#852 Espresso

It’s been a few days since I decided to introduce a new menu at the coffee shop. 

I brought my prototype to Mr. Gray Silva’s café.

“What’s this... kettle for?”

It definitely caught his eye. 

The metal pot, dull yet shiny, has a unique shape that’s hard to miss.

Mr. Gray Silva, always straightforward with his questions, prompts me to proudly start explaining my new invention.

“The new coffee brew comes right out of this pot.”

The pot is slightly longer than usual, with a complex structure. 

I relied on my memory and went through trial and error with the dwarves to complete it.

During this process, I swear the dwarves nearly lost their souls a few times.

I put finely ground coffee beans and water in specific spots and set it on the fire.

Soon, the water boiled, hissing, “Scooo...!” and then I turned off the heat.

Tilting the pot, a stream of pitch-black liquid pours out, and...!

“Whoa! Is the coffee already made...?!” 

“It’s espresso!!!”

Espresso.

It’s a type of coffee distinguished by how it’s made, a name even those not coffee-savvy might have heard at least once.

To put it bluntly, it’s damn bitter coffee.

Even more bitter than regular coffee.

This newly developed pot—an espresso machine—creates steam from boiling water. This steam applies much more pressure than just hot water, extracting a richer coffee in a short time.

And because it’s so strong, you only need a small amount. You gulp it down from a tiny espresso mug.

Damn bitter.

It makes regular black coffee seem like child’s play in terms of bitterness. 

I wondered who would drink such a thing, yet I downed a cup in one go.

It’s concentrated, so despite the strong taste, it’s surprisingly easy to drink.

In Italy, the home of passionate espresso, the correct way to drink it, I hear, is to load it with sugar until there’s a thick layer left at the bottom of the cup.

No way anyone drinks this bitter stuff straight.

Every time I think about it, I wonder if maybe only the Japanese are eccentric enough to enjoy black coffee. 

There’s no source for this, though.

It’s just my opinion.

But in Japan, there’s a long tradition of tea ceremony, where people have been drinking bitter matcha without anything added for ages.

Maybe this tradition carried over, making people comfortable with drinking black coffee without feeling the need to add “impurities” like milk or sugar?

Meanwhile, in America, even green tea comes pre-sweetened.

For Westerners, it seems like they’re saying, “Put sugar in your tea and coffee! Drinking it plain is just weird!”

Someone who drinks black coffee isn’t necessarily sophisticated, just a bit of a weirdo. 

And anyone who drinks espresso straight has reached the pinnacle of weirdness.

These are my thoughts as I sip my bitter black espresso. 

Ooh. Bitter.

“Hmm... Well, for those accustomed to the taste of coffee, this unique twist might just catch their interest,” Mr. Gray Silva comments after tasting it. “But just making it stronger might not be enough for a dramatic change. Even if they like it, they might soon grow tired of it.”

“No need to worry on that front.”

Espresso is just the beginning of the seven transformations to come.

Coffee, with espresso, opens up a whole new skill tree.

“Take, for example, café latte.”

Café au lait is just coffee with milk dumped in it.

So what’s the difference between a café latte and a café au lait?

Café latte is espresso with milk dumped in it.

Espresso, being richer, retains its robust coffee flavor even when mixed with milk. That’s why café lattes are considered different from café au lait.

Add to that frothy milk stirred until it’s at least an inch thick, and you get a cappuccino. 

If you only pour the frothed milk into espresso, you have a macchiato. 

Add chocolate sauce to espresso and milk, and it’s a café mocha. 

Or flavor a café latte with caramel syrup for a caramel macchiato...

“Isn’t it all the same?”

Mr. Gray Silva’s merciless retort cuts through the air.

No, it’s not the same.

There are subtle differences in all of these.

Anyway, look how many options it opens up just by being able to make espresso.

As long as we have a variety, customers will keep coming and going, leading to even greater business prosperity!!!

Espresso, adored by passionate Italians, should be readily accepted.

Café latte is a hit across all ages and genders.

Caramel macchiato is what every high school girl will surely buy on her way home.

Combining these, we can definitely expect a significant influx of customers.

With this, Mr. Gray Silva’s café will signal its grand revival!!!

Well, regardless, it’s doing fairly well as it is now.

“Hmm.”

Mr. Gray Silva gazes at the espresso machine with his usual calm and collected eyes.

“Lord Saint, can you spare some time? I need to get used to this thing.”

That’s a good point...!

Mr. Gray Silva has gone through numerous trials and errors to perfect his coffee brewing skills, mastering the delicate art of the drip.

I’m sure this time, too, he’ll master everything from the water temperature to the bean roast and the grind to make the best espresso possible.

***

A few days later. 

After the designated time set by Mr. Gray Silva, I revisited and was astonished.

“Here is your Tall Vanilla Soy Extra Shot Chocolate Sauce Crimson Destruction Dragnard Dark Cream Caramel Macchiato.”

“Huh?”

Did he just say caramel macchiato?

It was a terrifyingly long name, like a spell, but among them, he definitely said caramel macchiato!

Indeed, you can’t make a caramel macchiato without espresso as the base.

Is this what they call a sophisticated coffee shop now?!

What about café lattes and others?!

When I visited other shops before heading to Mr. Gray Silva’s, I noticed an abundance of espresso-based products being sold.

Curiosity piqued, I peeked into other shops, and it was the same story.

What is happening here?!

“I spread the word.”

Mr. Gray Silva?!

“I heard dwarves were involved in the making of the espresso machines. So, I negotiated through the merchants’ guild and shared it with all the coffee shops in the Demon Capital.”

“What?!”

“Mr. Shax and Mr. Samijrah were delighted, too. It seems their menus had hit a ceiling in terms of variety. The introduction of espresso significantly broadened their range.”

Why would you do that?!

It was a chance to stand out from the crowd!!! 

“You, Lord Saint, taught us even more delicious ways to make coffee. I wanted to announce it and let everyone in the Demon Capital enjoy it,” Mr. Gray Silva explains. “If we’re going to prosper, it should be together. Otherwise, we’ll just breed resentment, and, more importantly, it won’t feel heartwarming.”

...What can I say...?!

While I was busy thinking about outsmarting others, he contemplated sharing such noble happiness.

Suddenly, I feel embarrassingly insignificant!

As I thought, Mr. Gray Silva, who has survived many life-and-death situations as a mercenary, understands both the bitter and sweet aspects of life. His consideration is remarkable...!

Thus, espresso and its various coffee derivatives rapidly spread in the Demon Capital.

Here goes another cultural advancement.