arabica

noun

arab·​i·​ca ə-ˈra-bə-kə 

often attributive

1

: an evergreen shrub or tree (Coffea arabica) yielding seeds that produce a high-quality coffee and form a large portion of the coffee of commerce

2

: the seeds of arabica especially roasted and often ground

Examples of arabica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New York futures for arabica, the high-end variety used in coffee shops, have held near a record high after adverse weather hit key growing regions. —Bloomberg News, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Brazilian officials expect the country’s arabica coffee output to fall by at least 12% this year. —Steve Kopack, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025

Trump’s tariff doesn’t affect the company, as Fore Kopi uses Indonesian arabica coffee beans from local farmers and only sells its product within its coffee chain in the country, Cuaca said. —Gloria Haraito, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025

The new tariffs are a double whammy because coffee makers were already dealing with higher wholesale prices for arabica beans — the most popular type — because of extreme weather that has impacted the world's top producers. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, specific epithet of Coffea arabica, from Latin, feminine of Arabicus Arabian

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for arabica

• abaca