A simple gesture

Country Cob Bakery's Ben, Bec, Robyn and Paige encourage the community to get behind their campaign.

Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton is urging the community to get behind it this Saturday for its 'Suspended Coffee' campaign. 

This exciting initiative will help individuals doing it tough to feel part of the general community and less isolated. It means a warm welcoming environment to walk into to obtain a free coffee or a sandwich and not feel judged. There are three major goals for this initiative; to get 1000 suspended coffees purchased on the day; to get 500 suspended coffees redeemed on the day; and to get 20 new cafes on board offering suspended coffees. 

Country Cob owner Declan Neale said he first heard of Suspended Coffee when a customer suggested the business sign up via Facebook. 

"We were one of the first cafes in Victoria to join up to support those down on their luck and offer suspended coffee. 

"A suspended coffee may not be shelter for the night, but there's something about a warm coffee or soup in your hands that can be comforting and uplifting, especially in the cold, wet months of winter."

The idea started when Jett Mahmud and Declan Jacobs began talking about 'suspended coffee' - a century-old tradition known in Italy as 'café sospeso'. The very next day, the pair launched a social media campaign that has since drawn the support of over 50 cafes and thousands of customers across Melbourne in an effort to revive a simple charitable gesture. Lake Imaging is helping the cause by donating $200 of suspended coffees to the first cafe to jump on board in each of the regions in which it operates.

This practical 'pay it forward' idea is now gaining ground across regional Victoria.

Country Cob Bakery currently has 25 coffees available for deserving members of the community to redeem. 

"We need the word to spread through the media and community organisations that this is on offer right here in Kyneton," Declan said.

"A lot of people in our community are doing it tough, and this is a simple and practical form of generosity that works at the local level," added Lake Imaging Kyneton manager, Chris Proctor.

"It would be wonderful to see local support make Kyneton's Country Cob Bakery the most successful outlet for the Suspended Coffee Society yet."