Definition of coffee
- instant coffee
- two coffees
I bought a pound of coffee.
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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.
First Known Use: 1598
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same year: a dark brown drink made from ground coffee beans and boiled water
: coffee beans
See words that rhyme with coffee Spanish Central: Translation of coffee Nglish: Translation of coffee for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of coffee for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coffee
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