Coffee

Coffee Cof"fee (k[add]"f[-e]; k[o^]f"f[-e]; 115), n. [Turk. qahveh, Ar. qahuah wine, coffee, a decoction of berries. Cf. {Caf['e]}.] 1. The ``beans'' or ``berries'' (pyrenes) obtained from the drupes of a small evergreen tree of the genus {Coffea}, growing in Abyssinia, Arabia, Persia, and other warm regions of Asia and Africa, and also in tropical America. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. The coffee tree. [1913 Webster]

Note: There are several species of the coffee tree, as, {Coffea Arabica}, {Coffea canephora}, {Coffea occidentalis}, and {Coffea Liberica}. The white, fragrant flowers grow in clusters at the root of the leaves, and the fruit is a red or purple cherrylike drupe, with sweet pulp, usually containing two pyrenes, commercially called ``beans'' or ``berries''. [1913 Webster]

3. The beverage made by decoction of the roasted and ground berry of the coffee tree. [1913 Webster]

They have in Turkey a drink called coffee. . . . This drink comforteth the brain and heart, and helpeth digestion. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4. a cup of coffee[3], especially one served in a restaurant; as, we each had two donuts and a coffee; three coffees to go. [PJC]

5. a social gathering at which coffee is served, with optional other foods or refreshments. [PJC]

6. a color ranging from medium brown to dark brown. [PJC]

Note: The use of coffee is said to have been introduced into England about 1650, when coffeehouses were opened in Oxford and London. [1913 Webster]

{Coffee bug} (Zo["o]l.), a species of scale insect ({Lecanium coff[ae]a}), often very injurious to the coffee tree.

{Coffee rat} (Zo["o]l.) See {Musang}. [1913 Webster]