Coffee Break Spanish Review: Handy Audio Lessons with Some Limitations

Coffee Break Spanish (a division of Coffee Break Languages), employs brief, dialogue-driven podcast episodes for language instruction, supplemented by extra learning materials available with a purchased course.

They provide resources for all proficiency levels, but I find this tool particularly beneficial for intermediate and advanced students who excel with auditory learning and wish to enhance their vocabulary, grammar comprehension, and listening abilities.

Continue reading for a summary of the key elements of Coffee Break Spanish to assist you in determining if it's a good fit for your learning style.

What Is Coffee Break Spanish?

Program overview

Coffee Break Spanish aims to help you “learn a language during a short break.” Created to accommodate a busy lifestyle, this resource provides lessons in Spanish and several other languages, such as Italian, Chinese, German and French.

Spanish students can anticipate lessons in a podcast style that include native Spanish speakers and Mark Pendleton, the Scottish presenter and company founder, conversing in both Spanish and English. The most recent podcast episodes come with a blog post that outlines the topic and a free downloadable worksheet accessible by submitting your email address.

Over a sequence of episodes, learners consistently grow their vocabulary and learn to construct more complex sentences using new words and phrases. Listeners will also enhance their understanding of grammar and Spanish-speaking cultures through a conversational, interactive style.

Lesson format and price

Coffee Break Spanish provides a range of learning tools that can be somewhat complicated to follow, but I will present them here as clearly as I can.

Free podcast series

Coffee Break Spanish features several podcast series like “Travel Diaries” and the newest one, “The Coffee Break Spanish Show,” which targets intermediate learners and discusses subjects such as Spanish negation. The podcast episodes are free online and on popular streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The episodes are brief— usually under 20 minutes. “The Coffee Break Spanish Show” limits its episodes to 15 minutes and also includes a video element so you can view the speakers during the recording.

Paid courses

If you wish to access more than the podcast lessons, you can buy a course from The Coffee Break Academy or The Coffee Break Club. The Academy currently has three choices for Spanish learners:

• Four courses progressing from “Level 1: Beginners” to “Level 4: Advanced” at $145 each (a free trial for the first 3 lessons is available).
• An advanced, narrative-based Spanish course titled “La penúltima voluntad” for $250 or 10 monthly installments of $30.
• A 6-month Spanish Masterclass for intermediate learners for $599 or $119 per month (the most recent course started in March 2024).

The first two options are derived from podcast series that are free, but purchasing the course provides access to additional learning resources like extra audio, video lessons, and lesson notes.

The Coffee Break Club, also known as Coffee Break TV, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year and grants access to a video collection of 5-15 minute language lessons for intermediate students.

What Are the Pros of Coffee Break Spanish?

Here are some aspects to consider while deciding if Coffee Break Spanish is a suitable option for you.

Material for every level

Although most of their content is for intermediate and advanced learners, there is one podcast season and corresponding course designed for beginners in the Coffee Break Spanish series:

• Level 1: Beginners (A1-A2)
• Level 2: Lower intermediate (A2-B1)
• Level 3: Upper Intermediate (B1-B2)
• Level 4: Advanced (B2-C1)

Each of these courses includes 40 lessons and aligns with language levels according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages.

If you are an intermediate or advanced learner who has been disappointed by the abundance of beginner resources and the shortage of material for your level, Coffee Break Spanish could be a great choice. No matter your stage in learning the language, you can find challenging content in these lessons.

If you are an advanced learner, you can immerse yourself in the language with “La penúltima voluntad.” In every episode, a native Spanish speaker reads a story chapter aloud in Spanish and then analyzes it with Mark in English.

Created by a teacher

Being a former educator and a dedicated planner (I even make itineraries for my holidays), I value a program that follows a sensible sequence and offers a structured curriculum for learners. I prefer to know the upcoming topics, what I can omit, and what to research before a lesson.

Examining the summary of the course components, it's clear this resource was developed by a similarly methodical teacher. Lessons logically follow one another and gradually become more difficult. They are also an ideal length and not too intensive.

And if you share my preferences, you will appreciate the course outline that provides a brief summary of each lesson. Given the repetitive nature of the subjects, you can be sure you will encounter words and phrases multiple times in context to help you remember them. I also like how the presenters take time to explain complex expressions, new vocabulary, and grammar points.

