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 see also iced coffee, irish coffee, turkish coffee
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
City leaders say the structures are meant to be multi-functional, with people frequently stopping by to do work, grab coffee, or simply spend time with others.
—
Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
There’s a BankUnited, a TD Bank and a Capitol One Cafe, where people can bank and get coffee.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Scream Queens vegan ice cream company will serve root beer floats and other food and coffee vendors also will be on hand.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
Cold brew or an extra-large hot coffee are not eligible for the deal.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
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Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
There’s a BankUnited, a TD Bank and a Capitol One Cafe, where people can bank and get coffee.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Scream Queens vegan ice cream company will serve root beer floats and other food and coffee vendors also will be on hand.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
Cold brew or an extra-large hot coffee are not eligible for the deal.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coffee
Cite this Entry
“Coffee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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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