Every year on December 10th, the Suspended Coffee Day, an initiative born in 2010 thanks to the Rete del Caffè Sospeso and other associations.
Offering a coffee in this way represents a gesture of kindness common among nine out of ten Italians, who see in it a small attention towards others.Article Key Points
Origins of the Suspended Coffee
The practice of “suspended coffee” dates back to the Second World War. Napoli, where, in the bars of the capital of Campania, those who could afford it left a paid coffee for those who could not afford it. This gesture of solidarity was born in a period of deprivation and sacrifice and has evolved over time.
Global Expansion
Today, the suspended coffee has crossed national borders and spread globally: we find it as “suspended coffee” in the United States and the United Kingdom, “cafè pendiente” in countries such as Spain and Argentina, “cafè suspendu” in Belgium and “Uppskjuten” in Sweden. According to Michele Monzini, president of the Consorzio Promozione Caffè, “offering a coffee shows attention, affection and care towards others,” thus becoming a universal symbol of generosity.
Tradition in Italy
The importance of this tradition in Italy was confirmed by the survey “Se è italiano… si sente! – Gli Italiani e il Caffè”, conducted by AstraRicerche. The data show that 91,2% of those interviewed consider coffee a symbol of kindness and creation of social bonds. This simple gesture is seen as a way to bring comfort and hope into the lives of those going through difficult times, spreading a message of closeness and solidarity that from the heart of Naples has been able to reach different cultures and continents.
Article published on 9 December 2024 - 17:32
It's nice to see that the suspended coffee is still a living tradition in Italy. Even though it's not always easy to offer one, this gesture can bring a little joy to those in need. We hope it continues to spread around the world.