Literally, a caffè sospeso is a “pending” or “suspended” coffee … but what does it mean and what’s the story behind this habit popular in Naples and, today, also here and there in other parts of the country?

First things first, let’s explain what it is: a caffè sospeso is the charitable habit of paying for coffees in advance, for people who may not be able to afford one. You have your daily espresso at your local bar and, when it’s time to pay, you tell your barista to charge you for one, two, three – or twenty, it’s really up to you – coffees that can then be enjoyed by whoever comes after you.