Coffees for the needy getting hot in Perth
Date
April 26, 2013
suspended coffee
Coffee shops are reporting an enthusastic response from customers wanting to take part in the anonymous service.
Hundreds of free coffees are waiting to be claimed by Perth's disadvantaged and homeless, as part of a growing trend of cafes offering "suspended coffees".
The charitable concept offers customers the chance to buy a coffee that the cafe will later give to someone who can't afford to buy their own.
Mugshots Espresso Bar owner Angelo Grieco cottoned on to the idea after visiting Naples, where the idea of suspended coffees – known there as caffe sospeso - originated.
Mugshot's suspended coffees count is climbing.
"We actually saw it in Italy, in Naples, a few years ago and apparently it's been there for quite a long time," he said.
"We thought we'd introduce it, everyone's caught on at the same time, it's great."
Mugshots is one of at least seven cafes in Perth offering suspended coffees.
In the week since introducing the now worldwide idea to his customers, almost 50 have been bought at Mr Grieco's Fremantle cafe.
"It's absolutely amazing," he said.
"People say 'I'll have that and three suspended coffees as well'."
"Everyone has a bit of a down day and I think a cup of coffee or something warm, something that they can't really afford helps.
"You see a lot of people walking by and looking and you can see they'd love to have a cup of coffee.
"We can't save the world but we can do our bit."
CBD cafe owner Frank Grabbi said the suspended coffee label legitimised something some cafes had already been doing.
"At Woogi Espresso we were kind of doing that all the time, just not under any sort of concept," he said.
"If someone came in that was disadvantaged or displaced we would just make them a coffee.
"I've got one local guy that comes in, I don't even think he knows what it is, he just gets a free coffee."
Mr Grabbi said his two Woogi cafes would offer a coffee to anyone "who looks like they're in need".
"We talk it up a little bit when they come in and people are really interested, they usually buy one straight away," he said.
"I think the scope of suspended coffees can be broader than displaced, it can benefit anyone who's having a bad day; a parent sitting at children's hospital and needs to get out.
"If someone comes in and a three-piece suit that's okay; if that person thinks he's in need of a coffee he should get one. Hopefully he'll come back tomorrow and buy one for someone else.
"It's all about paying it forward."
Cafes offering suspended coffees put up a sign advertising the service, but have more donations than claims, Mr Grabbi, who hoped to extend to suspended food, said.
"It's a strange thing to encourage a homeless guy to come in and get a free coffee," he said.
"A lot of people are a bit too proud, so we offer it to them.
"We get about two or three bought a day and we've currently got about 100 waiting."
The problem faced by participating cafes is getting the word out to those in need.
"What we're doing now is waiting on St Patrick's [Community Support Centre] to give us a hand to get them claimed, let them be aware that we're here," Mr Greico said.
"They're going to put it through their newsletter."
Mr Grabbi noted a similar problem in the CBD.
"We need agencies to get the word out," Mr Grabbi said.
"I started a little mail out to everyone from the children's hospital to Mission Australia and Anglicare.
"When I spoke to Mission Australia and Anglicare they didn't know what I was talking about, they thought it was free coffees for the staff, but people are catching on."
CAFES OFFERING SUSPENDED COFFEES.
Shots on Lake - 101 Lake Street, Perth
The Sparrow's Nest - 935 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park
Croissant Express Carillon - Carillon Arcade, Murray St Mall, Perth
The Little Concept - 7 Wray Avenue, Fremantle
Mugshots Espresso Bar - 17-23 Collie Street, Fremantle
Woogi Espresso - 7/26 St Georges Terrance, Perth
Woogi Espresso Too - 239 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/coffees-for-the-needy-getting-hot-in-perth-20130424-2idxv.html#ixzz2RXUFiLli
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