A charitable phenomenon has made its way to Adelaide thanks to social media and the support of some small cafes.

For just a few dollars, coffee drinkers can now do their bit to help the homeless and disadvantaged.

The concept of 'suspended coffees' started years ago in Italy and, with the help of social media, has gone global.

Darryl Pratt of the Red Door Bakery in the western suburbs said it had embraced the idea.

"The fact that you can just do a nice thing for someone you're never ever going to meet and you know, it might just brighten their day a bit," he said.

Another cafe E for Ethel is also among those embracing the push for customers to buy a hot drink now but let someone less fortunate enjoy it later.

Dan Harland works there and proud of customers who show their generosity.

"It's an easy thing to donate, it's a coffee, it's not a great expense for our customers and, as you can see [from] the tally we've got, it racks up quite quickly," he said.

'Can't judge'

Hilda Zuvela of the Hawker Street Cafe told of those who arrived for one of the suspended coffees.

"It's up to the person requesting the suspended coffee to say that they're in need of one," she explained.

"I mean you can't judge a person by the way they talk or their appearance, we don't know a person's story."

Ian Cox of the welfare facility Hutt Street Centre in the city said it was a scheme which helped the disadvantaged feel more connected with society.

"Coming into a cafe, they can come into a really safe environment, they feel respected, they feel in some ways as well they feel really valued, the fact that someone has really taken that extra initiative to look after them," he said.

Oliver Pfeil of the not-for-profit organisation Another Step Closer said it was working to connect the participating cafes with those in need.

"We want to get them (cafes) on board ... contact us and we'll put their name on the list, so everyone can see where they are," he said.

He said that information was then passed on to welfare groups.

Cafe owners say customers' generosity does not stop at coffee and some are buying food and soup to offer the homeless.