In times of hardship Italians can renounce to many things, but coffee is not among them. This is the spirit that animated the practice of leaving a "suspended coffee" or caffé sospeso in Italy.

This habit developed in Naples during World War II and then rapidly expanded throughout the country. People would go to coffee shops and pay a coffee more for a stranger, somebody who would like to treat himself but does not have the money to do so. As declared during an interview to the New York Times by Mrs Laura Cozzolino , 37 years old from Naples, "I understand that coffee is important. It's a small treat that no one should miss". This generosity has also extended to other goods, such as suspended sandwiches, pizzas and even books.

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Fonte: This is Italy