Tags
buy a coffee for someone less fortunate, coffee in Bulgaria, Coffee in Italy, pending coffee, Suspended coffee, true story
While drinking my morning tea and trawling my social media, I came across a heart-warming story and a fantastic idea.
As with all heart-warming stories on the www, I first checked it out with ‘Snopes’, such is my cynicism and a sign of our times. My smile grew wider as I found it to be true.
A little investigation brought up more than a few snippets and I have quoted my favourite from a blog below and a link to the story itself:
Taken from ‘Blog.accidentaltourist.com’
‘’A well dressed gentleman of about 80 with a Borsalino hat and and elegant cane, walks to the cash register and asks to pay for “a coffee, and a suspended coffee”. Then drinks his coffee and leaves the bar. I tried to ignore my curiosity, but I only could for so long. Then I just had to ask the man at the register, what in the world is a “suspended coffee”.
So he patiently explained, trying to speak as close to a scholastic italian as he could (my question had given me away as an ignorant stranger):
“Right after the war, many gentlemen had lost everything they had, and couldn’t even afford coffee. Now, being that black hot liquid pleasure not considered a treat, but rather a basic human right in the life of any Neapolitan, those gentlemen who could still afford to have one, took a habit of paying for two: one they drank, the other was credited, to be had by the first less fortunate peer who would casually walk in the bar. The bartender would then say: “would you like a coffee, sir?”. Which meant: there is a coffee paid for you, if you can’t afford one.
The donor and the recipient would remain anonymous to each other, to protect generosity, pride, and the pleasure of coffee beyond hardships”
Credit to: Accidental Tourist
Taken from ‘Raw Story’
‘’Can’t afford coffee? No matter. In Bulgaria, an old Italian tradition that sees good souls buying hot drinks for those who struggle to make ends meet has taken hold after weeks of tensions over deepening poverty.
More than 150 cafes across Bulgaria have joined a goodwill initiative modelled on the Italian “caffe sospeso” tradition, which literally means “suspended coffee”, according to a Facebook page devoted to the movement.
The tradition — born in the cafes of Italy’s southern city of Naples — sees people pay in advance for one or several coffees without drinking them.’’
Credit to: www.rawstory.com to read the rest of this article click here: Story
There is even a Facebook Group set up for those wishing to take part in this great initiative: Coffee Sospeso
I hope this story brought a smile to your face like it did mine? If not, here is a suspended one for you, just in case.
backtobodrum said:
This is fantastic – I’m so glad it’s not an urban myth.
Turkeywithstuffin said:
Isn’t it 🙂 It seems to be getting a lot of airtime so perhaps it will start trending and more people will take part.
Jack Scott said:
A lovely story, so pleased that it’s true. Liam and I went for dinner the other night and there was ‘forced rhubarb’ on the dessert menu. The mind boggles!
Turkeywithstuffin said:
Great to come across a true story these days.
Forced Rhubarb? Is there a support group for it!
Maya said:
How could we NOT like this story??? Random acts of kindness are priceless gifts.
Turkeywithstuffin said:
I agree with you Maya 🙂
The Travelbunny said:
I love this idea. I’ll be in Sorrento in May so will do this (buy two and drink one that is) – but it’ll have to be in English – don’t speak Italian!
Turkeywithstuffin said:
Let us know how that went wont you 🙂
BendedBrains said:
That’s wonderful! Certainly put a smile on my face 🙂
Turkeywithstuffin said:
🙂
Madhu said:
It did! What a sweet and generous tradition 🙂
fatcai said:
Unfortunately I remain very skeptical about putting this idea into practice but it was nice to read the original naples story.
Turkeywithstuffin said:
I think the original intention was a good one and worked well. I suppose it depends where you live as to the success of it spreading and actually doing some good. It won’t work where I live as we don’t really have homeless people, It’s hot for most of the year and the business people and restaurant/cafe owners are already very generous to natives that are down on their luck!..
I have read your version – most entertaining 🙂