coffee

noun

cof·​fee ˈkȯ-fē How to pronounce coffee (audio)
ˈkä-
often attributive
1
a
: a beverage made by percolation, infusion, or decoction from the roasted and ground seeds of a coffee plant
b
: any of several Old World tropical plants (genus Coffea and especially C. arabica and C. canephora) of the madder family that are widely cultivated in warm regions for their seeds from which coffee is prepared
c
: coffee seeds especially roasted and often ground compare arabica, robusta
d
: a dehydrated product made from brewed coffee
instant coffee
also : a beverage made from this
2
: a cup of coffee
two coffees
3

Illustration of coffee

Illustration of coffee
  • coffee 1b

Did you know?

Coffee is made from the roasted and ground seeds, or beans, of the coffee plant, a tropical evergreen shrub. Two of the 25 or more species, Arabica and Robusta, supply most of the world's coffee. Arabica is grown in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Indonesia; Robusta mainly in Africa. The shrub bears small white flowers with a jasmine-like fragrance. The fruit, which is red when mature, is called a cherry. The seed is called a bean. Coffee contains large amounts of caffeine, whose effects have always been an important element in the drink's popularity. Coffee-drinking dates from the 15th century in Arabia. It reached Europe by the 17th century and immediately became popular. Coffee is consumed by about one-third of the world's population.

Examples of coffee in a Sentence

I bought a pound of coffee.
Recent Examples on the Web There’s also a free coffee for a year giveaway tied to the grand opening. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024 In this interaction, the coffee loses thermal energy and the table (and surrounding air) gains it. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 The typical advice is to avoid coffee, tea and ice, but Jones is less bothered. Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Donors receive a free coffee from Cafe Moto, 2619 National Ave., in San Diego, with a Read Across America purchase from Libélula. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Mixing engineer Sean Beavan remembers emerging from the house at dawn to sit down for a coffee with Flood and admire the view of the city below. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024 Zero-proof options include a Phony Negroni ($11), herbal tea and a Chef’s Spirit ($6) of iced coffee and Mexican Coke. Details: Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Sunday at 1746 Solano Ave., Berkeley; elsiesonsolano.com. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The legend began in 1903 with a humble saloon in Tampa where trolley conductors and cigar-factory workers ducked in for a slurp of strong coffee. Andrew Barrett Schrader, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Balcones Rye Bottled in Bond: is the newest to our line and pairs so well with chocolate, coffee, and herbs or in any classic cocktail calling for a rye whiskey. Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coffee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian & Turkish; Italian caffè, from Turkish kahve, from Arabic qahwa

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of coffee was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near coffee

Cite this Entry

“Coffee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coffee

noun
cof·​fee ˈkȯ-fē How to pronounce coffee (audio)
ˈkäf-ē
1
: a drink made from the roasted and ground seeds of a tropical tree or shrub related to the madder
2
: coffee seeds or a plant producing them
3
: a cup of coffee
two coffees
Etymology

from Italian caffè "coffee" and Turkish kahve "coffee," both from Arabic qaḥwa "coffee"

More from Merriam-Webster on coffee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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