at the office.
• We had planned to go for coffee after work, but I had to stay at the office longer.

The last version is slightly less literal, but very natural if you want to express the practical meaning.

Yes. In Greek-speaking culture, going for coffee can mean more than just drinking coffee quickly.

It often implies:

• meeting someone socially
• sitting and talking for a while
• a casual plan after work or during free time

So πάμε για καφέ can be close to:

• let’s grab coffee
• let’s meet for coffee
• let’s hang out over coffee

It is a very common social activity, so the phrase sounds extremely natural in everyday Greek.