Learn Hardcore Korean: kapeeseo eumryoreul masyeoyo. - I drink a beverage at the café.

에서 marks the place where an action happens: 카페에서 = “at the cafe (doing something there).”
에 marks location/existence or a destination: 카페에 있어요 “(I) am at the cafe,” 카페에 가요 “(I) go to the cafe.”
With action verbs like 마시다 (“to drink”), use 에서, not 에. So 카페에서 마셔요 is correct; 카페에 마셔요 is unnatural.

Why is it 음료를 and not 음료을?

The object particle alternates by sound:

Use 를 after a vowel.
Use 을 after a consonant. 음료 ends in a vowel sound, so you attach 를 → 음료를.

Why is it 마셔요 and not “마시어요”?

The dictionary form is 마시다. In the polite present:

Stem 마시-
- -어요 → 마시어요.
In natural speech, 시어 contracts to 셔 → 마셔요. So 마셔요 is the standard contracted form (same pattern as 기다리다 → 기다려요).

Where is the subject “I”? How would I add it?

Korean often drops subjects when they’re clear from context. If you want to include it:

Topic: 저는 카페에서 음료를 마셔요. (“As for me…”)
Subject: 제가 카페에서 음료를 마셔요. (Emphasizes that it’s “I” who does it, not someone else.)

Does this mean I’m drinking right now, or that I usually drink there?

마셔요 can express a general/habitual action (“I drink (there).”). For an action happening right now, Korean typically uses the progressive:

지금 카페에서 음료를 마시고 있어요. (“I am drinking a beverage at the cafe now.”) Context can make 마셔요 sound present, but -고 있어요 is the clearest for “right now.”

How polite is 마셔요? What are other levels?

Polite informal (standard): 마셔요.
Formal polite: 마십니다.
Casual (friends, close peers): 마셔.
Honorific (subject is respected): use 드시다 → 드셔요 / 드십니다. Example: 할머니께서는 카페에서 음료를 드셔요.

Can I say 카페에 음료를 마셔요?

No. For doing an action at a place, use 에서. 카페에 음료를 마셔요 sounds wrong. Keep 카페에서 음료를 마셔요.

Can I change the word order, like 음료를 카페에서 마셔요?

Yes. Korean is flexible with order as long as particles are correct:

카페에서 음료를 마셔요 (neutral, common)
음료를 카페에서 마셔요 (slight emphasis on “the beverage”) You can also topicalize: 음료는 카페에서 마셔요.

What’s the nuance difference between 음료 and 음료수?

음료 = “beverage” (neutral/formal term, often used in writing or menus/categories).
음료수 = commonly “a (non-alcoholic) drink/soft drink,” everyday speech. In many contexts people just say the specific item: 커피, 주스, 차, etc. Both are fine here, but in casual talk you’re more likely to name the specific drink.

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

카페에서: [카페에서]
음료를: due to a sound rule, 음료 is pronounced [음뇨], so 음료를 ≈ [음뇨를]
마셔요: [마셔요] (not [마시어요]) A rough romanization: “ka-pe-eh-seo eum-nyo-reul ma-syeo-yo.”

Can I drop particles in casual speech?

Dropping the object particle 를 is common: 카페에서 음료 마셔요.
The place particle 에서 is usually kept for clarity, though it can be omitted in very casual contexts if the location is obvious. As a learner, keep 에서.

How do I make it negative?

Simple negation with 안: 카페에서 음료를 안 마셔요. (“I don’t drink beverages at the cafe.”)
With -지 않다: 카페에서 음료를 마시지 않아요. (a bit more formal/neutral)
“Cannot” (ability/situation): 카페에서 음료를 못 마셔요.

How do I say it in the past or future?

Past: 카페에서 음료를 마셨어요.
Future/intention: 카페에서 음료를 마실 거예요.
Past negative: 카페에서 음료를 마시지 않았어요 / 안 마셨어요.

If I don’t want to specify the beverage, can I just say “I drink at the cafe”?

Yes: 카페에서 마셔요. The object is understood from context (“I drink (something) at the cafe.”). In conversation, most people name the drink: 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.

How would I ask this as a yes/no question?

Raise intonation or add a question mark:

카페에서 음료를 마셔요? (“Do you drink beverages at the cafe?”) More formal: 카페에서 음료를 마십니까?

How do I say “I drink one drink at the cafe”? Do I need a counter?

Use the counter 잔 (cups/glasses):

카페에서 음료 한 잔 마셔요. Particle placement varies and all are acceptable:
음료 한 잔을 마셔요 / 음료를 한 잔 마셔요 / 음료 한 잔 마셔요.