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ONE OF THE very, very few upsides about the recession has been the unexpected wave of good deeds spurred by people’s lack of money.
Random acts of kindness, crowdfunding, and paying it forward have all surged in the past five years – on the internet, as well as (hopefully) in real life – giving people a cheap way to make a small difference in the lives of other people.
One of these new good deeds is suspended coffee – the slightly clunky name for something which began in Italy, grew in popularity throughout 2011, and which spread to Ireland earlier this year.
The idea is simple: when buying a coffee at a participating café, you pay for another coffee or tea which is given to someone who can’t afford one if they come in and ask for it. So far 26 shops – all local independent cafés – have signed up to take part across the country, mainly thanks to the work of one person.
Aoife Ryan, a teacher at a school for children with autism, came up with the idea of introducing suspended coffee to Ireland earlier this year after she saw people talking about it on Twitter.
She started a Facebook page about it the very next morning, and in just one month has already gained more than 2,000 likes, 450 followers on Twitter, and an ever-growing number of cafés which are taking part.
“I saw the idea on my Twitter feed and immediately I thought ‘this is great, this is something that Irish people would be interested in doing,’” she says. “When out in the city and I see people on the streets or that are homeless I prefer to buy them food or a drink rather than give money, so the suspended coffee really appealed to me.”
Aoife says it hasn’t been hard to get coffee shops on board, with the 26 that have so far signed up spread across 13 counties.
What I have done is found coffee shops on Google, Facebook and Twitter and sent them messages and emails, telling them about the concept and asking them if it is something that they would be interested in getting on board with.
Two of the shops saw the Facebook page or Twitter account, and sent me a message enquiring about it and expressing an interest to be involved.
A friend of Aoife’s designed a poster which the cafés print out and display in their window to let customers and people who may be looking for the hot drink know that they’re taking part in the scheme.
Is it working?
But while it is catching on in shops and for well-meaning people who can afford to buy that extra coffee, are people actually availing of the free coffees?
Aoife says that while lots of suspended coffees have been bought in coffee shops so far, only a few have so far been claimed by people who can’t afford them. Word is spreading though.
” I have emailed Focus Ireland, Simon, the Peter McVerry Trust, St Vincent De Paul, Trust, DePaul and hostels around the country asking them to spread the word to people they are meeting,” she says. “The whole point is for those people to benefit from it”.
It is smaller shops which have been the most enthusiastic about the idea, while the big chains have been slower to take it on board. Starbucks Ireland didn’t respond when someone brought it up on their Facebook page at the end of March. But Aoife makes the point that it’s not all about the big stores. “I have emailed all the big chains,” she says.
Two of them have mailed me back saying the concept has gone to the operational teams for discussions. Time will tell… But it goes to show that sometimes ideas can take off without having the big guys on board.
Given the seemingly never-ending economic climate, asking people to spend money – even if it’s just for an extra cup of coffee – can be a tough sell. But Aoife says there’s still the appetite to help people who need it.
“Some people I have spoken to about the idea would be happier to buy a suspended coffee than give money in other ways,” she says.
“Irish people in general are a generous lot and are very good when it comes to charity,” she says, pointing out that many of the shops are charging €2 for the suspended coffee.
“I honestly am delighted with all the shops that are on board. On the other hand there is still loads of room for more of them to get involved”.
You can find out more about Suspended Coffee Ireland on Facebook and Twitter.
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Judge Roy Beans have adopted a similar idea apparently, you pay a €1 and there is soup and bread available to someone in need!
I’ve personally seen coffee shops ‘shoo’ homeless people out the door with a brush in Dublin. I think it’s a well intentioned IDEA. Practically speaking, your average homeless person doesn’t need an over priced soy latte, they need to access support services, food and emergency shelter. Throw your 3/4 euro in a bucket when you see Simon Community or Focus Ireland collecting. visit their websites to see other ways you can help them.
I’m as cyncical buying a suspended coffee as I would be donating a couple of quid to an unregistered charity on Grafton street.
Only in Ireland could a great idea like this be met with such cynicism.
Sad really
Rubbish. Sad is hundreds of people on the street at night needing food, and hundreds of ‘suspended’ coffees sitting unclaimed In cafes across the city. This will be the reality, nothing cynical about it. If paired with a mechanism ensure the coffee/ money actually goes to the people who need it, I’ll be 100% behind it…
I like this idea but will the needy actual get the coffee?
