The caffè sospeso, “suspended coffee”, is an Italian tradition of anonymous generosity. In the working-class cafés of Naples, someone celebrating good fortune would order a sospeso, paying for two coffees but drinking only one. Later, anyone could ask if a sospeso was available. They would then be served a coffee, freely given by a stranger they’d never meet.

This small act was a simple exchange. And yet, it was also a quiet reminder that kindness can ripple far beyond the moment.

This week, I went to Pret for my usual morning brew. On autopilot, I ordered my black Americano, pulled out my wallet, and tapped the machine. It didn’t respond. I waited, impatient, assuming a slow connection. That’s when the barista said softly, “This coffee’s on us.” My first response was, “Why?” Her smile said it all: “It’s Monday. It’s a new week. And what’s nicer than being given a coffee for free?”

My smile must have said it all. In that instant, I felt seen. I’d been harried on my morning commute, worried about being late, powering through the rush without really looking up. But that simple moment changed everything. Instead of feeling like the world was happening to me, I suddenly felt like I was part of it.

A little good goes a long way

Research has long shown that small, unexpected acts of kindness can shift both mood and mindset.

In one of my favourite studies published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology (2022), Nick Epley and team found that those who performed spontaneous acts of kindness underestimated the positive impact their actions had on recipients. People reported feeling more connected, more valued, and more seen, even when the gesture was small or anonymous.

Performing or receiving kindness releases oxytocin, the so-called “bonding hormone,” which promotes trust, lowers stress, and strengthens social ties (Zak, 2017). It also activates the brain’s reward system, producing a brief sense of joy that psychologists call the “helper’s high.”

it turns out that the effect is contagious. Witnessing or benefiting from kindness increases the likelihood we’ll pass it on creating what researchers call a “social cascade of goodwill.” One small act can quietly change the emotional climate around us.

Kindness at work

At work, the emotional climate, the tone we set, determines whether people feel empowered or not. As Brené Brown reminds us, we are “feeling beings who occasionally think.” (Brown, 2016). When we recognise that, kindness becomes more than courtesy. It becomes essential.

That same cascade of goodwill that flows through a café can transform a workplace. Small acts of care, curiosity, or recognition build the trust that allows teams to take risks, speak up, and contribute. It’s not sentimentality; it’s strategy rooted in humanity.

Power in connection

It’s tempting to romanticise kindness as universally good. It often is. But context matters. Not everyone is comfortable receiving something for free. Some feel indebted or suspicious. Others may not notice at all. But perhaps that’s what makes the act meaningful. True kindness isn’t a transaction; it’s an offering without expectation.

The caffè sospeso works precisely because it’s anonymous, freely given and freely received. Its power lies not in the coffee, but in the connection.

This week

Reach in: remember your sospeso. Think of a moment when someone offered you something (time, kindness, or attention) with no expectation in return. How did it shift your day?

Reset: offer without expectation. Do something kind this week without waiting to see how it lands. The gift is in the giving, not the response.

Reach out: create a ripple. Invite someone to join you in a small act of generosity. The world changes not by grand gestures, but by shared ones.

Closing thought

Kindness doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it simply rests in a quiet exchange between strangers. It shows up in a smile that says, “You’re part of this, too.”  On Monday, it showed up for me in a cup.