'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'

[babylonsister]

From here:
https://www.facebook.com/endoriot?group_id=0

#20 Coffee for the less fortunate

This story will warm you better than a coffee in a cold winter day !

We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're aproaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter :
'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended'

They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:
'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'

'Wait for it and you will see'
Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square infront of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in throught the door and kindly asks,

'Do you have a suspended coffee ?'

It's simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such cafés or even grocery stores in every town where the less fortunate will find hope and support ?
If you own a business why don't you offer it to your clients...I am sure many of them will like it

[Blue_Tires]

1. I like the idea, but

the cynic in me says a lot of businesses will just pocket the cash...especially if there is a backlog of "suspended" orders...

[Exen Trik]

22. There's always a way

If it's just a record then yeah that's a risk. However some kind of token or other physical counter of suspended items that everyone can see should do a lot to keep them honest. Not completely of course, but enough to make it meaningful. Also they would have to be wrung up differently than normal ones, and giving out the free items should also go through the register to count against it. A little regulation goes a long way... it would have to be self imposed, but I think any business willing to do this would make an effort.

[sir pball]

29. Easy enough

You buy a poker chip and drop it in a jar on the counter. Somebody wants a suspended dish, they come in and take a chip and "pay" with it, goes back into the behind-the-counter stock.

You could even use different chips for different items, $1 for coffee, $5 for sandwich, so forth.

[LeftofObama]

2. What a great idea!

[silverweb]

3. Brilliant idea!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]If this goes viral, more establishments might start participating -- and wouldn't that be wonderful!

[sheshe2]

4. Kick and Rec!

[freshwest]

5. There was a restaurant in Seattle that did that with meals, IDK if they're still open.

I once imagined owning a cafe with that concept. I also planned to havce a red and blue section for people to discuss their politics, LOL.

This 'suspended' coffee idea is cool. Hot coffee, cocoa or tea is a treat, especially when it's cold outside.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Panera is experimenting with a pay-what-you-want item at some of its cafes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/panera-trying-new-pay-wha_n_2960547.html

[robinlynne]

6. k&R!

[Raine]

7. What a WONDERFUL idea and such a NICE thing to do! nt

[msongs]

9. so will they give these to anybody who asks for one, like some sharp dressed banker? nt

[Le Taz Hot]

24. You just HAD to piss on a feel-good thread?

Thhhppptttt!!

To the OP: Thanks for the thread. MOST of us appreciated it.

[kelliekat44]

27. People in most areas are aware of their truly "homeless" or "poor." This is only a big issue

to those who hate try to do anything for the needy. Would anyone even care if they were giving away free coffee to bankers and a person dressed up like a banker came in and for a free cup?

[Sherman A1]

10. K&r

[sufrommich]

11. I love this. I would gladly give a little extra

at a restaurant or grocery store for something like this.

[talkingmime]

12. I've heard of coffee shops/diners offering coffee tokens (sort of like bar tokens)...

You know, like when someone orders you a beer but you're getting ready to leave, they give you a small tiddly-wink with their name on it and what type of drink was ordered. I don't know any around here that do that for coffee, but it makes sense. The coffee is pre-paid for and you can just hand them out to the homeless as you are on your way to wherever it is you're going.

Edit: There's also no suspicion that someone is trying to scam the charitable effort.

[babylonsister]

13. Great! So talk it up where you go. Maybe

you'll start your own movement.

This is grass roots, not some concerted effort that I can see. Yet.

I hope it catches on!

[malaise]

14. What a great idea

Rec

[EC]

15. Isn't that kinda like

what Bon Jovi is doing at his restaurant ? Some of the Panera's do it too. The customer pays what they can.

[YOHABLO]

16. A Sandwich at Starbucks is about $6 dollars .. a coffee (grande) over $2

A brownie $2.75 ? I mean for that I could bake a whole dozen and more .. how much does Mr.Shultz rake in?

[Lucky Luciano]

30. The point is so that you don't have to make it yourself.

Plus it effectively pays for your renting the table to hang out with a friend, read a book, or people watch.

[Demo_Chris]

17. Did they advertise this in some way?

I would love to add something like this to my business, but I don't know how exactly I would phrase it with the signage.

[babylonsister]

18. It's a grass roots thing. Do what feels right. IM me

if I can help, but there's no downside to this.

[Demo_Chris]

19. Thanks. Don't need any help...(cont)

I think it's an excellent idea, but I will need to give it some thought. Thanks

[Cha]

20. That's quite an interesting buildup to solving the

mystery where I burst out in tears! That's so Practically Sweet!

My question was how would people know to go in and ask for these suspended coffee?

To suspended hot meals and beverages everywhere!

thanks babylonsistah!

[tavalon]

21. Wow, that's cool

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. This is cool!

Nowadays I've got enough to eat, but I still remember wondering if I was going to run out
of money before I ran out of month. I'll chat up the local indie coffeehouse and see if they're copacetic...

[Egalitarian Thug]

25. Some Rocker (I want to say Jon Bon Jovi) owns a cafe that runs as pay what you can.

It's been written about here and on Kos before.

[babylonsister]

26. You're right, Bon Jovi. Also,

Panera bread is getting in on it, too...

http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2013/01/23/panera-opens-free-food-suggested-donations-only-cafes/

Panera Opens Free-Food, Suggested-Donations-Only Cafes

[tabbycat31]

28. I wonder if I could do this at the Wawa