Is it coffee that these people really need?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS!
I saw that sometimes in Italy, but in general I always prefer to give them a coffee by person and have a chat with them aswell. Happened also with takeawaypizzas, sandwiches or other things. (Real) Homeless people LOVE to have a chat with someone every now and then. Good initiative though, even if owners/managers can give a free coffee/tea anyway; customers don’t need to buy an extra one. Always hope that the bar manager/owner will not take the extra money at the end of the day.
In Italy they would keep the money 100 % most if not all homeless in italy only benefit from the charity of tourists , at least a homeless person in Ireland has an honest chance to reiceve help wheras in italy you know they will never get what is due
I was going to report this for being xenophobic. However, to hive Hugh the benefit of the doubt, I’ll assume you’ve interviewed all homeless people in both Italy and Ireland and you can stand behind such a sweeping statement.
You must be an homeless expert or a homeless, Hugh to know and give such opinions about it.
Its a bit rich to make a comment like” hope the owner does not keep the money” in relation to ireland when even the dogs on the street know the level of corruption and criminality that exists at all levels in italy as for Heeley and his xenophobic comment I will just put that down to pure ignorance on his behalf , I have lived in both countries and my opinion is based on what I have witnessed, also in relation to Matteni you know that the truth hurts, beggars and homeless in Italy get treated like animals in general ,if you know different then you are living in a bubble ,accept the facts and realize what I am saying is the truth
How dare you giving racist, discriminating and stereotypical comments of a country that is not even yours. Think of your own country, its problems and the stereotypes it has. I won’t enter in the discussion for the respect of the country I live in, my wife, the people and friends I know and love. You know where to put your stereotypes. I am finishing the discussion here.
@hugh I think you’ve just been PWNED by Dario !
Let me get this right then Hugh, you’re saying all Italians treat all homeless people like animals. That’s not a sweeping statement? Do you know what xenophobic means? I. too, lived in Italy and cannot say I agree with your statement. I lived in Milan for a year and the homeless person who slept in a shop doorway next to the building I lived in was treated respectfully by the people in the neighbourhood. The local baker, an Italian, gave him bread everyday. “accept the facts and realize what i’m saying is the truth” – humble guy or arrogant stronzo?
It’s a brilliant idea. If the cashier rang a bell or placed an empty cup on a specific shelf to show the coffee has been paid for perhaps people might start to inquire and talk about it and word would spread. I’m not sure if the person who could do with the coffee is on Facebook or Twitter. Random acts of kindness are so nice.
Sounds like great marketing to me !!
Pubs have been secretly doing this in Dublin for years. How many times have I gone out with €100, had a few pints, and gone home with nothing? Hobo’s havin great craic on all my ‘suspended pints’.
Lovely thought process but as stated no one needy is really getting a free coffee just the shops getting free advertisement – how about they give 15% of a coffee sold 3 days a week to aware and at least the lovely thought will be passed onto those in need
It’s a terrible idea. Might be well intentioned but that’s not the same thing. Zero transparency to make sure that the people who need the benefit actually receive it. At a minimum the participating stores should keep a record and donate the excess money at least twice per year.
You pay for the extra coffee, they stack a cup at the till/on a shelf/whatever. At the end of the day, if there’s any left, the money comes out of the till and into a poor box. Simple. Have a little faith in your humble coffee shop workers.
It is a great idea…….but on the other hand, where does all that extra bit of cash that people have kindly paid for a suspended coffee go to, if no-one comes in to claim it? Ten patrons will probably purchase ten suspended coffees and only three people come in and claim them. What happens to the extra money? Or do the Coffee Shops roll over the extra that weren’t claimed the day before? Coffee in other parts of Europe is much cheaper then coffee bought here in Ireland as well.
Eoin Ryan. Idaho cafe behind Brown Thomas in Cork are doing it and I think when the number of coffees reach 100 he’s donating the rest of the money to Simon
This is a ludicrous idea! The last thing a homeless person requires is a €4 (dehydrating) fancy coffee! €3.75 of that €4 goes to branding, marketing, plush surroundings – not the coffee.
There are 100 better ways to economically, health-consciously, and sustainably spend your €4 on someone in need than espresso’s.
