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- DictionaryCof·fee/ˈkôfē/
noun
- 1. a hot drink made from the roasted and ground seeds (coffee beans) of a tropical shrub: "a cup of coffee"
- 2. the shrub of the bedstraw family that yields the coffee seeds, two of which are contained in each red berry. Native to the Old World tropics, most coffee is grown in tropical America.
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Learn the origin, history, and usage of the word coffee, a beverage made from the roasted and ground seeds of a tropical plant. See examples, related phrases, and articles about coffee and its varieties.
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Coffee is a beverage brewed from the roasted and ground seeds of the tropical evergreen coffee plant. Coffee is one of the three most popular beverages in the world (alongside water and tea), and it is one of the most profitable international commodities.
Where is coffee grown?
Latin America, eastern Africa, Asia, and Arabia are leading producers of Arabica coffee. The Arabica bean requires a cool subtropical climate. It grows at higher elevations and requires a lot of moisture, sun, and shade. Western and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Brazil are major producers of Robusta coffee. The Robusta bean can grow at lower elevations.
Where did coffee originate?
Wild coffee plants, probably from Kefa (Kaffa), Ethiopia, were taken to southern Arabia and placed under cultivation in the 15th century. The popularity of coffee in the Arab world led to the creation of the coffeehouse, first in Mecca and then in Constantinople in the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively. Coffee was introduced into one European country after another throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
How is coffee decaffeinated?
Wild coffee plants, probably from Kefa (Kaffa), Ethiopia, were taken to southern Arabia and placed under cultivation in the 15th century. One of many legends about the discovery of coffee is that of Kaldi, an Arab goatherd who was puzzled by the strange antics of his flock. About 850 ce Kaldi supposedly sampled the berries of the evergreen bush on which the goats were feeding and, on experiencing a sense of exhilaration, proclaimed his discovery to the world.
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Whatever the actual origin of coffee, its stimulating effect undoubtedly made it popular. Ironically, though Islamic authorities pronounced the drink intoxicating and therefore prohibited by the Qurʾān, many Muslims were attracted to the beverage as a substitute for alcohol, also prohibited by the Qurʾān. Despite the threat of severe penalties, coffee drinking spread rapidly among Arabs and their neighbours and even gave rise to a new social and cultural entity, the coffeehouse.
Coffee was introduced into one European country after another throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Many accounts are recorded of its prohibition or approval as a religious, political, and medical potion. By the end of the 17th century, coffeehouses were flourishing across Britain, the British colonies in America, and continental Europe.
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Coffee is a beverage brewed from the roasted and ground seeds of the tropical evergreen coffee plants of African origin. Learn about its history, types, uses, production, and cultural significance in this comprehensive article from Britannica.
Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It has the highest sales in the world market for hot drinks. [2] The seeds of the Coffea plant's fruits are separated to produce unroasted green coffee beans.
- 15th century
- Yemen
- Usually hot, can be ice-cold
- Roasted coffee beans
Learn the meaning of coffee as a dark brown powder or a drink made from it, and see how to use it in different contexts. Find out the pronunciation, synonyms, translations and related words of coffee.
Learn the meaning of coffee as a noun, a drink, and a powder, with synonyms, collocations, and usage examples. Find out how to say coffee in different languages and contexts.
Proper care can maintain and even increase their output over the years, depending on the variety. The average coffee tree produces 10 pounds of coffee cherry per year, or 2 pounds of green beans. All commercially grown coffee is from a region of the world called the Coffee Belt. The trees grow best in rich soil, with mild temperatures, frequent ...
Coffee definition: a beverage consisting of a decoction or infusion of the roasted ground or crushed seeds (coffee beans ) of the two-seeded fruit (coffee berry ) of certain coffee trees.. See examples of COFFEE used in a sentence.
