coffee

coffee — noun

1. a fine brown powder produced by grinding coffee beans, used for brewing a hot dr

1.nounA1
Definition

a fine brown powder produced by grinding coffee beans, used for brewing a hot drink

Example

Aiko bought a bag of freshly ground coffee from the shop on the corner.

collocation: freshly ground coffee

The recipe calls for two tablespoons of instant coffee mixed with warm milk.

collocation: instant coffee

Common collocations
  • ground coffee
  • instant coffee
  • roasted coffee
  • coffee powder

Usage Note

In everyday English, 'coffee' alone usually refers to the powder. Use 'ground coffee' or 'instant coffee' to specify the type.

Common Mistakes

I bought a coffee powder.
I bought some coffee.
'coffee powder' is not natural; the powder itself is simply called 'coffee'.

2. a tropical bush or small tree that produces the beans used to make coffee powder

2.nounB1
Definition

a tropical bush or small tree that produces the beans used to make coffee powder

Example

Coffee plants need a warm climate with plenty of rain to grow well.

collocation: coffee plant + grow

The Watanabe family has grown coffee on their farm for three generations.

collocation: grow coffee

Common collocations
  • coffee plant
  • coffee bush
  • grow coffee
  • coffee beans
  • coffee cherry

Usage Note

This sense is less common in everyday conversation. It appears mainly in discussions about farming, trade, or botany.

3. a dark, hot beverage prepared by adding hot water to ground coffee, often drunk

3.nounA1
Definition

a dark, hot beverage prepared by adding hot water to ground coffee, often drunk in the morning or after meals

Example

Leila ordered a black coffee while she waited for her train.

countable: a coffee = a cup of coffee

Would you like a cup of coffee before we start the meeting?

polite offer: Would you like...?

Common collocations
  • black coffee
  • white coffee
  • iced coffee
  • drink coffee
  • make coffee
  • pour coffee
  • a cup of coffee
Synonyms
  • brew

    informal, common in British English ('fancy a brew?')

  • java

    slang, mainly US English

  • joe

    slang, US English ('cup of joe')

Usage Note

Can be countable when ordering or referring to individual servings ('Two coffees, please'). Uncountable when talking about the drink in general ('I like coffee').

Common Mistakes

Can I have two coffee?
Can I have two coffees?
When ordering, 'coffee' becomes countable and takes a plural -s.
Idioms

wake up and smell the coffee

idiom

Used to tell someone to recognize the true facts of a situation, especially when they are unpleasant.

Maya told her brother to wake up and smell the coffee about his failing business.

If you think the project is going well, wake up and smell the coffee—we're behind schedule.

Word family

  • coffee shop
    nounA2
  • coffee break
    nounB1
  • coffeehouse
    nounB1
  • decaf
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Coffee is the general term for the drink made from ground coffee beans. An espresso is a very strong, small coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground beans under pressure — it serves as the base for many other drinks. A cappuccino is espresso with steamed milk and a thick layer of milk foam on top. A latte (short for caffè latte) is espresso with more steamed milk and only a thin layer of foam, making it milder and creamier. An americano is espresso diluted with hot water, giving a strength similar to regular drip coffee but with a slightly different taste. For example: 'I'll have a black coffee, please' (regular brewed) versus 'I'll have a latte with an extra shot of espresso' (milkier and stronger).

espresso ↗cappuccino ↗latteamericano

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • freshly

Phrases

  • cup of coffee
  • coffee shop
  • coffee break

Prepositions

Etymology

ArabicTurkishDutchEnglish

Coffee entered English through Dutch 'koffie' in the late 1500s, from Turkish 'kahve', which came from Arabic 'qahwa'. The Arabic word originally referred to a type of wine, but later shifted to describe the brewed drink made from coffee beans.