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Chapter 17 – Coffee Experience
What Aire brought out was a sealed container.
It was sealed to prevent air from getting in as much as possible so that the aroma would not escape.
When the sealed container was opened on the table, ground coffee beans appeared, and the aroma of the beans spread throughout the reception room.
“These are roasted coffee beans.”
“Ah, it smells so good.”
William inhaled with a look of delight on his face.
There was a wide range of taste preferences when it came to coffee, but few people disliked the aroma.
The powder was also used for a variety of purposes, such as drying it to get rid of cigarette or toilet odors or using it as a moth repellent in a wardrobe.
Not only Mariel and Aire but also William liked the scent, so it seems that there will be many people who like it in this other world.
“Mariel, today, please make it with the hot water from the thermos.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Coffee goes well with tea snacks, so it might be a good idea to prepare something to nibble on.”
“I see.”
It would be quite a hassle to borrow hot water here.
Therefore, Wataru brought a thermos flask filled with hot water.
Since it had been boiled recently, the water was still hot enough.
The way the water was poured wasn’t perfect because of the spout, but William didn’t know what to compare it to, so it probably wouldn’t be a problem.
A paper filter was attached, and the coffee beans were poured into it, followed by the hot water.
Mariel’s arm moved carefully in a circular motion as much as possible, but the way it was done with the thermos was a little less than perfect.
The aroma of the coffee became even more fragrant as the hot water was poured in.
William watched each of these changes intently.
“It’s embarrassing if you stare at me like that.”
“I-I’m sorry. I was only interested in the coffee, and I certainly wasn’t staring at you, Mariel-sama.”
“I know that, but I’m still new at this, so please forgive me if I’m being rude.”
She poured the finished coffee into a cup and added a cube of sugar and some milk.
William looked at the coffee with a suspicious look on his face.
Well, if you don’t know better, it looks like muddy water or ink.
Not many people would consider it a delicious drink at first glance.
“W-what is this pitch-black liquid? Is it what you call coffee?”
“Yes. Well, let me drink a cup first as a taste tester. Add some sugar and milk… it’s delicious…”
“…Well then, I’ll have some too.”
William carefully reached for the cup and took a sip of the coffee.
He didn’t drink it all at once but sipped it carefully.
But after tasting it and swallowing it slowly, William’s eyes widened.
“T-this isssss…!”
“H-how is it!?”
“The fruity, floral aroma spreads gently in the mouth, and then the astringency and slight acidity you feel in the mouth, and the faint sweetness that lingers, all wrapped up in the mildness of the sugar and milk, and the strength of the lingering, solid body…! Yes, it’s the dawn of a new era! Welcomeeeeeee!!!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Wataru couldn’t help but be taken aback by William’s sudden outburst about the taste and couldn’t help but interfere.
William slowly took another sip, and after fully enjoying the taste, he let out a long breath.
Unlike Wataru, who was used to drinking coffee, this was William’s first experience with coffee.
Normally, bitterness is a taste acquired through experience, but William must have been exposed to a variety of gourmet foods in the past.
Even though it was his first experience, he seemed to be able to appreciate the deliciousness of the coffee.
“I see. I would say that Wataru-sama’s eye for selecting products is excellent. This will definitely sell well, I can clearly see the future!”
“I see, that’s good to hear.”
“However…”
“What is it?”
“The idea of selling this to cafes is naive! It’s too naive!”
“W-what do you mean? What part of my strategy is wrong?”
Wataru was surprised to be rejected so suddenly.
He had thought that he would mainly distribute the coffee in Southern Ship Town because he couldn’t sell it in large quantities.
And the coffee itself was definitely high quality and delicious.
He was confident that it would become popular if he released it.
However, William raised his index finger and shook it from side to side.
It was quite a stylish sight, but when a good-looking older man with blond hair did it, it looked good.
“This coffee is served with sugar, right? Then what’s the point of serving it in a place used by ordinary people?”
“T-That’s true…!”
“The flavor of the coffee is lost when it is served with the sugar that is commonly available, and it would be more effective to sell the precious coffee, which is in short supply, to the nobility as a set with sugar!”
“Ugh, that’s ridiculous! I-if you put it that way, you’re right…”
Wataru put his head in his hands and thought that he had been naive.
It would not be impossible to serve the coffee black or with milk, but Wataru himself had just told them that both sugar and coffee were addictive.
He had been so focused on the fact that it was not good for all the wealth to be concentrated in the Welcome Trading Company that he had not thought about the other merchants.
“Besides, if you sell to different trading companies, there will be problems.”
“Problems?”
“Yes. I’m pretty sure that’s the case, but these goods haven’t gone through the proper channels, have they? Oh, it’s okay if you don’t answer. I’m curious how you got into town, but it would be inconvenient to ask.”
“…Can you tell me why you think that?”
Wataru broke into a cold sweat.
It was definitely known that Wataru was a foreigner, but William knew more about what was going on here than Wataru thought.
Or maybe he guessed.
It wouldn’t have been strange if he had guessed about the gate somehow.
Wataru, who had been exposed to the unfathomable depths of the successful merchant, took a sip of coffee and tried to calm down as much as possible.
William, looking calm, began to explain the reason.
“This is good. If something as rare as this is found during a customs inspection, not only will the tax be a large amount, but it is impossible for the local lord not to hear about it. And merchants with good ears will certainly hear such rumors.”
“I see…”
“If you pass through the checkpoints without paying the taxes, you can be severely punished for smuggling. Well, our company pays the taxes when we pass through other areas, so we can rest easy, but I wonder how other companies are doing?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll be careful.”
“At the very least, I think you need to belong to a guild.”
Faced with a barrage of sound arguments, Wataru had no choice but to give up.
If that were the case, it might be necessary to introduce products other than coffee to other trading companies.
“However, unlike sugar, we will not sign an exclusive contract for this.”
“Hmm… It seems you still have some ideas.”
“Yes. However, since this is a long-term plan, we will consult with you as it takes shape.”
“I understand. Let’s look forward to that day.”
Wataru had more plans.
It would be too much of a hardship to just import coffee beans from another world.
The more sugar and coffee they shipped, the greater the burden on Wataru and the others.
A bottleneck had been created, and it was imperative that it be resolved in the future.
“So, how much will this coffee sell for?”
“If we’re going to sell it as a set with sugar, we don’t want to make it too expensive. How about 10%?”
“Hmm… isn’t that a little too cheap? You have to think about my purchasing costs, too.”
“Then how about 20%?”
“Hmm… I see. How about 60%?”
“No, no, that’s ridiculous! I’ll go bankrupt!”
Wataru and William continued their detailed price negotiations face-to-face.
There were two merchants trying to get as many coins as possible.
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A little naive, but I like the fact that he is now negotiating selfishly
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In this chapter, it mentioned sugar cube. Has Wataru start selling it?
Thanks for the treat.
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Or maybe he brought them just for the demonstration, like the hot water and the coffee. Cubes are more fragile to carry around, so he wouldn’t bother without being paid premium, I guess.
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Yes, this was the first batch of sugar he sold. William took a sugar cube to taste and evaluate the taste. It was in one of the first chapters when Wataru accidentally discovered a portal to another world and entered it with his usual purchases. There was just a package of sugar cubes there. It also seems to me that he has not sold loose sugar until now. But I could be wrong.
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