Illustration of coffee
- coffee 1b
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
d
: a dehydrated product made from brewed coffee
instant coffee
also
: a beverage made from this
2
: a cup of coffee
two coffees
3
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
This week's quiz highlights daring discoveries, classic coffee — and a lot more.
—
Khloe Quill , Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Vigilante imports much of its coffee from Brazil, and other beans come from countries including Indonesia, Ethiopia and Colombia.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Chai tea contains some caffeine from black tea but is a much less concentrated source than coffee.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Oct. 2025
The winning Bourbon Caramel Iced Coffee was the brainchild of a social media strategist, Bianca Fernandez, and won hearts thanks to its bold flavor and playful take on the classic iced coffee.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coffee
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Khloe Quill , Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Vigilante imports much of its coffee from Brazil, and other beans come from countries including Indonesia, Ethiopia and Colombia.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Chai tea contains some caffeine from black tea but is a much less concentrated source than coffee.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Oct. 2025
The winning Bourbon Caramel Iced Coffee was the brainchild of a social media strategist, Bianca Fernandez, and won hearts thanks to its bold flavor and playful take on the classic iced coffee.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coffee
Cite this Entry
“Coffee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coffee
noun
cof·fee
ˈkȯ-fē 
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"
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