Seoul Kitchen: Chapter 32

An Apology over Coffee

Returning to his shop, Chef would find a rather irate Kiwi waiting for him by her lonesome. He almost didn't recognize her as she was wearing a good of all things but he recognized that face mask anywhere. Glaring at him as he approached her, she muttered tiredly, "You're late."

"Yeah, sorry about that," He replied, wincing at the look she gave him. Looking at his clock, he told her, "I kinda got side tracked with some stuff," He really should have considered the time when he was cooking but what's done was done. He just had to face the consequence.

Thankfully, Kiwi was in quite the forgiving mood today, "You're lucky that Becca likes you," Groaning, she then slumped over before pulling her hood down, "I knew I should have slept in for an hour," She stayed like that for a few minutes before she peeked up and waved him off, "Eh fuck it, just give me that coffee you promised so we can get this over with,"
Not wishing to piss her off any further, he nodded as he asked her, "Any blend you like in particular?"

She paused for a moment, considering her choice before she replied, "Just a Macchiato," Pulling back her hood, she then added, "Make it as strong as you can."

"Got it!" With an order in mind, he ducked under the half opened shuttered and got to work. Just as he pulled out the expresso machine he had stuffed in the back and was about to make the beans, he paused as he had forgotten something, "I… should have asked which type of Macchiato she wanted"

While the Macchiato he knew was the strong shot of espresso with a spot of milk, modern coffee chains had altered the term with their introduction to sweet, and admittedly delicious, Caramel Macchiato. While the former had more espresso than milk, the opposite can be said with the latter. The two couldn't be further apart in taste and often confuses casual coffee drinkers who were expecting a sugary treat.

"Still, she did wanted it strong," he mused as pulled out his coffee grinder before he carefully measured the beans that he'll grind for the espresso, "The traditional Macchiato should probably be fine?" He told himself as he inspected the beans

When it comes to coffee, the type along with the roast matters a lot. The darker the roast, the stronger the flavors become. The type of bean meanwhile determine just how much stronger the brew would be. For the strongest of flavors and strength, he picked Robusta and a Dark roast.

While most would rather prefer arabica as Robusta often gets picked unripe along with a whole host of problems, he could cheat; He can make every last bean perfectly ripe. No need to rely on an animal to pick the choicest beans when he could make them with the snap of a finger. Truly, his powers was bullshit.

Loading the dark oily beans in grinder, he then turned his attention to the machine. Tucked in it's dark little corner, the horrendously expensive machine sat in disuse next to the coffee maker. He had almost forgotten that he bought this thing when he was furnishing his store. The only reason why he hasn't used it is because it was far easier to make coffee in bulk using the more inexpensive but just as reliable coffee maker.

Dusting the espresso machine off, he cycled through it's cleaning before he finally got to making the Macchiato. Setting a cup beneath the machine, he pulled out the portafilter before filling it with fresh ground coffee. Packing it in, he slipped it back in the machine before letting it do it's magic. The machine whirred to life as the scalding hot, high pressure water forced through the mesh, dripping black gold down to the cup below.

Breathing in the rich, heavenly scent of coffee in, he smiled as he started frothing the milk. While it was fun watching the cup fill up, getting steam to get the milk light and airy was equally, if not more amusing.

As the last drop of coffee filled the cup, he poured in the milk. The dark, rich, liquid slowly turned into a delicious chocolate brown as the two liquid got to meet each until he topped off the cup, leaving a tell tale spot where he poured it in. Making another cup for himself, he hummed as he brought it out to his awaiting audience.

"One Macchiato, on the house," he cheerfully told the morose Kiwi as she stirred from her nap. Her glare quickly softened as the cup caught her gaze. Drawn to the sight, she carefully lifted it up before savoring the scent. Ah, a coffee aficionado. It's a good thing he made it the classic way.

Sitting down across her, he then offered her a metallic straw, "I think you need this?" While distinct and eye catching, the woman's mask really didn't help when it comes to eating or drinking… though he distinctly remembered her eating pizza with them. Maybe he should have payed attention she she ate with them.

Unfortunately, that question would have to be answered some other time as she took the straw and thanked him. Smiling back at the woman, he watched eagerly as she took her first tentative sip and closed her eyes. He sat there, fidgeting as the woman took her time with her drink.

While he was experience with cooking, he was far less so when it comes to making drinks. He preferred his hot drinks simple and easy to make, unlike his choice for food, thus he never really got the time to hone his skill. Getting feed back would definitely help him along. "So…" he asked as he leaned in close, "How is it?"

Pulling away from her drink, she then looked up at him before reaching out and hushing him, "Shhhh" With half lidded eyes that spoke of bliss and relaxation, the woman told him, "Just let me have this," requesting peace and quite.

Blinking in surprise, he then found himself smiling once more as he nodded and let her be. Turning his own attention to his cup, he took a sip as both of them just sat there while watching the world go by them. With cup in hand, he quickly understood why Kiwi wanted silence.

Sitting there, he could hear the hustle and bustle of people as they milled around. The sound of city coming to life filled the air as the warm sunlight shone upon them. There, in the middle of it all, he felt the city's heart beating along his own as he absorbed the sight and sound.

All good things do come to an end as he found himself staring down at the bottom of his empty cup. Gazing up, he found Kiwi sighing wistfully as she stared down on his own. "So, want another shot?" he offered and almost immediately, she brightened up.

"Yes please," she replied with a smile in their eyes. Despite the darkened bags in their eyes and the weariness upon their brows, as soon as she smiled, he found his chest filled with warmth. There was truly nothing more special than making someone else smile.

After setting down another cup of coffee before his companion, the netrunner commented, "If I didn't know you, I'd say you slipped something inside my coffee," looking back at him with a teasing look on her face, she then added "But you're not really the type to ruin a good cup of coffee are you," before slipping the straw up inside her mask.

Her rolled his eyes at that as he found himself chuckling at the woman's lighthearted barb, "Who knows, maybe I did…" He joked before taking a sip of his own, "But yeah, you're right. It'd be a damn shame to spike this cup. Would probably just ruin the flavor."

Grinning up to her, he then teased, "You must really loved that blend now that you're in a good mood," It was a rare sight to see the woman in a great mood and he had to say, he liked this hidden side of her.

Kiwi snorted as she looked away yet the smile remained in the corner of her eyes. Taking a sip from her drink, she then fired back, "Don't push it."

Raising his hands, he quickly teased back, "Yes ma'am," before both of them chuckled. He really didn't know Kiwi other than that grumpy netrunner that Rebecca brought along but as he get to know her, he realized there was far more to her than just that.

She was just that netrunner he saw once when he lived another life. She wasn't just that greedy, pessimistic reflection of night city, jaded by years living in it. She was… Kiwi, a kind hearted women who loved coffee and loved teasing people. Getting to know her more, he felt like maybe… just maybe there was a bit of gold still left inside that heart of hers.