Launched by a fan of the American sitcom Friends, the Central Perk cafe has opened in Singapore’s Central Mall.

It is modelled on the cafe of the same name featured in the TV series, and sparked some angry responses on social media when it announced a membership program costing S$1000 a head (US$700).

“For $1000 a year, members will get benefits like priority queues, event bookings, invitations to pre-launch events, and, um, reservations for the ‘highly-anticipated Central Perk couch’, Coconuts Singapore reported.

On the cafe’s Facebook page, founder Lim Jit Min says his team has worked with four veteran roasters to customise six different coffee blends profiled to the six different Friends characters.

He clarifies that members, rather than having one free cup of coffee each visit as previously announced, can now have up to six complimentary cups a day (one special blend per guest).

Members will also receive the inaugural series of Central Perk SG merchandise being sold at the cafe, including a tumbler, cap, apron, umbrella, mug and a personalised T-shirt with their favorite Friends quote.

Min left his job six months ago to embark on his Central Perk project and says on the Facebook page that his dream would not have been possible without the help of passionate fellow fans.

He says the cafe has 100 seats, which limits attendance for special events. “The membership program is for fans who have a vested interest to join us on this journey as we recreate the Friends experience together, one coffee cup at a time.

“We are working on a full list of perks, as there are many talks and works in progress. Our team is working on many exciting and crazy ideas. I would love to share these ideas with interested fans over a cup of coffee.”

To date, 97 memberships have been sold, and Min says space at the cafe is set aside for walk-ins each day.

There is also a menu based on fictional cafe.