Questions · Brunch

Brunch conversation starters for the second cup of coffee

Questions for weekend brunch with friends: easy picks while you wait for a table, the week recapped as stories rather than updates, the second round of coffee when it gets interesting, and making the next plan before the check comes.

  • 16 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
  • Free in the app
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Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.

Icebreakers№ 43

What made you laugh when you least expected it?

Ano ang nagpatawa sa'yo noong hindi mo inaasahan?

Tap to flipkumustahan
A note

Give the scene a caption if you like.

Kung gusto mo, bigyan ng caption ang eksenang iyon.

Tap to returnkumustahan

The questions

16 brunch conversation starters

Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.

Coffee first

4 questions

Easy picks while you wait for a table or the first cup.

  1. Pick one drink that makes an ordinary day feel a little special.

    Pumili ng isang drink na nagpaparamdam na medyo special ang ordinary day.

    Back of the card

    A drink can turn an ordinary pause into a tiny celebration. Sometimes that small upgrade is the whole point.

    Minsan isang drink lang, parang may small celebration na sa ordinary day. Yun na yung tiny upgrade.

  2. Which would you want free for life: breakfast or dessert?

    Pumili ng libreng pagkain habambuhay: breakfast o dessert.

    Back of the card

    Make your first order. You can choose something familiar or invent a dish.

    Piliin ang unang oorderin mo. Puwedeng paborito mo na o pagkaing iimbentuhin mo.

  3. Would you rather have someone cook or clean for you?

    Mas gusto mo bang may magluto o maglinis para sa'yo?

    Back of the card

    Picture doing something you enjoy while they handle the task.

    Isipin ang masayang gagawin mo habang sila ang bahala.

  4. If someone were choosing a snack or drink for you, what’s one choice that would almost always work?

    Kung may pipili ng snack o drink para sa'yo, ano yung halos laging okay sa'yo?

    Back of the card

    Tiny preferences can be an easy way to know someone better. It feels good when people remember the simple things.

    Minsan sa small preferences tayo mas nakikilala. Nakakatuwa rin kapag may nakakaalala ng simple things about you.

The week, recapped

5 questions

Stories, not status updates: the laughs, the mix-ups and the plans that went wrong.

  1. What made you laugh when you least expected it?

    Ano ang nagpatawa sa'yo noong hindi mo inaasahan?

    Back of the card

    Give the scene a caption if you like.

    Kung gusto mo, bigyan ng caption ang eksenang iyon.

  2. When a hangout plan goes wrong, what do you usually do first?

    Kapag pumalpak ang plano ng gala, ano ang una mong ginagawa?

    Back of the card

    You could tell this as the opening scene of a comedy.

    Puwede mong ikuwento ito na parang unang eksena ng comedy.

  3. Name a word or line you misheard that made the conversation funny.

    Magbanggit ng word o line na mali mong narinig at naging funny yung usapan.

    Back of the card

    Mishearing one word can send a conversation somewhere else completely. Sometimes the mistake is funnier than the original point.

    Isang maling dinig lang, ibang direction na yung usapan. Minsan mas funny pa yung mali kaysa original point.

  4. Share a small mistake or awkward moment that feels funny now.

    Mag-share ng small mistake o awkward moment na funny na ngayon.

    Back of the card

    A small fail gets lighter once it becomes a story. Sometimes the best part is realizing everyone survives awkward little moments.

    Gumagaan yung small fail kapag naging kuwento na. Minsan best part yung ma-realize na nakakalusot naman tayo sa awkward moments.

  5. Describe a moment that stressed you out before but makes you laugh now.

    I-describe yung moment na stressful dati pero natatawa ka na ngayon.

    Back of the card

    Some stressful moments lose their sharp edges with time. Once the panic fades, the story sometimes becomes surprisingly funny.

    May stressful moments na lumalambot habang tumatagal. Kapag wala na yung panic, minsan funny story na siya.

Second round of coffee

4 questions

When the plates are cleared and nobody wants to leave yet.

  1. Name a new interest a friend might be surprised you enjoy.

    Magbanggit ng bagong hilig mo na baka ikagulat ng friend.

