Coffee cheers the soul, it takes most of us away from sleep waking the mind up, it has an exotic charm ensemblinig the Mediterranean strength and warmth.

The espresso is a small, all-Italian, tradition and philosophy. It can be argued that is almost a truly and proper estabilishment.

It is not a coincidence that Italians are amongst the largest consumers of coffee in the world, second only to the Scandinavian countries, and in Italy there are more than 50 different types of coffee, a surprising number to say the least.

Often, in the morning, You would be walking in a café in Naples to have breakfast with a nice coffee. A dark, dense and piping hot espresso, to have it within few sips. Afterward, instead of paying for your coffee only, you will pay also a second one. The other espresso will be left “on hold” to a stranger. A simple and anonymous act of generosity to offer a little comfort to whom that morning won't be able to afford one of the most precious resource for the Neapoliteans.

The coffee on hold is a strong Neapolitan tradition that started during the Second World War and had a great comeback in recent years during the recent economic crisis. From Naples, the gesture has spread throughout Italy and around the world by word of mouth, via the Internet and local expats. Distant cafes in Brazil and Sweden started to follow the trend. In some places in Italy, generosity extends to pizza, sandwiches as well as books and more.

Naples is a city known for its appreciation of the culture of “bella vita”,a chaos that fell into routine and the pride for its cultural heritage. This might be why its citizens are also famous for their solidarity when facing difficulties.

In difficult times, Italians may sacrifice many things, but coffee is a hard one to! This is why it became the most thoughtful gift to leave to people in need. A cup of espresso won’t change your day but it will give you a smile, and during hard mornings everything starts from there. After all is the thought that counts.

Over 90% of Italian families drink coffee at home and there is a bar for every 490 Italians; even the numbers confirm that coffee cannot be ignored. Espresso comes in seemingly infinite forms: narrow, long, spotted or foamed. But whatever its shape, it is one of the ingredients of life that we will never learn to do without.