Pay for two coffees, drink one: who is the other for?

在(zài)意大利(yì dà lì)那不勒斯(nà bù lè sī)，有(yǒu)一(yī)种(zhǒng)咖啡(kā fēi)习惯(xí guàn)：一个(yī gè)客人(kè rén)付(fù)两(liǎng)杯(bēi)的(de)钱(qián)，却(què)只(zhǐ)喝(hē)一(yī)杯(bēi)。

In Naples, Italy, there is a coffee custom in which a customer pays for two cups but drinks one.

另(lìng)一(yī)杯(bēi)不(bù)是(shì)店员(diàn yuán)送(sòng)错(cuò)，也(yě)不(bù)一定(yī dìng)是(shì)留(liú)给(gěi)同行(tóng xíng)的(de)朋友(péng yǒu)。

The other cup is not a serving mistake and need not be for a friend accompanying the customer.

这(zhè)份(fèn)已经(yǐ jīng)付(fù)过(guo)钱(qián)的(de)咖啡(kā fēi)，可以(kě yǐ)等(děng)后来(hòu lái)需要(xū yào)它(tā)的(de)人(rén)来(lái)领取(lǐng qǔ)。

That prepaid coffee can wait for someone who comes later and needs it.

后来(hòu lái)的(de)人(rén)可以(kě yǐ)询问(xún wèn)店里(diàn lǐ)有没有(yǒu méi yǒu)待用(dài yòng)咖啡(kā fēi)；如果(rú guǒ)有(yǒu)，就(jiù)可以(kě yǐ)得到(dé dào)这(zhè)一(yī)杯(bēi)，而(ér)不(bù)用(yòng)自己(zì jǐ)付钱(fù qián)。

Someone arriving later can ask whether a suspended coffee is available; if it is, they can receive it without paying themselves.

付款(fù kuǎn)的(de)人(rén)和(hé)喝(hē)到(dào)的(de)人(rén)，不必(bù bì)在(zài)同一(tóng yī)时间(shí jiān)出现(chū xiàn)，也(yě)不必(bù bì)认识(rèn shí)对方(duì fāng)。

The person paying and the person drinking need not arrive at the same time or know each other.

不过(bù guò)，不是(bù shì)每(měi)家(jiā)咖啡店(kā fēi diàn)都(dōu)有(yǒu)这种(zhè zhǒng)做法(zuò fǎ)，想(xiǎng)喝(hē)的(de)人(rén)还(hái)得(děi)先(xiān)问(wèn)一(yī)问(wèn)。

Not every café follows the practice, though, so anyone hoping to receive one still needs to ask first.

一(yī)杯(bēi)咖啡(kā fēi)的(de)路(lù)上(shàng)，店家(diàn jiā)成(chéng)了(le)连接(lián jiē)两(liǎng)个(gè)陌生人(mò shēng rén)的(de)中间人(zhōng jiān rén)。

Along the way, the café becomes an intermediary connecting two strangers.