Regarding the promotion of the sample coffee I received from Kuro, I used the Hummingbird to inquire about Ozma-san’s schedule. We arranged for me to visit his home the next day. It turned out his house was in a different location than Megiddo-san’s castle, so the plan was for me to first teleport to the castle and then have Ozma-san come to pick me up.
As for other people who might enjoy coffee, there was always Shia-san, but I wondered if there was anyone else.
"…Wouldn’t it be easier to just ask me?"
"Well, I feel like that’s almost cheating… though I suppose it’s a bit late for that. Among my acquaintances, besides Ozma-san, Elise-san, and Shia-san, is there anyone else who likes coffee? Actually, does Shia-san even like coffee in the first place?"
I happened to be relaxing at Alice's General Store at the time, and Alice spoke up as if she had read my mind. It was certainly true that asking her was the most efficient way to gather information. She likely had a near-perfect grasp on the tastes and preferences of everyone I knew, even those I hadn't noticed myself.
"As you expected, Kaito-san, Shia-san likes coffee. Also, here, I’ve prepared a list for you. The higher the name is on the list, the more they love coffee. The ones at the bottom are the type who, if forced to choose between black tea and coffee, would pick coffee, but they’re generally fine with either. The ones who drink it regularly go down to about here."
"Your support is way too perfect."
The list Alice handed me contained the names of several acquaintances I hadn't realized were coffee drinkers. It was exactly the information I needed. As per usual, her preparation was so thorough that it was clear she had anticipated my needs well in advance.
While I looked over the names, Alice put some of the sample beans into a Coffee Mill and began to grind them by hand. The rhythmic, crunching sound of the beans and the faint aroma of coffee beginning to waft through the air were quite pleasant.
"Kuro always brought hers already brewed, so this is the first time I’ve actually seen you hand-grinding like that."
"Well, if you don't have any specific preferences, you might as well buy it pre-ground. But freshly ground beans have a better aroma, so if you're willing to put in the extra effort, hand-grinding is definitely the way to go. It’s also good to find an Adjustment Screw setting that suits your personal taste."
"Adjustment Screw?"
"It varies depending on the model, but on a Coffee Mill, you can adjust the grind by moving this Adjustment Screw under the handle up or down. As a rule of thumb, just remember: move it up for coarse, and down for fine."
"Heh…"
Finishing the grind as she explained, Alice placed a device with a transparent, flask-like container on the counter.
"Is this… a Syphon?"
"That’s right. When all is said and done, coffee brewed with a Syphon really does taste the best."
"Hmm? What’s that cloth-like thing?"
"This is a cloth filter called a Nel Filter. It allows you to brew coffee with fewer impurities and a smoother mouthfeel. When using a Syphon, a Nel Filter is usually the standard. You set the filter in this funnel, insert it into the Syphon's flask, and begin the extraction. It takes some getting used to, though. If you let it extract for too long, the bitterness becomes overbearing, so it’s not really meant for beginners."
"Heh, there really are a lot of different tools for brewing coffee."
"Yes, there’s also the AeroPress, Ibrik, Percolator… there are all sorts, and the compatibility with the beans varies too. But honestly, as long as it tastes good, anything works. Here, help yourself."
With a wry smile, I took a sip of the coffee Alice had brewed. It was incredible. It seemed to match my tastes perfectly; it was easily the most delicious coffee I’d had in recent memory.
"…This is amazing. It feels like it fits my preferences exactly."
"Based on your tastes, Kaito-san, something Slightly coarser than Medium Grind with a clean finish is probably best. Among Kuro-san’s new products, these specific beans will taste great if you grind them a bit coarse. I’ll go ahead and serve some Castella that pairs well with the coffee as a snack. My, my, as expected of the Transcendent Beautiful Girl Alice-chan, she’s an Ideal Lover with perfect attentiveness!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Isn't that reaction a bit curt?! Please praise me more properly!"
"…Even though you’d just get embarrassed if I did. No, in all seriousness, you really are very thoughtful, Alice. I’m always grateful for all the help you give me. You’re fun to be with, you’re cute, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re the best lover I could ask for."
"…Ah… well… being praised too much is also a bit of a problem… M-moderation, please…"
"See? That’s why I brushed it off lightly."
As I expected, once I praised her sincerely, Alice looked away bashfully. She looked so adorable that I couldn't help but give another wry smile.
Thinking that it might be fun to catch her off guard with another surprise attack of praise sometime, I brought the delicious coffee Alice had brewed back to my lips.
Serious-senpai: "Actually, considering her specs, she really is at a level where she's flawless, it's just that she herself gets embarrassed and tries to make a joke out of it..."