A coffee table is a low table that sits in front of a sofa or chairs in a living room. It's called a coffee table because it's the perfect height for setting down a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate!) when you're sitting on the couch. People use coffee tables to hold drinks, snacks, remote controls, books, and magazines within easy reach.

Coffee tables became popular in the early 1900s as living rooms shifted from formal spaces to comfortable gathering spots. Before that, people used tall side tables that didn't work as well with low, cushioned sofas.

The phrase coffee table book refers to a large, beautiful book full of photographs or artwork that's meant to be displayed on a coffee table, where visitors can flip through it. These books are usually about topics like nature, travel, art, or architecture, with pictures so striking that you want to stop and look at them even if you're just waiting for dinner to be ready.