Question for American Mumsnetters (language/idiom related)

[OnAFrolicOfMyOwn]

I wondered if any US Mumsnetters could answer something that has puzzled me. I was reading a novel where a character was talking about wording another character with an English background used that was distinctly English, and this incuded:

"Asking me if I want a coffee"

Is it the indefinite object that is English here, or is this a kind of joke that Americans would always want coffee as opposed to another kind of drink, so an American wouldn't need to ask? Or something else?

Thanks for any insights!

Hopeful bump

I think it’s the “a” - Americans that I know would say “Do you want coffee?”

or they’d say “do you want a cup of coffee”

LOL that would really puzzle me as well! I’m neither English/British or American - and I would ask the question that way.

Agree - maybe it’s the ‘a’.

I'm American, but I've lived in the UK for ages. I think when I'm back home people would say would you like coffee?

It's how I would ask it as well, "would you like a tea or a coffee". I think if I was voicing an American character then losing the "a" would probably sound more authentic.

Never noticed it before but now I think about it that sounds right.

Or would it be that an American would say "Can I get you a coffee?" rather than do you want?

Thank you for your replies!

I suppose it could be a combination of the 'a' and 'do you want' rather than 'can I get you'.

I (British) usually offer a choice of tea or coffee unless I know the person only drinks one of them, but I know tea is much less popular Stateside!