Outpouring of Canadian coffee shop generosity puzzles, inspires

A series of acts of kindness have Tim Hortons patrons wondering who's paying for their coffee.

The decision of one Alberta man to buy coffees for 500 strangers appears to have triggered a wave of generosity across the country as more and more copycats are "pouring it forward,” and many are wondering why Canada’s coffee-lovers suddenly feel the need to be so kind to one other.

The coffee-kindness trend was seemingly set in motion Monday, when a man described as being in his 20s walked into a Tim Hortons in downtown Edmonton, bought a coffee and doughnut for himself, and then offered to pay for the coffees of the next 500 customers to come in after him.

Since then, there has been a string of copycats, all opening their wallets to treat their fellow java-drinkers. They include:

In almost every case, the coffee benefactors have chosen to remain anonymous.

But the woman who bought the 800 coffees in Edmonton was happy to talk. She said she heard about the first man and decided she wanted to up the ante, issuing a challenge to others to keep the trend going and either match her donation, or exceed it. "That would be awesome," she told CTV Edmonton.

As for what has sparked all this sudden generosity, it's a mystery.

More than a few people have noted that all the random acts of kindness have been occurring only at Tim Hortons – not other coffee outlets. And that's caused many to wonder whether it's all an elaborate marketing hoax.

Tim Hortons insists that's not the case.

"As brilliant as this is, I can assure you that Tim Hortons has nothing to do with the Good Samaritans that have been purchasing coffees across the country," Tim Hortons spokesperson Michelle Robichaud said Thursday.

She said the company has been "humbled by the generosity" that has been taken place.

"Clearly this is someone who has a very pure heart and just wishes to put smiles on some people's faces and spread some good cheer," said Robichaud.

While many remain skeptical, others say Canadians should just enjoy this latest version of "pour it forward" trend while it lasts.

On the CTV website in Edmonton, one commenter named “Laurel” wrote: "If everyone were to criticize the Pay it Forward model, it would just cease to exist.… People respond to graciousness, good spirit, and generosity, so stop analyzing whether it's worth doing it, of course it is! Just do it."