Central Perk: The Heartbeat of “Friends”

For ten unforgettable seasons, Friends invited viewers into the cozy familiarity of Central Perk, the fictional New York City coffeehouse where six inseparable friends—Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe—gathered to talk, laugh, and untangle the messiness of modern life. The big orange couch became an unofficial seventh character, anchoring storylines that ranged from love and heartbreak to weddings, career mishaps, and even runaway cats. Though a sitcom set, Central Perk embodied a real sense of place: the neighborhood café that becomes a second home, where caffeine fuels confession and companionship is always on the menu.

In a city that never stops moving, everyone still needs their corner coffee shop and their circle of friends—a place to pause, connect, and refuel. For some, that refuge is a neighborhood café like the beloved Central Perk from Friends, where laughter and loyalty were poured as generously as the coffee. For countless New Yorkers, it’s also the comforting ritual of coffee-to-go, served in the iconic blue-and-white Anthora paper cup—a symbol of everyday connection, conversation, and community in motion.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the iconic Anthora coffee cup – a true symbol of New York City’s street culture, corner delis, and daily rituals – NY Coffee Cup celebrates its enduring design, cultural significance, and place in coffee history, both in NYC and beyond.