Where you lead, Gilmore Girls, I will follow.
My lifelong dream to grow up Gilmore was to blame for how I ended up waiting in line outside a Williamsburg coffee shop at 6:30 a.m. on a random Wednesday morning. If I was going to start my day like a Lorelai, I needed to live my caffeine-addicted truth with a (free) cup of the good stuff from Luke's Diner.
The sun wasn't even up yet!
October 5, 2016 marks the 16th anniversary of the series' original pilot airdate. So to promote the four-episode-long revival of one of the greatest shows ever created (totally unbiased assessment, of course), Netflix sponsored one-day popup versions of Stars Hollow's favorite greasy spoon. Across the US and Canada, over 200 cafes and coffee shops donned the iconic "Luke's" cup sign and handed out free coffee at 7 a.m. to the first 250 fangirls and coffee crazies. And I, being both of those things, had a big morning—as you can see from my facial expression below.
Anyone who has ever glanced at an episode of Gilmore Girls knows that coffee is very important to the Gilmores. (Honestly, that's probably a gross understatement.) Their obsession has created meme upon meme, praising the efficacy and deliciousness that is a cup of morning joe. So, in honor of my OG #squadgoals Lorelai and Rory, I set my alarm for earlier than any human should need to be awake, started my Carole King playlist, and padded my way over to Luke's.
The popup had everything you loved about Luke's in the show: servers in flannels and backwards baseball caps, a "no cell phones" sign, strong coffee... even a cardboard cutout of the proprietor himself. It was everything I expected it to be and so much more.
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
They even had a custom Snapchat filter that you could unlock by scanning the Snapcode on the side of your cup, hidden under the sleeve! You had to act quickly, though—the filter only worked for an hour after the initial scan.
Shameless use of my dog to demonstrate the custom Snapchat filter.
As you can see above in the filter, the new revival season hitting Netflix on November 25, 2016 is titled Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, and each episode will correlate with a season. This got me thinking about all of the awesome coffee hacks we have at our disposal at Food Hacks Daily, so I've compiled the best coffee recipes for each season to help you feel like you're right at home in Stars Hollow.
Fall: Pumpkin Spice Latte
I'm sure the Gilmore clan wouldn't be too happy about the bastardization of the world's most well-loved beverage, and I'm positive you'd never see them served at Luke's, but (pretty much) everyone else goes crazy for PSL. Pumpkin spice lattes are a delicious hug-in-a-cup that have become synonymous with the beginning of fall, and the "pumpkin spice" flavor has become a cultural phenomenon, for better or worse.
Starbucks
If you're too embarrassed to order this basic drink at the counter—don't worry. You can easily make your own PSL at home.
Winter: Dirty Chai Latte
Okay, while this isn't exactly pure coffee, dirty chai is my favorite warm winter beverage... and it still has a shot of espresso in it, so it still delivers the caffeine that Lorelai thrived on. I believe this drink has all the best parts of a gingerbread latte—the perfect balance of sweet and spice—without the artificial taste of gingerbread syrup.
Make yourself a cup of the good stuff and snuggle up in front of the TV for your annual Netflix binge of the original GG series.
Spring: Affogato
Admit it: this drink looks damn delicious. But what exactly is an affogato?
Traditionally, affogato is espresso poured over vanilla gelato, but we put a FHD spin on this Italian classic with ice cream ice cubes. Just because it's getting warmer outside doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your caffeine lifeline.
Summer: Vanilla Cold Brew
Cold brew has become quite the heavy hitter during the summer season. From Dunkin' Donuts to your local haunt, cold brew has become the new star of the caffeine-addicted masses. I'm a big fan of cold brew since I enjoy strong, bitter coffee, but not everyone enjoys the ultra-concentrated taste. So, Starbucks decided to cater to those with more delicate palates with the creation of its Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew.
However, this beverage, like so many on their menu, is pretty overpriced. Luckily, it's pretty easy to make at home with little fuss (and lots of flavor).
Coffee? Do You Have to Ask?
This is an exciting time for Gilmore Girls fans around the world. We haven't been this jazzed since Netflix announced they would be streaming the entire series globally starting July 1, 2016. It's been almost 10 years since the series wrapped for the first time in 2007, so it's safe to say that our hopes are high, our coffee cups are filled, and our word-per-minute counts are about to skyrocket in anticipation of the new episodes.
I love you, you idiot! Why isn't it November 25th already?
- Follow Food Hacks Daily on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest
- Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+
Coffee Coffee Coffee Hacks:
- 5 Reasons Why You Should Never Throw Out Used Coffee Grounds
- Coffee Beans Still Fresh? Here's How to Check
- 5 Surprising Uses for Your Coffee Grinder
- The One Thing You're Probably Not Doing for Better-Tasting Coffee at Home
Cover photo by Katie Puccio/Food Hacks Daily
Comments
No Comments Exist
Be the first, drop a comment!