At 3 p.m. on a weekday inside Bushwick\u2019s trendy Dayglow cafe, barista Joshua Thierry bends over a coupe glass on the bar like he\u2019s defusing a bomb.<\/p>\n
The object of his very close attention is the Twin Peaks, one of the shop\u2019s popular coffee cocktails \u2014 a cherry-crowned, crystal-clear \u201cmilk punch\u201d that looks exactly like a Manhattan, hits like a jolt of jet-fuel coffee, costs $12 and somehow contains exactly zero booze.<\/p>\n
Creating the drink, part of a special menu dedicated to the late, great David Lynch<\/a>, is a ridiculously labor intensive process that starts with the creation of a base as bizarre as the TV show it was designed to honor \u2014 a shot of chocolatey Mexican espresso is combined with lemon, tart cherry juice, Amarena cherries, black-tea tincture and a whisper of salt.<\/p>\n At Felix Roasting Co. on Park Avenue in Midtown, a barista turns his attention to one of the carefully-constructed coffee mocktails that have made the shop popular. Stefano Giovannini for Ny Post<\/p>\n This mix is then poured into buttermilk and left to curdle so the milk proteins can yank out the harsh flavors and leave behind something silky enough to star in a perfume ad. Once chilled and strained, a process that takes at least a day, it is poured over a single, large ice cube \u2014\u00a0and finished with a glossy Amarena cherry.<\/p>\n Around Thierry, a crowd of worshipful, Instagram-ready Gen Zers swipe their phones between sips, ignoring the afternoon sun outside \u2014 too busy documenting some of Brooklyn\u2019s hottest coffee mocktail porn.<\/p>\n Welcome to New York\u2019s newest kind of nightlife \u2014 in broad daylight, fully caffeinated, and hangover-free.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to a recent survey<\/a>, Gen Zers are drinking less alcohol than any previous generation<\/a>, but they still crave the ritual, the vibe, and the artful presentation of a cocktail.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Hickory Smoked S\u2019mores Latte at Felix Roasting Co. costs $15 \u2014\u00a0reflecting the multi-step process baristas must go through to create the popular drink. Stefano Giovannini for Ny Post<\/p>\n Shops like Dayglow have stepped in to fill the void \u2014 shaking, stirring, and torching glossy mocktails that look like they belong on a speakeasy menu but actually deliver a caffeine kick instead of a hangover. Think espresso martinis without the existential dread, frothy creations that taste like dessert and smell like theater, and cold brew tonics that could double as modern art.<\/p>\n In a city that never sleeps, caffeine is no longer just a morning ritual \u2014 it\u2019s an art form, a social currency, and a passport to nightlife for the sober-curious.\u00a0<\/p>\n From sunlit West Village caf\u00e9s to Midtown temples of chrome and marble, New Yorkers are sipping drinks that look like couture cocktails \u2014\u00a0but pack the punch of coffee.<\/p>\n After being made, the Hickory Smoked S\u2019mores Latte at Felix Roasting Co. disappears under a cloche on the bar that, when opened, releases a billow of campfire scent into the tony cafe filled with finance workers. Stefano Giovannini for Ny Post<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are drinking less alcohol \u2014 but they still want the ambience and social experience of enjoying a great cocktail at a bar,\u201d said Dayglow founder Tohm Ifergan, whose Bushwick shop tends to draw daytime crowds that look like they\u2019re pregaming for the next Fashion Week.<\/p>\n Many of Ifergan\u2019s customers come for the cafe\u2019s signature Totoro, which blends distilled coffee, black sesame, orange blossom, honey, oat milk, and coconut cream. <\/p>\n It\u2019s comforting, nutty, magical \u2014 a drink that could star in a Studio Ghibli film. It costs $12, like the Twin Peaks <\/strong>\u2013 but that doesn\u2019t seem to bother anyone.<\/p>\n Sydney Jackson is a fan of the Twin Peaks coffee cocktail at trendy Dayglow in Bushwick \u2014\u00a0calling the drink that takes days to make \u201cchic, without the regret.\u201d Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you don\u2019t want alcohol every night,\u201d Dayglow fan Madeline Northway, 33, a photographer, told The Post. \u201cThis coffee mocktail feels more special than a regular latte, so it\u2019s worth the [money] $10 to $12.