There is a little coffee shop, where two people arrive and approached the counter.
“Five coffees ☕️please. Two for us and three hanging.”
They paid, they took their two coffees and left.
I asked the waiter. “What’s this about hanging coffees?”
“Wait and you’ll see.”
Some more people came in.
Two girls asked for a coffee each, they paid & left.
The following order was for seven coffees and it was made by three women – ‘three for them and four hanging coffees.’
I was left wondering…what is the meaning of the hanging coffees, they leave.
Then, a man dressed in worn clothes, who looks like he might be homeless, arrives at the counter and asks sincerely…
“Do you have a coffee hanging?”
“Yes we do, sir.”
They serve him a coffee…. I got my answer.
People pay in advance for a coffee that will be served to whoever can’t afford a hot drink.
This tradition started in Naples.
Amazingly, it has spread throughout the world’s cities and towns.
It’s also possible to order not only “hanging coffees” but also a sandwich or a full low cost meal.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all start doing this in the cities and towns where we live?
Small kindnesses like this can impact so many lives, in ways we could never imagine.
Maybe we should all try it
I think its fair to say we have all thought twice about giving cash to the person begging when they look drunk, not because we don’t think they need it but because we don’t want them sending our cash on booze! I recently changed my mind on this after reading an article about surviving the streets… If that person needs to drink then who am I to say otherwise. I speak to my Big Issue vendor every day I pass, I may not be able to buy his magazine but I see a genuine look in his eye… Its a look of thanks for treating him as a human a simple “not today thanks” when I am unable to support him. This spell of cold weather has reminded me how hard it is to stand each and every day in all weathers trying to earn a living… He deserves my support and yours
