coffee [Ar, qahwah] , the dried and roasted ripe seeds of Coffea arabica, C. liberica, and C. robusta trees, which may have originated in Africa and now grow in almost all tropical areas. Coffee contains the alkaloid caffeine and is the basis for a stimulating drink that has been used in treating the common headache, chronic asthma, and narcotic poisoning. The caffeine in coffee is potentially addictive; withdrawal symptoms include irritability and headache.