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Model and fellow photographer Sydney Jackson, 29, agreed: \u201cThe Twin Peaks looks like an Old Fashioned but gives me coffee energy instead of a hangover. It\u2019s chic without regret.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Ifergan, today\u2019s non-imbibing New Yorkers want drinks with \u201ca more luxurious experience,\u201d and caf\u00e9s have become the natural place to get it: part bar, part lab, part TikTok set.<\/p>\n And thanks to social media, the pressure is on.<\/p>\n A gaggle of Gen Z girls take a break in the middle of their afternoon to sip coffee mocktails at Dayglow in Brooklyn. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially with the rise of TikTok, beverage creation is now a public art which has pushed the coffee industry to be more creative in its mixology,\u201d he told The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, across the East River, the spectacle continues at Felix Roasting Co. on Park Avenue.<\/p>\n In the shadow of the hulking new JPMorganChase tower at 47th St., Manhattanites in well-polished loafers sip alongside freelancers and tourists, united in the pursuit of Midtown\u2019s hottest caffeine high \u2014\u00a0the Hickory Smoked S\u2019mores Latte, removed with a flourish from underneath a cloche, sending a plume of smoke swirling toward the ceiling like a tiny Manhattan campfire.<\/p>\n This artisan drink, which costs $15, isn\u2019t just made \u2014 it\u2019s staged. Baristas steep the drink in graham crackers for a full 24 hours, pour it into a dainty Nick & Nora glass, then rim the whole thing in dark chocolate and crushed nuts like it\u2019s headed to prom.\u00a0<\/p>\n Appearing much like any other hip Brooklyn espresso joint, Dayglow has become a popular day drinking spot for those whose tastes veer more towards mocktails than cocktails \u2014\u00a0though the shop does offer the latter in the evenings. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n The finale? The entire concoction gets trapped under the hickory-filled cloche for a smoky s\u00e9ance, while a house-made vanilla marshmallow is toasted tableside to whatever level of char your inner camper demands.<\/p>\n If you start feeling nostalgic for summer camp experiences of yesteryear, that\u2019s the point, Felix founder Matt Moinian told The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese drinks are meant to be transportive, bringing you to a time and place far away from the hustle and bustle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 5 essential stops on the coffee mocktail circuit<\/p>\n Dayglow<\/p>\n Part of a special menu that honors the late director David Lynch, the Twin Peaks is a noir-ish, caffeine-packed nod to the Manhattan, without the booze. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n Bushwick\u2019s buzziest hangout, part sunlit caf\u00e9, part night-time brewery, is serving up high-end coffee and cocktail-level creativity in a bright, TikTok-ready space \u2014 and yes, pups are welcome too. From rare beans to over-the-top coffee mocktails, it\u2019s where caffeine meets style. <\/p>\n Smooth, sweet, and dangerously easy to sip, the Twin Peaks ($12) <\/strong>is a noir-ish milk punch that drinks like a classy caffeinated Manhattan or Old Fashioned.<\/p>\n The jet-black Totoro ($12)<\/strong>, a charcoal-based drink, is coconutty, sweet, and magical \u2014 like a Ghibli character in a cup.<\/p>\n The azure-hued Mulholland Drive<\/strong> ($10) punches with clarified coconut milk, lime, mint, and nutmeg, playing tricks on the palate \u2014\u00a0like the blue box at Club Silencio in the famed Lynch film.<\/p>\n The azure-hued Mulholland Drive ($10) punches with clarified coconut milk, lime, mint, and nutmeg, playing tricks on the palate \u2014\u00a0like the blue box at Club Silencio in the famed Lynch film. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n The Eraserhead<\/strong> ($10)? Sewer-green foam, melon soda, distilled coffee, and charcoal coconut cream combine into a weirdly delicious experience.<\/p>\n Felix Roasting Co.<\/p>\n The Hickory Smoked S\u2019mores Latte is a top seller at Felix on Park Avenue in Midtown. Stefano Giovannini for Ny Post<\/p>\n Midtown\u2019s caffeine jewel box is decked out by designer Ken Fulk, where Instagram-ready interiors meet over-the-top coffee creations.