An east London coffee shop has become the first in the capital to join an initiative that lets customers buy a drink for poor or homeless local people.
The Suspended Coffee scheme enables customers to pay for an extra drink when buying their own so that those unable to afford a drink can receive a free one.
Around 150 cafés in Britain and others around the world have signed up to the initiative, but Coffee7 in Forest Gate is the first in London. Customers can anonymously donate a hot drink when they are buying their own or give away the “free” coffee from their loyalty card. The number of free drinks are marked on a whiteboard inside and the café has also distributed “suspended coffee” cards at a local refugee centre.
Manager Hettie Clarke, who introduced the scheme two weeks ago, said there had been a “fantastic” response and urged other cafés to sign up.
“Our customers really love it,” she said. “This is a really good way of giving back to the community, and it’s anonymous.”
She said the café was now considering extending the scheme to food. “It’s a really good way to show a café is not just about profit and business,” she added.
