When I handed Amel the sample coffee set, she studied it with keen interest before nodding slightly.
"You have my gratitude for your consideration, my Sworn Friend. Since I have received it, I shall brew these Droplets of Jet-black at once—crushing the hard outer shell and bringing a rain of blessings to the black desert."
Because of the shelf life, the samples were whole beans rather than grounds, so I had brought along a coffee mill just in case. However, it turned out Amel already had one of her own.
The device she produced was considerably larger than the ones Ozma or Alice used.
"Oh, that's a pretty big coffee mill. Do you have a specific preference for how you prep your coffee, Amel-san?"
"…Eh? Oh, no… this is a Magic Tool. You just set the filter and add water and beans, and it does everything automatically…"
"Ah, I see… that’s really convenient."
So it wasn't just a mill, but a coffee maker with a built-in grinder. You just provided the beans and water, put a filter in the right spot, and the Magic Tool handled the rest.
"…I didn't know they made them like that. To be honest, I'm not so much of an enthusiast that I'd want to manually adjust the coarseness of the grind, so something like this seems perfect for me."
"I find myself in agreement. I certainly enjoy drinking these Droplets of Jet-black, but I wouldn't say I possess a particularly deep or broad expertise. I drink it because I like the taste… and because it looks cool. While I can notice a significant difference in flavor, my palate isn't sharp enough to detect the more subtle nuances."
I could really empathize with her on that—I was exactly the same way. I liked coffee and I had my preferences, but I wasn't dedicated enough to spend time and effort hand-selecting beans and finding the perfect grind just to craft the ultimate cup.
I could tell the difference to a certain extent; the coffee Alice brewed was incredibly good, and it had actually moved me a little. But if someone asked if I could taste the difference caused by a tiny change in the grind… honestly, I wouldn't have a clue.
Therefore, if I were brewing it myself, a coffee maker seemed like the way to go. In fact, seeing the one Amel had made me realize such things existed, and I figured I might buy one for myself eventually.
"Should I put out some sweets? What would you like, Amel-san?"
"That is a difficult choice. Cookies would be the standard, but these Droplets of Jet-black are a drink defined by a powerful bitterness… given that, perhaps confronting them with a Conflicting Radiance would be the most suitable pairing."
"True, sweet things go great with it… how about some chocolate?"
"A splendid idea. While chocolate also harbors Black Power, it possesses properties entirely opposite to the Droplets of Jet-black… the possibility of harmony is high."
Since pairing sweets with bitter coffee is a classic and Amel approved, I pulled some chocolate out of my Magic Box.
By the way, this chocolate was another of Nebula’s creations. It wasn't the type she sold at Nifty that was meant to pair with black tea, but a different batch she’d made specifically for me to eat as a snack.
Before long, the coffee was ready, so I sat down at the counter with her as she’d requested. Amel was beaming, clearly delighted that the counter she’d built was finally being put to use.
"We can't exactly make a toast with these Droplets of Jet-black, but I am happy to be able to sit here at my Sworn Friend's side. Now, let us sample this new possibility… Oh, and if you need sugar cubes, please help yourself to those."
"Ah, okay. Thanks."
While thanking her, I considered trying the first sip black, but then I watched Amel take three sugar cubes out of the jar, drop them into her coffee, and start stirring.
…That was quite a lot. Three cubes would make for a very sweet cup, but since she looked so satisfied after taking a sip, I assumed that was just her usual preference.
Then, Amel reached for the chocolate I’d set out, took a bite, and her eyes lit up.
"This is delicious! It’s amazing—I’ve never had chocolate this sweet and tasty before! You really are incredible, Sworn Friend, you know so many—Ahem! I am constantly astonished by my Sworn Friend's Insight in seeking out such treasures."
"Thank you. That chocolate is…"
For a while after that, I enjoyed a casual chat with Amel, who remained in high spirits as we finished our coffee.
Serious-senpai: "Honestly, I get the impression that most coffee lovers are around this level. Of course, there are those who are genuinely particular to the point of running a professional cafe… but hey, as long as you enjoy it as a hobby, there's nothing wrong with taking it as far as you want."