Caffè Sospeso

Sospeso is from the Italian word ‘sospendere’ which means ‘to suspend’/'to stop’.

Are you wondering why this article is in the section of Blogs instead of Coffees? Well, Caffè Sospeso is not just a usual type of Espresso. It used to be a tradition of Italian cafés/coffeehouses in Naples.

When a customer ordered a Sospeso, they would pay for two coffees but only get one… really! This gesture brought a good fortune to people who didn’t have much money or were homeless because they could get free coffee from the generosity of the previous customer that had paid for two. All they needed to do was ask if there was any coffee held in “suspense” and if so, they would receive one.

In the past, Caffè Sospeso was considered a charity for those less fortunate and was practised in Italian society for many years. I personally think that we could all learn a lesson or two from this kind of generosity. Wouldn’t it be nice to order a Sospeso and know that someone less fortunate will get the oppurtunity to enjoy what you and me take for granted.

So… When will your Sospeso day be?

Due to the blogs subject, I thought I would donate a little towards the Fairtrade Foundations charity. Please do the same by clicking on the donate button below.

Thanks for all your support.
The  Espresso Coffees team.