What’s the name of the coffee in Friends?
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Central Perk is the iconic coffee of the TV series Friends, serving as the central location where the six friends, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and Joey, meet regularly. Located in New York’s fictional Greenwich Village neighborhood, the coffee was inspired by Cholmondeley’s, a coffee at Brandeis University where the series’ creators studied.
The name Central Perk is a play on words combining Central Park, New York’s famous park, and perk, which means to percolate in English, in reference to coffee preparation. The coffee’s décor features red brick walls, comfortable sofas, including the famous orange one, and a warm ambience that reflects the series’ convivial atmosphere.
Central Perk is more than just a setting, it’s a character in its own right in Friends. It’s where the characters share their joys, sorrows and everyday moments. The coffee is run by Gunther, played by James Michael Tyler, who harbors a secret affection for Rachel. Rachel herself works as a waitress at Central Perk at the start of the series, before pursuing a career in fashion.
Although Central Perk is a fictional location, its influence has transcended the screen. Replicas of the coffee have been created around the world, allowing fans to relive the Friends experience. In 2014, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the series, a pop-up Central Perk opened in New York for a month, attracting thousands of visitors. In France, coffees inspired by Central Perk have sprung up, notably in Paris with Garden Perk and in Bordeaux with a faithful replica of the coffee.
Years after the end of the series, Central Perk remains a symbol of friendship and 90s popular culture. It embodies the idea of a gathering place where friends come together to share moments in life, a notion that continues to resonate with fans of all generations.
Central Perk is much more than just a coffee in Friends, it’s the beating heart of the series, a place of meetings and memories, reflecting the very essence of friendship and conviviality.
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