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

Anyone who usually spends their downtime with a cup of coffee and a good book can tell you just how quickly those books can pile up. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "You Need This $15 Naked Floating Bookshelf—And 1,000 Reviews Agree," 3 Jan. 2019 The holiday is centered around children: girls wear white dresses and lighted wreaths, and often serve coffee and baked goods, while boys wear all-white ensembles and sing traditional songs. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria Shares Adorable Photos of Her Children Celebrating St. Lucia Day," 13 Dec. 2018 Props, like a cup of coffee or a handbag, also relieve you of hand-awkwardness. — Elizabeth Holmes, Marie Claire, "What Do I Do With My Hands In Photos? And Other Important Questions, Answered," 12 Dec. 2018 Always have a fresh pot of coffee ready in the Chemex so guests can help theirselves to a cup. — ELLE Decor, "This Holiday Party Is Anything But Traditional—And We're Obsessed," 30 Nov. 2018 The opaque color has blue undertones that flatter every skin tone and make your teeth sparkle, as if a drop of coffee has never passed your lips. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, "The September 2018 Allure Beauty Box: See All the Product Samples You'll Get This Month," 1 Sep. 2018 To that end, researchers at MIT are working on a similar system that teaches robots in a simulation to do certain household tasks, like making a cup of coffee. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Don't Just Lecture Robots—Make Them Learn," 9 July 2018 Or top your oats off with coffee and get your caffeine and breakfast in one go. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "How to Eat Oatmeal Every Day Without Getting Sick of It," 4 Jan. 2019 The 150-seat indoor/outdoor all-day eatery will focus on breakfast and lunch fare—including unique pancake concoctions—plus coffee. — Kat Odell, Vogue, "2019’s Most Anticipated American Restaurant Openings," 3 Jan. 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.