Would you like to buy a stranger a cup of coffee?

What do you think of the idea of buying a cup of coffee for someone you may never have met? Coffee on hold sounds like the latest fancy coffee technique, but a cup of coffee on hold is warmer than a nice latte.

The Italian word for "coffee on hold" is caffe sospeso, and the tradition originated in cafes in the southern Italian city of Naples, where people could buy an extra cup or two in advance for other coffee lovers who might be poorer.

Later cash-strapped customers can ask if there is "coffee waiting" and if there is, they can drink a cup of hot coffee without paying.

The idea has now become a global internet sensation, with coffee shops in Europe and North America joining the "coffee on hold" campaign, which has garnered more than 28,000 "likes" on its Facebook page.

"Coffee on hold" has a long tradition in Italy, slowly gaining popularity since World War II. Agence France-Presse reported last week that this tradition is gradually taking hold in other European countries as Europe's economy is hit hard. More than 150 cafes in Bulgaria joined in.

In cafes that join this tradition, customers can ask if there is a "coffee waiting" and if there is, they can be offered coffee drinks, all because of a kindness from a stranger.

In foreign countries,"coffee to be used" is an ordinary trivial matter. A Chinese went to Italy to play and posted such a micro blog:

My friend and I went to a small cafe and ordered our favorite coffee. Just as we were about to sit down with coffee, two more guests entered. They went straight to the counter and said,"Five coffees, two for us, three to go." (Suspended)”

They paid for five cups of coffee and left with two.

I asked my friend,"What's coffee?" (Suspended Coffee)”

"You'll understand later."

A few more people came in, and the two ladies each asked for a cup of coffee and paid for it. Then three lawyers paid for seven cups of coffee, one each, with four more to go. I took the coffee with doubt, enjoying the sunny winter color on the square in front of the cafe. At this time, came in a disheveled look like beggars of the old man, he asked the waiter softly: "Excuse me, now waiting for coffee?"

It's actually quite simple. Someone bought coffee in advance and stored it in a cafe so that those who couldn't afford it could enjoy a warm cup of coffee. This tradition of coffee on hold began in Naples, Italy, and has spread to all parts of the world. In some places, you can buy not only coffee but also a sandwich or dinner.

It's a heartwarming story, and many people wish that coffee shops in China could have this kind of "coffee waiting" to give some warmth to strangers, but when some coffee shops do this, the results are not satisfactory.

This is a national article about "coffee to be used":

The charity of "coffee waiting" originated from Naples, Italy, has also begun to rise in Wuhan coffee shops. After nearly half a year of operation, there are finally some customers who are willing to pay for the "coffee waiting", but few customers who take the initiative to ask for a free drink.

More people pledged "coffee on hold" and fewer took it for free. Hongshan District South Lake Middle School South Campus opposite the main entrance there is a business of the original mill coffee family-style coffee shop. At the end of September last year, Ms. Dai, the store owner, and two friends jointly invested more than 200,000 yuan to establish the coffee shop of more than 200 square meters. On its first day of operation, the store introduced "coffee on hold."

Worried that the "waiting coffee" belonging to the "imported culture" would not be recognized by customers, Ms. Dai adopted the method of "losing money to earn money": after drinking a cup of coffee in the store, customers only need to pay another 5 yuan to buy a cup of "waiting coffee" worth 25 to 35 yuan stored in the store.

Yesterday, the small blackboard standing at the door of the shop said: "8 cups of coffee to be used today." On one side of the bar, neatly pasted with eight "please give me a cup of coffee to be used" small notes, Ms. Dai said that as long as guests tear off one and give it to the clerk, they can receive a cup of raw ground coffee.

"The purpose of our launch of 'coffee to be used' is to hope that people like sanitation workers and couriers who are busy outdoors all the year round can experience a warmth and care from society." Ms. Dai said that at the end of last year, a courier came to the store to deliver the courier, and kindly reminded him that he could enjoy a free cup of "coffee to be used", but was refused by the courier on the grounds of "busy work and hurry".

Ms. Dai told reporters that the coffee shop has been open for more than 4 months, a total of 13 customers bought "coffee to be used", but only 5 customers received it, 4 of whom were middle school students from nearby schools.

"Coffee on hold" isn't quite accepted yet. Experts say you can't just copy the pattern. Yesterday afternoon, the reporter interviewed 15 citizens randomly in Wuchang South Lake, 12 of whom appreciated the "coffee to be used" mode, but at the same time said they would not subscribe. Three people said they were willing to try if they had the chance.

"I know that coffee shop. A cup of coffee sells for dozens of dollars. I can't afford it. Even if I pass by it every day, I never enter it." One sanitation worker said he was embarrassed to drink instant coffee at home occasionally, even if the free "ready coffee" tasted better.

Citizen Zhang girl made it clear that she would not buy "coffee to be used", on the one hand worried that the store will not buy coffee as promised, on the other hand also worried about giving some people who love small and cheap "eat and drink for free" opportunity.

Mei Zhigang, a sociology professor at Central China Normal University, said that the core value of "coffee to be used" lies in conveying human care and warmth. Whether it is providing a free cup of coffee or a free cup of tea, it is a very infectious charity act, which can break down trust barriers and gradually build trust between strangers.

"In fact, in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other domestic cities, in the past two years there have been 'waiting for fast food',' waiting for haircuts 'and many other public welfare, but how to make this public welfare model grounded, so that more citizens recognize and accept, still needs further exploration." Mei Zhigang believes that it is not possible to simply copy the form of foreign public welfare, but should combine the national conditions to provide more practical projects for the recipients, and at the same time let the recipients eliminate the concept of "being given". Such charity is more meaningful.

At present, more than 30 restaurants or units in more than 20 provinces have joined the ranks of "charity to be used", and "public welfare" forms such as "boxed rice to be used","drinking water to be used","soy milk to be used" and "clothes to be used" emerge one after another. In Shanghai, on the one hand, due to the pressure from all parties since the advent of "coffee waiting", on the other hand, due to the impact of the "stranger trust" crisis, few enterprises are willing to wade through this new charity model.

Coffee on hold is in trouble.

"Charity to be used" is popular in the West because it advocates public welfare without increasing personal burden, and advocates a kind of "stranger trust" that can continuously transmit warmth. Experts say the "coffee waiting" dilemma is actually a social trust dilemma. In the process of promoting civilization, there is a process of breaking down trust barriers, and it is reasonable for it to be questioned.

To break down the barriers of trust, we must do two things well. One is openness and the other is respect. "Enterprises should be transparent in real time to the amount of pledges and donations received, so as to facilitate synchronous supervision." He believes that the current questioning of "coffee waiting" is a good opportunity to cultivate social "stranger trust" and carry out civic education.