• Mugshots Espresso on Collie Street has 55 cups of suspended coffee paid up for folk having a hard time making ends meet. Photo by Jeremy Dixon

MUGSHOTS, Fremantle

by OCEAN TRIMBOLI: 

Two weeks ago Mugshots Espresso Bar on Fremantle’s Collie Street took up with gusto the viral craze hitting cafes worldwide: “Suspended coffee”.

When a customer offers to purchase a “suspended coffee” the cash goes into the till and a mark is made, telling staff the coffee has been paid for.

When someone down on their luck comes in asking if they can get a suspended coffee, the staff can see whether the drink has been paid for. If it has been, they make the drink and rub off the mark.

The notion’s been around for about a century but has waxed and waned in popularity.

With Europe going through some tough times it’s taken off like wildfire in places like Naples.

Mugshots’ owner Angelo Grieco says his customers have taken to the project with gusto—but not so much the intended recipients of their goodwill.

More than 55 suspended coffees have been purchased but just two have been claimed.

Mr Grieco reckons Freo’s homeless and other vulnerable folk are simply unaware the system exists, because it’s been largely unknown in WA.

“It’s outstanding the amount of purchases,” Mr Grieco told the Herald. “It’s a great and wonderful thing.”

He hopes St Patrick’s community support centre will help get the word out.

Mr Grieco says he hopes to provide suspended food and warm soup as winter sets in.