Customers not warm on charity coffee_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Customers not warm on charity coffee

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A charity program in Shanghai allowing people to buy an extra cup of coffee and reserve it for those who cannot afford to buy a drink is off to a slow start.

Chiato Coffee, which operates in a corner of the Pudong Library hall, began offering the so-called suspended coffee on April 16 - the first participant in the city to respond to the charity program.

As of Monday, the shop had sold 31 cups of suspended coffee but only four were taken, according to the manager, Xu Hang.

The suspended coffee initiative originates from small cafes in the Italian city of Naples and has gained popularity in Europe.

"Many students come to the library to study or prepare for exams. Some may need a cup of coffee but cannot afford it, so we want them to have the chance to enjoy coffee," Xu said.

Customers pay 12 yuan ($2) for a cup of suspended coffee - an Americano - and can buy a maximum of five cups.

Wooden plates marking suspended coffee hang in front of the cashier counter.

"People can fetch one plate to get a suspended coffee, and if all plates are taken, it means there is no suspended coffee left for the day," Xu said.

The manager said the first customer for suspended coffee was a man in his 40s who felt it was a novel idea and worth trying, and the second was a girl who lacked enough change for a coffee.