Suspended Coffees.

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One of the coolest ideas I’ve seen in a long time.

Suspended Coffees is the advanced purchase of a cup of coffee. It is a pay-it-forward, anonymous act of charity and kindness. Suspended coffee or pending coffee (caffè sospeso) is a cup of coffee, paid for in advance by a willing coffee shop customer, as an anonymous act of charity for anyone who is in need and with less fortune.

The idea originated in Naples, Italy around 100 years ago. Customers of coffee shops would pay twice for one espresso, instructing the barista to log the paid but untaken beverage in an “in suspense” chart (caffè pagato or a caffè sospeso). The barista would record what the patron paid for, such as an espresso, cappuccino, or even a pastry. Paid items would remain in the log book until someone less fortunate would come and inquire if there was anything paid for or in suspense. The barista would check the log and say, “Yes, there is a paid cappuccino. May I serve it to you?” The beauty of this form of charity was multifaceted.

Read more about it here.