Cōf′fee, n.
n. [L. Ger. koffee, D. koffi, Ger. kaffee, It. caffè, Sp., Pg., & Fr. café, from Ar. qahuah, or qahoeh, which the Turks pronounce qahveh, wine, coffee, a decoction of berries, called bunn, a coffee-house. This plant grows wild in the provinces Enarea and Caffa, in Africa.]
Sense 1. The berries of a tree belonging to the genus Coffea, growing in Arabia, Persia, and the warm climates of Asia and America. There are two species, C. Arabica, and C. occidentalis. The flowers grow in clusters at the root of the leaves, close to the branches, are pure white, and fragrant. Each berry contains two grains of coffee.
Sense 2. A drink made from the roasted berry of the coffee-tree, by decoction.
They have in Turkey a drink called coffee. . . . This drink comforteth the brain and heart, and helpeth digestion. Bacon.
The use of coffee is said to have been introduced into France by Thevenot, the traveler, and into England, in 1652, by a Greek servant called Pasqua.
