Kuro, who wanted my opinion on her coffee blend, began lining up several jars of coffee beans on the table. I haven't had many chances to see coffee beans in their whole form, so it was quite interesting.
Seeing them in stylish glass jars with cork stoppers gave off a sophisticated vibe.
"Some people are very particular about the roasting process, but since these will be sold through the company, they're generally pre-roasted. You can buy them raw if you prefer, of course. I’m also planning to sell them both as whole beans and pre-ground powder."
"I'm not exactly an expert on coffee, but why sell them separately as beans and powder?"
"There are several reasons, but the primary one is that grinding them into powder makes extraction easier. By increasing the surface area—basically the part that touches the hot water—the coffee brews more readily. However, a larger surface area also means more contact with oxygen. That leads to faster oxidation, causing the quality to drop and the bitterness and flavor to fade."
"I see. So that's why they're often sold as beans—they stay fresh longer."
"Exactly. But grinding beans takes effort, and the coarseness of the grind changes the taste, so many prefer the convenience of pre-ground powder. It stays good for about ten days regardless, and if you have a Magic Box, you don't have to worry about it losing its freshness at all."
That was true. With a Magic Box, there was no need to worry about spoilage. It would certainly be easier to buy the pre-ground version for a quick cup of coffee.
True connoisseurs would probably stick to beans regardless of a Magic Box, but if I were the buyer, I’d choose the powder... or perhaps just store coffee that had already been brewed.
"Kuro, you really know your stuff."
"Well, I learned most of what I know from Shaltier and Ein, but I studied hard to find a blend that complements Baby Castella perfectly. By the way, the flavor also shifts depending on the grind."
"You mean like fine or coarse?"
"Yes. A fine grind makes for a strong, bitter taste, while a coarse grind feels lighter and milder. There are generally five categories: extra-fine, fine, medium-fine, medium, and coarse. For the record, when my company sells pre-ground coffee, we use the most standard setting: medium-fine."
"Interesting..."
Since the conversation revolved around Baby Castella, she was even more talkative than usual. There was something undeniably charming about the way she explained everything with such pride.
"...Come to think of it, Ein-san always seemed like more of a tea person, but she's an expert on coffee too?"
"Ein is perfect at everything, including coffee. However, she personally prefers black tea. Since most of the children in my family feel the same way, she usually serves that. Though, Zwei and Funf are coffee drinkers."
"Ah, that makes sense. I can't really see Tre-san or Raz-san enjoying it."
"Bingo. Neither of them is particularly fond of it. Tre isn't as averse, but Raz really struggles with bitter flavors. She can handle it if it’s served as a cafe au lait, though."
That was exactly as I had imagined. I could easily picture Tre-san putting on a smug Doyaaa face while drinking coffee, only to grimace because it was more bitter than she expected.
"As for the other Kings, Isis is like Raz; she isn't fond of bitter things, so she rarely touches coffee. Lilliwood hardly drinks anything besides water. Megiddo would always choose alcohol over tea or coffee, and Shaltier enjoys both. Oh, and it seems Magnawell has recently taken a liking to it."
"Wait, really? Oh, I guess it’s because he has a split body that can eat and drink now."
"Yeah. He’s been experimenting with all sorts of food and drink, and apparently, coffee really hit the spot. He’s been studying up on it quite a bit."
Now that she mentioned it, I could see Magnawell-san being a fan. His split body had the air of an elderly gentleman; he’d look right at home with a cup of coffee.
"Anyway, I'm getting off track. As I was saying, I’ve prepared several candidates. I was hoping you could try them out, Kaito-kun, and give me your thoughts."
"I see, like a tasting session? Sure. How many varieties are we talking about?"
"Thirty-seven."
"............Eh?"
Wait a minute. She just said that with a straight face? Was I really about to drink thirty-seven cups of coffee? My stomach was going to be completely bloated.
Serious-senpai: "The reason fine grinds result in a stronger taste is, as Kuro said in the story, because the surface area in contact with the hot water increases, making extraction easier... In other words, simply increasing the amount will also make it stronger. For example, by using a larger amount of coarse grind, you can brew coffee with solid bitterness and body while maintaining a good aftertaste. However, the adjustments in that area are quite strict and difficult, so it's a good idea to try various things and find your own preference!"
???: "Come to think of it, this Senpai was a coffee lover..."