<\/p>\n From house-made coffee syrups to intricate paninis, it\u2019s part luxury coffee lab, part stylish hangout, all served with a smile.<\/p>\n Their Hickory Smoked S\u2019mores Latte ($15)<\/strong> is like a childhood campfire in a glass, complete with toasted marshmallow aroma and a hint of hickory smoke. It\u2019s the only Midtown non-alcoholic drink that we can think of that comes with smoke and a marshmallow roast. <\/strong><\/p>\n Post reporter Marissa Matozzo models the Deconstructed Espresso Tonic ($11) at Felix, made with tonic, a Campari reduction, triple basil, lemon zest, and a mist of rosewater. Stefano Giovannini for Ny Post<\/p>\n The Deconstructed Espresso Tonic ($11)<\/strong>: is part cocktail, part coffee lab: fresh house-made tonic, Campari reduction, triple basil, lemon zest, and a mist of rosewater make it as much a performance as a drink<\/p>\n Fellini Coffee<\/p>\n Chic Fellini, with multiple Manhattan locations including the West Village (pictured), has a popular selection of pricey drinks. @fellinicoffee\/instagram<\/p>\n Fellini Coffee is tiny, triangle-shaped and totally photogenic. It brings classic Italian vibes to the West Village with top-notch espresso and a welcoming staff.<\/p>\n Add a hit of social media buzz and expanding locations, and it\u2019s no wonder everyone (including Dua Lipa and fianc\u00e9 Callum Turner) is lining up for a dolce vita caff\u00e8.<\/p>\n The Tiramisu Latte<\/strong> ($11) is basically dessert in a cup \u2014 a bougie, booze-free \u201ccoffee mocktail\u201d whipped up with double espresso, mascarpone, cocoa powder and milk.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tiramisu you can drink, no spoon \u2014 or dignity \u2014 required.<\/p>\n Unregular<\/p>\n Lattinis at Unregular Bakery near Union Square are the latest social media-ready offering from the savvy spot; they feature a trio of mini-croissants on top. @feedyourgirlfriend\/instagram<\/p>\n Unregular Bakery \u2014 the carb-loaded fever dream that gave New York Kinder Bueno bomboloni and Aperol-spiked croissants \u2014 has officially doubled down on being the city\u2019s most TikTok-bait bakery with its latest stunt: Lattinis.<\/p>\n Think latte meets martini, with all the subtlety of a pastry chef on a sugar bender. Each $8 drink arrives crowned with three skewered mini croissants, basically a bread bouquet bobbing over your cold foam. They rotate flavors with the seasons like a fashion house \u2014 but this month\u2019s lineup is pure catnip for the content crowd.<\/p>\n The Cold Brew Lattini<\/strong> comes with chocolate croissants dusted in feuilletine, because why not turn your morning caffeine into a dessert tray? <\/p>\n The Green Matcha Lattini<\/strong> doubles down with matcha-drizzled croissants, a drink and a pastry shop in one cup. <\/p>\n The Strawberry Rose Lattini<\/strong> is floral, frothy and unmistakably Instagram-ready \u2014 a pink-petaled fever dream that tastes like February in Paris. <\/p>\n And the Blue Matcha Lattini<\/strong>, made from butterfly-pea flowers, looks like a potion brewed by a very chic witch, finished with lavender syrup and three plain minis for good measure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At 3 p.m. on a weekday inside Bushwick\u2019s trendy Dayglow cafe, barista Joshua Thierry bends over a coupe…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":427136,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,1121,34484,12080,15713,26218,6335,8364,1165,5248,405,403,5226,5225,12079,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-427135","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-brooklyn","10":"tag-bushwick","11":"tag-cocktails","12":"tag-coffee","13":"tag-coffee-shops","14":"tag-exclusive","15":"tag-food-drink","16":"tag-lifestyle","17":"tag-metro","18":"tag-new-york","19":"tag-new-york-city","20":"tag-newyork","21":"tag-newyorkcity","22":"tag-nightlife","23":"tag-ny","24":"tag-nyc","25":"tag-united-states","26":"tag-united-states-of-america","27":"tag-unitedstates","28":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","29":"tag-us","30":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115668599798536398","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427135"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427135\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/427136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}