coffee

noun, often attributive

cof·fee | \ ˈkȯ-fē

, ˈkä-\

Definition of coffee

1a : 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 : coffee hour

Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about coffee

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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

River Gallery River Gallery is a perfect starting point to explore the Bluff View Art District, a historic walkable area with restaurants, coffee house, and a charming bed & breakfast. — Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Best Day Trips from Atlanta," 23 Aug. 2018 Picking up a cup of coffee for a coworker, doing your roommate’s dishes, and donating to a charity are all examples. — Samantha Boardman, Marie Claire, "I Hate Social Situations—Help!," 19 Mar. 2019 For just $5 a month, customers can get coffee daily. — Spencer Jakab, WSJ, "Burger King’s Tears in My Coffee," 18 Mar. 2019 In addition, hormonal birth control or too much coffee can cause tenderness in your boobs. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "Are Your Boobs Normal? We Asked An Expert," 8 Mar. 2019 Ahead of tonight's Real Housewives of New York premiere, Tinsley Mortimer sat down with T&C at the Plaza Hotel Bar, to have the best kind of afternoon coffee (a glass of wine!) and to fill us in on what to expect from season 11. — Danny Murphy, Town & Country, "Tinsley Mortimer Talks RHONY Season 11 and Her Favorite New York City Date Spot," 7 Mar. 2019 White Oak Coffee House White Oak Coffee House, at the corner of Paramount Ridge Drive and Cheviot Road, served its first cup of coffee about a month ago. — Jennie Key, Cincinnati.com, "Lots of options: West Siders have eat-out options and more are coming," 13 July 2018 The perfect spot for a proper coffee and breakfast sandwich on the go. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "There’s a Fresh Crop of Vegan Restaurants in Dublin," 15 Mar. 2019 Ashley Graham The model and red carpet commentator gave us a peek at her glam routine, which included a cup of coffee and a high-wattage smile. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Celebrity Instagrams from the 2019 Oscars," 24 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coffee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.