Chapter 31: Coffee Beans

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

I opened my eyes to the sound of sparrows and the morning sunlight outside the window.

“Haaam. I slept well. How long has it been since I slept in?”

I yawned and stretched.

When I checked the clock, it was already 9 o’clock.

It’s been a long time since I slept so soundly without thinking about anything.

I had to wake up early because I had to go to work at 8 o’clock when I transmigrated here, and before I transmigrated, I was working part-time.

“Shall I have some morning coffee?”

I slowly crawled out of bed. I went down the unfamiliar stairs and headed to the kitchen.

“I’m running out of coffee beans.”

The coffee beans are running low.

Based on the rate of use, it seems to be able to last about a week.

“Do they sell coffee beans here too?”

The taste of coffee beans varies depending on the processing method and the place of origin. There’s a reason why people say Luwak coffee.

No matter how skilled a barista is, if the coffee beans are not good, the taste of the coffee will also be bad.

You can’t make top-notch dishes with rotten ingredients.

So I was worried.

“I want to buy the same one as this. I need to know where to buy it.”

The coffee beans that the transmigrated body has are high-quality even if I look at them. The proof is that even if you make drip coffee roughly, it has a good scent and taste.

I took a sip of warm coffee. The dry throat became moist.

“Isn’t there a receipt or something?”

I started searching the house again.

If it’s high-quality coffee beans, the price is quite high, so there is a high probability that the receipt is kept.

Desk drawers, a warehouse where miscellaneous items are gathered. I searched all of them, but there were no meaningful results.

“Sigh. Then I have to look for it one by one.”

I sighed.

When I worked as a barista in my previous life, the owner gave me a handful of coffee beans and told me to buy the same ones.

At that time, I went around like crazy to find that one.

I sighed as I remembered the memories of all the hardships I went through.

“Should I just try something else?”

It’s not like I don’t have any money. It’s not like coffee beans are more expensive than gold.

I can buy high-quality products with my current capital.

Since I thought of it, I got dressed and headed to the Duchy’s store.

“Welcome.”

I roughly accepted the employee’s greeting and chose the coffee beans.

The coffee beans are contained in a large glass jar. Next to it, the origin and characteristics of the coffee beans were summarized.

It means that you can’t try each coffee bean yourself, so use the characteristics to buy coffee.

I chose according to my taste.

“Arsan coffee has a brilliant sour taste? It’s produced at a high altitude, so it has a fruity scent… It’s African coffee.”

I checked the one next to it.

“Bitter and savory taste is an Asian characteristic, and the balance of sour and bitter taste is… Central and South America.”

Most of the coffee is similar to what is on Earth, only the name has changed.

“But just in case, let’s buy a little of everything.”

Because of the distance between the house and the store, I can’t come and go every time. It’s a bit of a waste of money, but I can make up for it with this much investment.

“Anyway, I get a dignity maintenance fee. It’ll be fine.”

To me, who has lived as an ordinary commoner for more than 20 years, and to me, who was poorer than that, the act of ‘splurging’ was unfamiliar.

Even now that I’m making a lot of money.

But I’ll make even more money in the future, so I’ll get used to it.

“It’s 13 gold.”

“Here you go.”

It’s incredibly expensive.

Because the coffee beans themselves are expensive.

“But how are you going to carry all this…”

I showed my ID card without saying a word. There was a mark engraved on it that certified me as a baronet.

“Gasp! I, I greet the Baronet!”

“I heard that delivery is possible from baronet and above.”

“Yes. Then I will deliver it to the mansion. I will depart as soon as you leave, so it won’t take long.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

I greeted and left.

It’s one of the benefits given to nobles belonging to the Muelia Duchy.

If you buy something at a store inside the Duchy, you can have it delivered through a Duchy butler.

I came back with a light body.

When I opened the front door, the teddy bear came out to greet me.

Woo woong. Woong.

It waves its hand friendly. I laughed because it was like looking at a teddy bear on Earth.

“I’m back.”

Woong. Woo woong.

“Ah, there will be a delivery later. Just so you know.”

Woo woong.

I don’t know what it’s saying, but it probably means it understands.

I washed my hands for a moment and waited, and someone knocked on the door.

“Coming.”

Woo woong.

