caffè sospeso

Caffè sospeso, which in Italian means, "suspended/pended coffee," is a tradition that involves paying for an extra cup of coffee for a future customer who may be down on their luck. People who can't afford a cup of coffee can come into a shop that observes this practice and ask if there are any sospesos available free of charge. The tradition is said to have originated in Naples around a century ago, but the practice has grown over the years to be recognized internationally.