Difference between revisions of "Caffè sospeso (Italy)"

We can only speculate about the origins and meaning this tradition, as it has not been the subject of scientific investigation. One of the few literary sources associated with the topic is a book entitled ' ''Caffe' sospeso'' ', which features a collection of essays on the variety of daily life in Naples, written by a well-known Neapoletan writer, Luciano De Crescenzo (De Crescenzo 2005<ref>De Crescenzo, L. 2005. Il caffè sospeso. Saggezza quotidiana in piccoli sorsi. Milano: Mondadori.</ref>). Although the book does not detail this particular practice, the subtitle 'Everyday wisdom by small sips' suggests that the ''caffè sospeso'' tradition comes from distant times and is deeply rooted in the everyday culture of Naples.

We can only speculate about the origins and meaning this tradition, as it has not been the subject of scientific investigation. One of the few literary sources associated with the topic is a book entitled ' ''Caffe' sospeso'' ', which features a collection of essays on the variety of daily life in Naples, written by a well-known Neapoletan writer, Luciano De Crescenzo (De Crescenzo 2005<ref>De Crescenzo, L. 2005. Il caffè sospeso. Saggezza quotidiana in piccoli sorsi. Milano: Mondadori.</ref>). Although the book does not detail this particular practice, the subtitle 'Everyday wisdom by small sips' suggests that the ''caffè sospeso'' tradition comes from distant times and is deeply rooted in the everyday culture of Naples.

The question ‘''C’è un caffè sospeso''?’ conceals a rich history of traditions, social and cultural attitudes, and specific ways of determining community life. Firstly, ''caffè sospeso'' is informed by a subtle stereotype: the Neapolitan fantasy. People living in Naples are renowned for their creativity and this is often displayed in a tendency to use symbolic language. In this case, 'suspended' indicates that something is floating in the air, moving continuously over the heads of the bar's customers, just waiting to be captured. ''Caffè sospeso'' is a metaphor; it is an image that does not go directly to the heart of the matter. A more straightforward expression such as a ‘paid for coffee’, or ‘left coffee’ would have been too trivial an expression, and in Neapolitan society considered almost rude as a question directly addressed to another guest. Equally, an expression such as ‘Would you pay for a coffee for me?' would imply a direct commitment by the donor to the receiver, stressing also possible economic differences between the two persons.  Instead, the ''caffè sospeso'' question is a gentle query, in which the identitiy of the one who has paid for the coffee and the one who receives the coffee is kept in the background. Neither of them is directly involved in the exchange:  the coffee falls down 'from the clouds', not from the donor’s hands (Schwartz 1967<ref>Schwartz, B. 1967. 'The Social Psychology of the Gift', American Journal of Sociology, 73(1): 1-11.</ref>).

The question ‘''C’è un caffè sospeso''?’ conceals a rich history of traditions, social and cultural attitudes, and specific ways of determining community life. Firstly, ''caffè sospeso'' is informed by a subtle stereotype: the Neapolitan fantasy. People living in Naples are renowned for their creativity and this is often displayed in a tendency to use symbolic language. In this case, 'suspended' indicates that something is floating in the air, moving continuously over the heads of the bar's customers, just waiting to be captured. ''Caffè sospeso'' is a metaphor; it is an image that does not go directly to the heart of the matter. A more straightforward expression such as a ‘paid for coffee’, or ‘left coffee’ would have been too trivial an expression, and in Neapolitan society considered almost rude as a question directly addressed to another guest. Equally, an expression such as ‘Would you pay for a coffee for me?' would imply a direct commitment by the donor to the receiver, stressing also possible economic differences between the two persons.  Instead, the ''caffè sospeso'' question is a gentle query, in which the identitiy of the one who has paid for the coffee and the one who receives the coffee is kept in the background. Neither of them is directly involved in the exchange:  the coffee falls down 'from the clouds', not from the donor’s hands (Schwartz 1967<ref>Schwartz, B. 1967. 'The Social Psychology of the Gift', American Journal of Sociology, 73(1): 1-11.</ref>).

''Caffè sospeso'' has been imitated in other parts of the world, where it assumes similar characteristics. Besides several other Italian cities and towns, initiatives of this kind have been reported in Romania (Getlokal.ro n. d.<ref>Getlokal.ro (n. d.) ‘Suspended Coffee in Romania’, https://www.getlokal.ro/en/page/suspended-coffee-romania</ref>), the Netherlands (AT5 2011<ref>AT5. 2011. ‘Caffè Sospeso voor inloophuizen’, 21 December, http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/73480/caffe-sospeso-voor-inloophuizen</ref>), and the UK (BBC 2013<ref>BBC. 2013. ‘Would you buy a “suspended coffee” for someone in need?’, 24 April, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22267613</ref>). Some of these imitators have highlighted the solidarity aspects of this practice, regarding it as an occasion to offer the poor the possibility of enjoying a coffee, if not a whole meal (Nove.Firenze.it 2004<ref>Nove.Firenze.it. 2004. ‘Oggi giornata nazionale del caffè “sospeso”’ (‘Today is the national day of caffè “sospeso”’), 12 April, http://www.nove.firenze.it/a404120829-oggi-giornata-nazionale-del-caffe-sospeso.htm</ref>, Retedelcaffèsospeso.com<ref>Rete del caffè sospeso (Caffè sospeso Network), http://www.retedelcaffesospeso.com</ref>). In other cases the practice of charity embodied by ''caffè sospeso'' has entered the logic of market competition, becoming an occasion for the social legitimation of important brands of coffee makers and vendors (Reynolds 2013<ref>Reynolds, J. 2013. ‘Starbucks joins Suspended Coffee Homeless Initiative’, MarketingMagazine.co.uk, 10 April, http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1177756/starbucks-joins-suspended-coffee-homeless-initiative</ref>).

''Caffè sospeso'' has been imitated in other parts of the world, where it assumes similar characteristics. Besides several other Italian cities and towns, initiatives of this kind have been reported in Romania (Getlokal.ro n. d.<ref>Getlokal.ro (n. d.) ‘Suspended Coffee in Romania’, https://www.getlokal.ro/en/page/suspended-coffee-romania</ref>), the Netherlands (AT5 2011<ref>AT5. 2011. ‘Caffè Sospeso voor inloophuizen’, 21 December, http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/73480/caffe-sospeso-voor-inloophuizen</ref>), and the UK (BBC 2013<ref>BBC. 2013. ‘Would you buy a “suspended coffee” for someone in need?’, 24 April, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22267613</ref>). Some of these imitators have highlighted the solidarity aspects of this practice, regarding it as an occasion to offer the poor the possibility of enjoying a coffee, if not a whole meal (Nove.Firenze.it 2004<ref>Nove.Firenze.it. 2004. ‘Oggi giornata nazionale del caffè “sospeso”’ (‘Today is the national day of caffè “sospeso”’), 12 April, http://www.nove.firenze.it/a404120829-oggi-giornata-nazionale-del-caffe-sospeso.htm</ref>, Retedelcaffèsospeso.com<ref>Rete del caffè sospeso (Caffè sospeso Network), http://www.retedelcaffesospeso.com</ref>). In other cases the practice of charity embodied by ''caffè sospeso'' has entered the logic of market competition, becoming an occasion for the social legitimation of important brands of coffee makers and vendors (Reynolds 2013<ref>Reynolds, J. 2013. ‘Starbucks joins Suspended Coffee Homeless Initiative’, MarketingMagazine.co.uk, 10 April, http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1177756/starbucks-joins-suspended-coffee-homeless-initiative</ref>).