This story will warm you better than a coffee on a cold winter day：

We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While were 1）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 whats 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？”

Its simple—people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm 2）beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in 3）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.

这个故事会比寒冷冬日里的一杯咖啡更能温暖你心：

我和朋友走进一间小咖啡馆点了我们喜爱的咖啡。正当我们走向自己的桌子时，两个人走了进来。他们走到柜台前——

“请给我五杯咖啡。其中两杯交给我们，三杯待用。”

他们付了五杯咖啡的钱，端着两杯咖啡走了。我问朋友道：“什么是‘待用咖啡？”

“等一下你会明白了。”

又有一些人走了进来。两个女孩各自要了一杯咖啡，付帐走了。随后，有人点了七杯咖啡，下单的是三位律师——他们一人一杯，另有四杯“待用”。在我一边依然疑惑于“待用”咖啡为何物时，我一边欣赏着咖啡馆前广场上的明媚阳光以及美丽冬色。突然间，一位衣衫褴褛看上去像是个乞丐的老者从门外走了进来，他轻声地问服务员：

“请问你们有待用咖啡吗？”

事情其实很简单——有人提前买了咖啡存在咖啡馆，让那些付不起钱的人能够享受一杯温暖的咖啡。这个待用咖啡的传统始于意大利那不勒斯，但现在已经传遍全世界。在有些地方，你不仅可以买待用咖啡，而且可以买待用三明治或者一整份晚餐。