At a minimum, buy it and put it in their hand as you pass the first person on the street. Be human, you’re trying to distance yourself from the problem by “leaving it behind the till”.
What a first world solution. Unbelievable.
And “suspended coffee”, what a hipster name for it. So removed from the reality.
There are lots of homeless people begging on the streets. I usually ask tea or coffee? Milk or sugar? And ask for a takeaway. I think a lots homeless people don’t want to sit in cafes and if they’re on drugs the cafe owners don’t want them in their place for obvious reasons
Do coffee shops really want homeless people coming into the shop? Will they not scare away regular customers?
That is unfortunately the case in super hyped up tourist resort Galway City.Not one coffee shop does suspended coffee.They are too scared of their image for that :(
I think this is a great idea and they should keep trying to get more shops.
I have always liked to give a few quid to someone in need but In recent years I rarely have cash on me at all. I Pay everything by card. This way I can still give without having to carry money. Could be developed a bit better like others have said to ensure the benefits go to the people who need it!
This would work better with food not coffee, and would certainly solve a lot of issues regarding giving money to homeless.
1. People aren’t tight, they are lazy or in a rush usually.
2. People don’t have cash on them as often anymore, and this trend is growing stronger.
3. People feel reserved about giving money because they feel they may spend it on booze anyway. It’s also a nice comforting excuse not to bother giving money. This solves that issue.
Suspended food seems better. I thought coffee is bad for a hungry body.
I asked a few of the coffee shops around Dublin what reaction they’ve had. Two of them says that they’ve sold only one or two suspended coffees in the past 3 weeks, and none have been picked up.
http://thecircular.org/suspended-coffees-in-dublin-a-media-hype/
It’s borderline terrifying how jaded we’ve become in this country.
So, coffee has just gone up 100%.
“could I get a suspended latte as well….aren’t we all great.”
Like all great ideas the irish will abuse it. Guaranteed every dick which there is alot will abuse this although they have money.
How do you define between a person in honest need or someone attempting to get a free coffee? Great idea but it has a (small and sad) potential to be abused.
You’ll probably be able to tell by their Cavan accent.
Like all great ideas the irish will abuse it. Guaranteed every dick jead which there is alot will abuse this although they have money.
I had a suspended coffee one time, it was nice but a terrible pain climbing up the ladder to get it
Just give your Eur2.75 to St VdP.
That way it will get to the truly needy.
Have any coffee shops in cork signed up?
There are homeless people begging all over the city. I ask them if they’d like tea or coffee and how many sugars and buy a take away for them
Idaho cafe on Maylor street has.
The Bookshelf on South Mall too.
And they’ve announced via Tumblr that they will donate any leftover credit to Cork Simon every week.
Like all great ideas the irish will abuse it. Guaranteed every d*ck which there is alot will abuse this although they have money.
could you repeat that?
Unfortunatey shop keepers would not do this in my town.They are afraid of winos etc.
Lookie here…the balance in Idaho is being donated to Cork Simon if the suspended coffees aren’t claimed:
http://idahocafe.tumblr.com/post/47862863790/due-to-the-quite-phenomenal-take-up-of-the
As long as this is the case I reckon it’s a good idea. Of course the main thing is that people get access to food and shelter, but why not let this be part of it too?
A lot of people begging have drug habits so people don’t want them hanging round their coffee shops. I just ask if someone if they’d like tea or coffee and bring them out a take away
Beggars have nothing else in their lives but drinking or drugs.Society is at fault.
There is absolutely no way a super hyped super greedy tourist resort like Galway City would allow homeless people in their super trendy super expensive coffee shops.
It’s a nice idea but not a good idea. Like somebody already said it’s a first world solution. I hate to generalise but a lot of homeless people would tell you to shove your coffee up your h*le. They want cash not coffees.
If you really want to help a homeless person give them the means to help themselves (by donating to worthy charities, creating awareness of the economic imbalance in this country etc) and not a fancy coffee to make yourself feel like a great fella for the day.
If you were homeless wouldn’t you rather food than some coffee ?!
In American collage students have been doing this for years with wacky weed! The program is called “puff, puff, give!”
It is a wonderful idea and I am surprised the large coffee chains won’t get involved as a cuppa costs no more than €0.36 of good quality coffee. There’s a win win for them!
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