We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order...

[Earth_First]

"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're approaching 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 in front of the café.

Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through 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."

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/25/italian-tradition-of-suspended-coffee-takes-hold-elsewhere-in-tough-economic-times/

[secondwind]

1. Panera in St. Louis has a turkey-chili in bread bowl that sells for $5.29... but you can pay a penny

it that is all you have...

I hope more establishments will start doing this!

[michigandem58]

6. Sorry I'm dense

Are you saying anyone can walk in and pay a penny for it? Without some other customer covering the cost? If so, that's pretty incredible.

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. We have that here too. Customers at Panera pay 'what they want' for

items with the notion that they will usually overpay on purpose. And they do. So when someone who need the cost break orders, it's already covered. Whether it really cost Panera anything is unclear, but it sure has helped their reputation in these times.

[marble falls]

26. I'm going to start patronizing Panara now when I go into Austin. And I will over pay, too. Thanks...

for your post!

[YOHABLO]

48. Panera's intentions are good .. however

they do not put enough 'meat' on their sandwiches and they are way over priced IMO. So what if someone comes in that 'looks' like they have some wealth, but asks for 'suspended' coffee? Are retailers suppose to 'profile' their customers? What if there is no 'suspended' coffee available .. do they say no. Why can't they just give out free coffee to the homeless. Starbucks dumps loads of coffee out everyday, simply because it is not allowed to sit for more than 30 minutes. That goes with all restaurants .. so much waste .. and so many snot nosed people who don't finish what they've ordered. We're a wasteful country of gluttons.

[marble falls]

51. I've read 50% of world food production is wasted.

[michigandem58]

27. My fear would be the cheapskates

who would rationalize the product is over-priced and just pay a couple of dollars. Thankfully, it doesn't look like there are enough of those to spoil it.

[Beowulf]

34. There's a name of people such as that...

Republicans.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

41. Repuglicans only like Chik-fi-let anyhow

Panera probably supports teh gheys, you know.

[eppur_se_muova]

42. Yeah, just put up a rainbow flag and they'll stay away.

It's like garlic for vampires -- except Repugs aren't imaginary, though lots of their "principles" are.

[gateley]

47. Just heard a story about this on NPR, and Panera is able to cover their costs for this.

And, I may be mixing this story up with another but I think they said any profits go to food banks.

Great program!

[cbayer]

36. I heard a story about this yesterday and found it wonderful.

They said about 60% of people pay the regular price, 20% pay more and 20% pay nothing or less.

The person who did the story called it "marketing genius".

[GreenRanger]

2. pay it forward

nice! I always pay for the car behind me at the Toll Road.

[peacebird]

11. Welcome GreenRanger! What a lovely idea, bet it brightens someones day!

[hootinholler]

17. I used to do that when I took a toll road to work...

Actually it was something I did on Fridays. I got some great reactions too. People chasing me to wave thanks, etc.

[fasttense]

19. So, it was someone like you who covered my parking fee.

I lost my parking stub and the cost would have been more than I had on me. But the parking attendant said don't worry about it. It's covered. I suspect someone like you paid ahead. Thank You.

[GreenRanger]

24. yea

someone had done this for me like 5 years ago, I was having a bad day and this random act of kindness completely made my day...so I've been doing the same ever since.

[hootinholler]

29. That wouldn't happen to have been on the Greenway near Dulles airport?

It would be funny if it was me. I was doing this on Friday's back then.

[GreenRanger]

31. lol no

I live in the Houston, TX area, I use the Harris County Toll Road for my commute to work.

[Art_from_Ark]

50. When I took a bus from El Paso to Ciudad Juarez once,

I found that I had unwittingly paid for the two passengers who entered after me. When I got in the bus, I asked the driver how much it cost so he told me the fare. But when the next two guys got in and started to put money in the fare box, the driver quickly put his hand over the slot and motioned in my direction (I was the only other person in the bus).

[dipsydoodle]

3. That's really cool

[xchrom]

4. very cool. nt

[savebigbird]

5. That is too cool.

I'm going to try that the next time I get coffee. I wonder if they'll know what I'm talking about.

[lapislzi]

8. You'll just have to hand over the money and say, "this is for someone who could use a cup of joe"

They'll get it. It always works at toll booths.

[hootinholler]

18. You have toll booths with coffee?

That's awesome!

[lapislzi]

28. Doesn't everyone?

New York is a very polite and hospitable state, you know.

[lapislzi]

7. I love this!

I just challenged all my Facebook friends to try this.

[kelliekat44]

14. Me too! Going to try to spread it around. nt

[lunatica]

10. I cross posted this page to the Good News Group

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. Thanks for posting this first thing in the morning! It's a nice "upper"

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime"

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

[Brigid]

38. That song could have been written yesterday.

Sometimes I think that someone who died during the Depression and returned today would say, "What? We never recovered?"

[eppur_se_muova]

43. +1 nt

[LuckyLib]

44. Best version ever of this song -- late 60's Spanky & Our Gang:

[FailureToCommunicate]

46. Spanky and Our Gang... takes me right back to the 'Summer of love'

And Sunday never really was the same after that.... (Urban riots, Nixon, Battle of Khe Sanh, MLK shot, RFK shot...

[Beacool]

15. That brought tears to my eyes.

What a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing it.

[Overseas]

16. K&R. Glad to hear it.

[joanbarnes]

20. I love this.

[obietiger]

21. What a nice thing

Got to do it!!!

[southernyankeebelle]

22. What a great idea.

[BillStein]

23. I like to share this story...

When I was in law school, I got in line behind my friend Monica at the coffee shop. When I went to pay, the server said that Monica paid for mine. Typically, she disappeared before I could even say thanks.

The next day, I left my books in the classroom and went downstairs to get coffee. I asked if anyone else wanted anything, and another friend asked me to get her a coffee. When I returned, she went for her purse, but I told her Monica had paid for it, and told the story.

A week later, I got myself a cup of coffee before class, and went to pay- but again I was told that Monica had already paid for it. I looked around, thinking this time I'd be able to say thanks, but didn't see Monica anywhere. I did see my fiend Jason grinning at the condiments stand. I asked if he'd seen Monica, and he said he paid for the coffee. I later learned that people had been buying each other coffee all week and crediting Monica!

Monica would be pleased, I think, to know that her thoughtfulness sparked a movement!

[Jokerman]

35. That's a great story!

Thanks.

[CRK7376]

25. My wife and daughter

pay it forward at McDonald's drive throughs fairly often. I'm proud of them, much more thoughtful than I am. THey think about it more than I do.

[elleng]

32. Nice. Think I"ll do the same.

[Brigid]

39. You've been raising them right.

[elleng]

30. THANKS. Sharing this far and wide.

[1monster]

33. K & R and passing this on...

[cbayer]

37. What a wonderful thing. Gave me the shivers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. I will ask my local coffee shop if they do this

I won't mind buying a couple extra cups a week.

[Liberal_in_LA]

45. cool idea

[cntrfthrs]

49. Random acts of kindness...