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
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
Recall alert: Ground coffee recalled over mislabeling error What states were the contaminated soup and bowl products sold?
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
The resort is home to four historic hotels: The Carolina Hotel, The Holly Inn, The Magnolia Inn and the Manor, with many things to do and enjoy from a coffee house and retail outlet to pools and bars.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
These aren't polished marketing messages but raw dispatches from the startup - complete with coffee stains, typos, and occasional frustrations.
—Dasha Shunina, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Yes, lighting kitchen countertops, but also closet shelves, corner coffee nooks, bar cabinets, utility rooms, powder rooms, and more.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coffee
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Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
The resort is home to four historic hotels: The Carolina Hotel, The Holly Inn, The Magnolia Inn and the Manor, with many things to do and enjoy from a coffee house and retail outlet to pools and bars.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
These aren't polished marketing messages but raw dispatches from the startup - complete with coffee stains, typos, and occasional frustrations.
—Dasha Shunina, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Yes, lighting kitchen countertops, but also closet shelves, corner coffee nooks, bar cabinets, utility rooms, powder rooms, and more.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coffee
Cite this Entry
“Coffee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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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