QUICK ANSWER
"Café" is a noun which is often translated as "coffee", and "cafetería" is a noun which is often translated as "café". Learn more about the difference between "café" and "cafetería" below.
el café(
kah
-
feh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (beverage)
b. coffee shop
Estoy buscando un café con WiFi para poder estudiar.I'm looking for a coffee shop with WiFi so that I can study.
la cafetería(
kah
-
feh
-
teh
-
ree
-
ah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (restaurant)
a. café
Vamos a vernos para comer en una cafetería que está justo aquí al lado.We're going to meet for lunch at a cafe that's right next door.
b. coffee shop
Solía ir a esa cafetería porque tienen croissants muy buenos.I used to go to that coffee shop because they have really good croissants.
a. cafeteria
Recuerdo muy claramente las bandejas rojizas de la cafetería de mi primaria.I clearly remember the reddish trays in my elementary school cafeteria.