coffee

American  

[kaw-fee, kof-ee] / ˈkɔ fi, ˈkɒf i /

noun

coffees plural

1. a beverage consisting of a decoction or infusion of the roasted ground or crushed seeds coffeebeans of the two-seeded fruit coffeeberry of certain coffee trees.

2. the seeds or fruit themselves.

3. any tropical tree or shrub of the genus Coffea, of the madder family, especially C. arabica and C. canephora, cultivated commercially.

4. a cup of coffee.

   We ordered four coffees and three doughnuts.

5. a social gathering at which coffee and other refreshments are served.

6. medium to dark brown.

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adjective

1. coffee-colored.

coffee British  

/ ˈkɒfɪ /

noun

1. 1. a drink consisting of an infusion of the roasted and ground or crushed seeds of the coffee tree

   2. ( as modifier )

      coffee grounds

2. Also called: coffee beans.  the beanlike seeds of the coffee tree, used to make this beverage

3. short for coffee tree

4. 1. a medium to dark brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a coffee carpet

5. See wake 1

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• coffees
  plural

Etymology

Origin of coffee

1590–1600; < Italian caff è < Turkish kahve < Arabic qahwah

Explanation

The hot, brown beverage that many people start their days with is called coffee. To make coffee, you can grind coffee beans and pour very hot water over the grounds. Many people drink coffee because they love the deep, roasted flavor, and also for the caffeine it contains — drinking coffee helps you feel more awake and alert. The green coffee bean that's roasted and ground to produce your cup of Joe grows on a bush in a warm climate. People have been drinking coffee since at least the 15th century, although it didn't catch on with Americans until the Revolutionary War, when the British habit of tea drinking plummeted in popularity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coffee coffees

Lower-caffeine soft drinks, such Diet Coke, are not affected and neither are tea and coffee.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

“He had friends, he had people that lived and worked with him for 40 years,” Dill, 67, said over coffee at Jitters Brewing Company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

This was most evident when I attended a watch party his campaign organized for the World Cup at a Yemeni coffee shop.

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

Up front, it was the ideal dry-goods shop: good boxes of fussy pasta and cavatappi, sleeves of biscotti, plastic-wrapped anise pizzelle, a counter where you could order hulking sandwiches and tiny cups of coffee.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

But she sets the book on the coffee table and smiles.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

On Friday morning, the cafe and tonic bar in the Manhattan Beach Erewhon was bustling with customers ordering smoothies, coffees and breakfast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Pistachio cold foam now perches atop iced coffees from nationwide chains, Dubai chocolate knock-offs sit at every grocery checkout stand and boutique patisseries fill croissants with pistachio butters and creams.

From Salon ● May 6, 2026

Most notably, the fast-food giant is testing and expanding its beverage offerings to include cold coffees, specialty sodas, and energy drinks.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

There’s no New England weather frigid enough to keep people from buying iced coffees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026

Marjorie and Babs were ahead of me, standing in the hall with take-out coffees.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• caffeine
• cappuccino
• espresso