Monday, August 19, 2013

SUSPENDED COFFEE; The Beauty of Sharing Coffee with Those Can't Afford It



I opened internet this morning and read an amazing brief story which goes as follow:

"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter -
'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended'
They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:
'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'
'Wait for it and you will see'

Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks
'Do you have a suspended coffee ?'

It's simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal."


***

The story struck my conscience; Why no one do this in Indonesia (as far as I know)? I believe we all feel that sharing suspended coffee is beautiful especially in society where the gap between the rich and poor are so huge and that the rich don't care about the poor. We still remember very well how few days ago a public officer (Chair of SKK Migas) stole 700,000 and plus US$ from the state/public institution's fund and hide them in their homes and offices. Thanks to KPK it finally caught them and arrested them!


People in many cities in the world have done so, sharing Suspended Coffees to the less fortunate. So why don't we initiate this in our city, Jakarta, Bogor, or somewhere else. We can initiate and start talking with the coffee shop's or warung kopi's owners who are our friends. Suspended Coffee require the cooperation between the buyers and coffee shop managers or owners. This way, we will have beautiful community and society.

We will not get poor by buying one cup of Suspended Coffee for other. The coffee shop owners will have more customers, and those who are less fortunate will also be able to enjoy good coffee with dignity.

So let's do it. It is simple!

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