'Hanging Coffee' aims to pay it forward

PORTSMOUTH — A simple, humanitarian initiative to provide financially struggling people with the comfort of a hot drink has recently debuted at three city coffee shops.

It's called Portsmouth Hanging Coffee, and was started by Hampton resident Colleen Snyder. Snyder, originally from England, heard about the European tradition on the radio while overseas in her hometown, and thought Portsmouth businesses would perhaps welcome the idea.

Though displayed differently at each of the participating businesses — Port City Coffee Roasters, Cup of Joe and Tuscan Market — the idea is customers can buy extra coffees, which are then hung at the register for someone in need to later redeem for free. Snyder said she envisions this helping students, the elderly, single parents and homeless.

"When I was a nanny, I didn't have money for coffee," Snyder said. "And I'd walk the streets of Montreal wishing I could go inside and be warm with a cup of coffee."

Snyder pushed her idea out on Portsmouth community Facebook pages, and then reached out to various coffee shops. While most commenters were thrilled with the idea, others were concerned about the project being taken advantage of.

In Europe, the initiative is popularly known as "suspended coffee" or "caffè sospeso." It's believed to have started in Naples, Italy more than 100 years ago, but was revived in 2011 during tough economic times and growing poverty across Europe.

In 2013, NPR reported in Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country, more than 150 cafes joined the "suspended coffee" tradition. Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Ireland followed.

An anonymous customer in Canada once paid for 500 large coffees at coffee chain Tim Hortons, beginning a trend that spread to a total of 30 locations with over 10,000 cups of coffee being paid for by donors.

"There are days when either a student, homeless person or an older person on a fixed income find it a luxury just going into a coffee shop and purchasing one," Snyder's informational flyer on the project reads. "This along with the added bonus of being in a warm place for a few minutes if they are alone and need some community support, will make a difference in someone's day."

Derek LaBorie, owner of Port City Roasters on Islington Street, said they agreed to experiment with the idea. In front of their register are laminated tags in the shape of coffee cups, which are placed on hooks once purchased. They're also doing tags for bagels and muffins — something that might help single parents with children, for example.

"We're big community supporters, but this gives you a way to help more of an individual," LaBorie said.

Manager Donna Wilford added, "A little goes a long way."

Wilford said if enough hanging coffees are purchased, Port City plans to donate some to Cross Roads House homeless shelter on Lafayette Road.

In the windows of businesses supporting the Portsmouth Hanging Coffee project are laminated signs to alert customers. Snyder hopes the idea will pick up on the Seacoast, and more coffee shops will join the initiative.