: 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
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.
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Similar to coffee grounds, tea can be overused as a fertilizer.—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2025 Turmeric coffee is based on a traditional Indian drink known as haldi doodh, which has long been used as an at-home remedy.23 Aside from coffee, turmeric is the main ingredient.—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2025 Her former consulting partner Green took part in some of the coffees, including with prospective business associates.—Arkansas Online, 28 Apr. 2025 At a time when high street chains strive to be all things to all people—offering everything from coffee to tote bags alongside their core products—Buns From Home has taken a refreshingly singular approach.—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coffee
Word History
Etymology
Italian & Turkish; Italian caffè, from Turkish kahve, from Arabic qahwa
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