The teddy bear stood in front of me as if to say that it should take the lead and opened the door.

But the person who knocked was not the butler delivering the coffee beans.

“Miss Emily?”

Woo woong.

The teddy bear bowed its head and stepped back. I approached Emily, who was standing in front of the door.

“Why are you here, Miss….”

“I’m sorry, but I wanted to drink Rachel’s coffee. I’ll pay for it.”

“No. You don’t have to pay for it. It’s not that difficult to make coffee. Come in.”

I guided her to the kitchen. The dripper I used in the morning remained in the kitchen.

I went to the sink to wash it. Then someone knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

“Hmm? Is there anyone else coming besides me?”

“I ordered something earlier. Just a moment.”

I asked for Rachel’s understanding and opened the door with the teddy bear.

“Greetings. Baronet Rachel. I have completed the delivery. Please check and sign.”

I checked the coffee beans at the butler’s words.

I ordered five 500g bags of coffee beans. I opened the inside and checked the scent, and signed the paper.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After confirming that the butler was leaving, I moved the coffee beans.

“Is that coffee beans?”

“Yes. I ran out of the coffee beans I was originally using. I bought them urgently at a nearby store.”

“Can’t you just use the one you were originally using? Oh, if it’s expensive, I….”

I smiled bitterly and scratched my head.

“Actually, I don’t remember where I bought it. It was stored separately in a container without a label, so I can’t find it now.”

I tore open the bags of the five coffee beans one by one.

Since the existing coffee beans are running out, I need to decide as quickly as possible….

Emily came into my sight.

“Ah, then can you help me with the coffee bean test?”

“Coffee bean test?”

Emily tilted her head.

“I’ll give you coffee with these five coffee beans, so please taste it.”

“I understand that, but can’t Rachel do that yourself? Anyway, it’s Rachel who drinks it.”

“Actually, as I was drinking coffee, I felt that Miss Emily and I have similar tastes. My taste might be strange now, so I’m asking you.”

Until 30 minutes ago, I ate the coffee I used to drink. So I may not be able to evaluate it objectively.

“You and I have similar tastes?”

When I nodded at Emily’s question, she smiled as if she was in a good mood.

“Okay. I’ll do my best.”

There’s no need to do your best.

Just drink coffee and evaluate whether it’s good or bad.

“First, this is the first one.”

I ground the first coffee bean in a grinder and brewed it.

Each coffee bean has different advantages and disadvantages. You need to brew it in a way that maximizes the advantages and hides the disadvantages.

You can give variables such as grinding a little finer or using a little hotter water.

The first coffee bean is Arsan coffee.

It is produced at a high altitude and has a brilliant sour taste and a unique fruity scent.

Usually, coffee beans grown in Africa have these characteristics.

“Try it.”

“Let’s see.”

Slurp.

Emily’s eyes widened after taking a sip.

“Oh my. It’s a little sour, but it’s a pleasant acidity. And the subtle fruity scent is so nice. Try it. It suits my taste.”

I also drank it.

Cherry flavor spreading with a pleasant acidity. It’s fragrant and feels good.

“It’s delicious to me too. Then I’ll prepare the next coffee.”

The next thing to brew is Robia coffee beans.

It has a bitter and savory taste as an advantage, and usually coffee beans produced in Asia have this advantage.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

This time, I also drank with her.

Certainly, this coffee bean has a strong bitter taste. But it was okay because of the savory taste that goes well with the bitter taste.

Still.

“I like the previous one better.”

“Me too.”

We both shook our heads.

So I brewed all the other coffee beans and shared them with Emily.

“Which coffee bean do you like the most, Emily?”

“Hmm. How about we say it at the same time when I count to three?”

“Yes. Okay.”

Emily counted the numbers with her fingers.

One. Two. Three.

We shouted at the same time.

“The first one.”

“The first coffee is the most delicious.”

Same answer.

Emily covered her mouth and chuckled. I don’t know if this is such a funny thing, but seeing her smile, I also laughed.

There’s a saying like that.

It’s an age to laugh even when leaves are falling. I feel like I understand.

“Then wait a moment. I’ll brew some more Arsan coffee for you.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“It’s okay, just sit down.”

I brewed Arsan coffee for her and handed it to her.