    Back of the card

    You could open with: “I never thought I'd enjoy this, but...”

    Puwedeng magsimula sa “Hindi ko akalaing magugustuhan ko ito, pero...”

  2. Which part of your personality has been showing up more lately?

    Anong part ng personality mo ang mas lumalabas lately?

    Back of the card

    The parts showing up may be asking to be noticed, used, or cared for. Curiosity can be a gentle start.

    Yung parts na mas lumalabas, baka gusto lang mapansin, magamit, o maalagaan. Puwedeng curiosity muna ang start.

  3. What fun activity would you like to introduce your friends to?

    Anong masayang activity ang gusto mong ipakilala sa friends?

    Back of the card

    Imagine their first try going wrong in a harmless, funny way.

    Isipin na may simpleng sablay sa unang pagsubok nila na puwede ninyong pagtawanan.

  4. If you had one free hour every week, what hobby would you go back to?

    Kung may isang free hour ka every week, anong hobby ang babalikan mo?

    Back of the card

    A hobby you miss can point to a part of you that still wants some space.

    Yung hobby na nami-miss mo minsan tumuturo sa part ng sarili mo na gusto pa rin ng konting space.

Before the check

3 questions

Next plans and small favors, so brunch doesn’t become a once-a-year thing.

  1. Plan a hangout that a friend could bring a new friend to.

    Kung magsasama ng bagong friend ang kaibigan mo, anong bonding ang ipa-plano mo?

    Back of the card

    Imagine the newcomer knows none of your old jokes. Your activity can still work.

    Isipin na hindi alam ng bagong kasama ang dating mga biro ninyo. Puwede pa ring maging masaya ang activity.

  2. What small task would you happily ask a friend to help with?

    Sa anong simpleng gawain mo gustong magpatulong sa friend?

    Back of the card

    Would their help save time, make it more fun, or simply give you company?

    Makakatipid ba ng oras ang tulong nila, mas magiging masaya, o magkakaroon ka lang ng kasama?

  3. Name one thing that would make next month feel a little lighter.

    Magbanggit ng isang bagay na makakatulong para mas gumaan nang konti ang next month.

    Back of the card

    A lighter month does not have to mean a perfect one. Even one less weight can change how a season feels.

    Hindi kailangang perfect ang mas magaan na month. Kahit isang bawas na bigat, iba na ang pakiramdam ng season.

How to use them

Before you ask

Brunch is a catch-up meal, and catch-ups tend to run on updates: work is busy, the trip was nice, the apartment hunt continues. The best brunch questions ask for stories instead: what made you laugh this week when you least expected it, the plan that went wrong, the word someone misheard.

There’s a moment at every good brunch when the plates are cleared, the server refills the coffee and nobody moves. That’s the window for the second-round questions: a new interest your friends might be surprised by, the part of your personality that’s been showing up lately, an activity you’d love to get them into.

End with the next plan. Brunch friendships often run on “we should do this more often” and then three months pass. Ask what kind of hangout would welcome a newcomer, or what would ease the month ahead, and put a date on it before the check arrives.

Good for

  • Weekend brunch with friends
  • Galentine’s and birthday brunches
  • Mother’s Day and Easter brunch
  • Catching up with an old friend
  • Bottomless-coffee Sundays

Tips

  1. Ask for a story, not an update: “What happened this week?” beats “How’s work?”.
  2. Save the deeper ones for the second cup.
  3. Rotate who picks the question each time the group meets.
  4. Book the next brunch at the table.
  5. For a Galentine’s brunch, see Galentine’s Day questions.

Decks for this

Brunch

Frequently asked questions

What do you talk about at brunch with friends?

Easy picks while waiting, stories from the week instead of status updates, more personal questions over the second cup of coffee, and plans to meet again before the check.

How do you make a catch-up feel less like small talk?

Ask for specific stories (what made you laugh, what plan went wrong) rather than general updates. Specific questions get specific, interesting answers.

Can we use these at a restaurant?

Yes. Open the free Kumustahan app on one phone and pass it around the table; it’s quieter than a board game.

Bring a better question to the table.

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