NPR has been looking into the world of coffee recently. One of the stories which caught my eye was about "suspended coffee." No, this isn't coffee which has been naughty in school. "Suspended Coffee" is another way to say, "Pay it forward."
(http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/04/24/178829301/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe)
This practice began in Naples, Italy. The idea is simple. A person pays for a cup of coffee for a person who can't pay for a cup themselves. The custom was that someone would pay for a cup of coffee for someone who couldn't, and the barista would keep a tab of the suspended coffees. Then a person would pop their head in, and ask if there were any suspended coffees. The barista would then provide them with a cup.
Now this old tradition is making a come back in Europe. In these hard economics times, it's nice to know there is a movement a foot to make sure someone gets a cup of coffee. Cafes around the EU are banding together to make sure someone can have a cup of coffee.
I have been the beneficiary of a pay it forward. While I could pay for the coffee, twice I have gotten to the cashier and was told, "The person ahead of you said it was on them." Maybe it's time for the U.S. to have this practice. Sometime this week, I encourage you to suspend a cup of coffee for someone.
Charlie
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