Kentucky coffee tree

noun

1. a tall North American tree, Gymnocladus dioica, of the legume family, the seeds of which Kentucky coffee beans were formerly used as a substitute for coffee beans.

Kentucky coffee tree

noun

1. a North American leguminous tree, Gymnocladus dioica, whose seeds, in brown curved pulpy pods, were formerly used as a coffee substitute

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kentucky coffee tree¹

First recorded in 1775–85