How about buying a cup of coffee for someone youll never meet？ It may sound like the latest trend in showy barista techniques， but a “suspended coffee” is much more heartwarming than a snazzy latte.

Born in the cafes of Italys southern city of Naples， the “caffe sospeso” （which literally means “suspended coffee”） is a tradition in which someone pays in advance for an extra cup or two， which can then be consumed by a coffee-drinker-in-need later in the day.

A customer-in-need can then later ask if there is a “suspended coffee” available and have a hot drink without having to pay for it.

The idea has become an international Internet sensation with coffee shops in Europe and North America participating in the movement.

The tradition of “suspended coffee” is a long-standing tradition in Italy that increased in popularity after the Second World War. Agence France-Presse reported that the practice was starting to take hold in other European countries hit hard economically. More than 150 cafés in Bulgaria were taking part.

At cafes that participate in the custom， customers can ask if there are any “suspended coffees” available， and if so， they are supplied with the beverage， thanks to the kindness of a stranger.

給素未謀面的人買杯咖啡，這個想法你覺得怎么樣？“待用咖啡”只聽名字，像是時下較流行的花哨咖啡技藝，但其實一杯“待用咖啡” 比一杯拉花漂亮的拿鐵要溫暖得多。

“待用咖啡” 的意大利語是caffe sospeso。這個傳統(tǒng)起源于意大利南部城市那不勒斯的咖啡館，在那里人們可以提前多買一兩杯咖啡，給囊中羞澀的咖啡愛好者享用。

后來的囊中羞澀的顧客可以詢問是否有“待用咖啡”提供，如果有就可以不用付錢也能喝上一杯熱咖啡。

這個主意已經(jīng)在全球網(wǎng)絡(luò)上引起了轟動，歐洲和北美的咖啡店也加入了“待用咖啡”活動。

“待用咖啡”在意大利有著悠久的傳統(tǒng)，從二戰(zhàn)開始慢慢流行起來。法新社報道稱，在歐洲經(jīng)濟(jì)受到重創(chuàng)的情況下，這個傳統(tǒng)在其他歐洲國家也漸漸固定下來。在保加利亞有150多家咖啡館加入進(jìn)來。

在加入此項活動的咖啡店里，顧客可以詢問是否有“待用咖啡”提供。如果有，顧客就會獲得一杯咖啡。這都是陌生人的善舉。

Word Study

snazzy /'sn?zi/ adj. 漂亮而時髦的;吸引人的

consume /k?n'sju?m/ v. 吃;喝;飲

available /?'ve?l?bl/ adj. 可獲得的;可找到的

Tickets are available free of charge from the school.