Easy to use and incorporate in daily routine

An effective language learning tool should integrate smoothly into your existing lifestyle. If your schedule is too packed to dedicate an hour daily to language study, Coffee Break Spanish allows you to learn a significant amount in a short period.

Not only is the content digestible, but you can also take the lessons with you. Listen to an episode during your commute or while exercising. If you buy a course, you can also download the materials to any device, allowing easy access to videos or bonus audio while you're out.

What Are the Cons of Coffee Break Spanish?

Limited material

Regrettably, new content is not added regularly to the existing courses. The Spanish Masterclass is a continuing course, but the current session is no longer open for registration and continues until August.

I also really desire video content in every season and more interactive exercises to practice new concepts. There are no chances to practice writing or reading (unless you are reading the transcripts).

It's also important to note that the various courses on the website are not sorted by language, which makes exploring the options and locating what you need somewhat more challenging.

Price may be prohibitive

The cost of the courses from Coffee Break Spanish can be discouraging when the podcast episodes and worksheets are already free. While monthly payment plans are available for some courses, you are still obligated to pay the total amount, unlike a monthly subscription you can cancel at any time.

However, you cannot access all the additional learning resources without purchasing the courses. I particularly enjoyed the bonus audio and translation exercises in Levels 3 and 4 of the “Coffee Break Spanish” course.

But is the cost justified? I suggest you utilize the free resources and review the course outlines to decide if the new concepts you'll learn are valuable enough to pay for. You can also sample the first three lessons of each Coffee Break Spanish course for free.

How Does Coffee Break Spanish Compare to Other Language Programs?

SpanishPod101

Both Coffee Break Spanish and SpanishPod101 serve learners at all levels, from complete novices to advanced speakers. However, their methods and content differ in some ways.

For instance, SpanishPod101 offers a wider array of resources beyond podcasts. You'll find video lessons, lesson notes, quizzes, flashcards, and a community forum for learner interaction and practice.

Coffee Break Spanish is recognized for its conversational style and informal tone, whereas SpanishPod101 delivers a more organized and all-inclusive learning experience. If you have a tight budget, you can benefit from both of their free materials or look into SpanishPod101's monthly subscription plans.

See our in-depth review of SpanishPod101.

Pimsleur

Pimsleur is another audio-focused program for learning Spanish. In contrast to Coffee Break Spanish, Pimsleur requires you to repeat words and phrases as you listen, which can enhance your pronunciation and speaking skills.

Pimsleur might be more appropriate for you if you are a beginner and/or want to develop your speaking abilities and vocabulary retention along with your listening comprehension.

If you prefer a combination of audio and text-based learning with a wider range of content (including grammar instruction), Coffee Break Spanish could be the better choice. The prices are comparable: you can buy a full level (30 lessons) on Pimsleur for $150 or all 5 levels for $575.

See our in-depth review of Pimsleur.

Lingflix

Lingflix and Coffee Break both teach conversational Spanish, but Lingflix is a video-based platform that offers an immersive language learning experience without set courses.

With Lingflix, you can select from numerous short video clips from genuine Spanish media and develop your language skills as you watch. Interactive subtitles and customized vocabulary quizzes assist you in learning new words and phrases in context.

If you are seeking a language course you can listen to while commuting, Coffee Break is the superior option. But if you desire a more thorough experience that is also excellent for mobile learning, Lingflix provides more features and the monthly subscription means you don't need a large initial payment.

You can get the Lingflix app for iOS or Android devices and test the program free for 2 weeks.

FAQs About Coffee Break Spanish

Is Coffee Break Spanish a good way to learn Spanish?

Coffee Break Spanish can be an excellent method to learn Spanish basics, especially since it has content for all levels and is simple to incorporate into your daily schedule. However, it's not the only Spanish course available, so you might want to compare options before finalizing your decision.

Is Coffee Break Spanish free?

A large portion of Coffee Break Spanish's content is accessible for free, including the podcasts. But if you want to use all the resources in the course, you must pay a fee that differs based on the course you select.

Is Coffee Break Spanish Castilian?

Since the instructor Mark has resided in Spain, he concentrates on using “Spain Spanish” for simplicity in the initial lessons, but as the course continues you will learn alternative terms from various regions.

Hopefully, you now have sufficient information to make a well-informed choice. Coffee Break Spanish is a professionally produced resource with many advantages.

Try it out to see if it meets your requirements!