MTLNOVEL Chapter 1447: Marvelous Coffee!
While a couple was being lovey-dovey in one store, Pieto and Bart1 finally managed to get inside one of the shops, the Cafe.
They were together with a few of their men, and they had been waiting near the garden until recently. "Here you go," Bart said, paying the professional queuers they hired.
These people were a mix of natives and Terrans, and it was a little amusing to see them scramble to line up.
"Come to us again next time you need a filler!" one said, and they scurried away, no doubt to the marketplace.
"Now… time to find out what's so special about this place…" Bart said as they entered, and they were greeted by the strong aroma they had never encountered before.
It was difficult to describe, but it was pleasant and comforting. It was a bit earthy, deep, and a bit smoky.
It took the waiter's greeting to pull them back to the present. They looked around, appreciating the coziness of the place.
It was reminiscent of the tea house but had more of… a sleek urban feel to it. For instance, the tea house felt like a place for calm and reflective moments with or without people.
The focus was taking one's time, immersing in the beautiful plants surrounding them, all while enjoying a relaxing beverage and maybe a few snacks. Although there were group tables, they were far apart and the seats encouraged people to just take a sip and relax.
The Cafe, on the other hand, encouraged a more social and comfortable experience. There was a background buzz of other people that was not annoying. It was sociable, but with a touch of solicitude.
The chairs were comfortable, but still a bit closer to each other, and there was partitioned seating on the second floor.
When they reached the counter, they were greeted with unfamiliar arrays of drinks though.
They had no idea where to start.
Fortunately, the staff recognized them and grinned. "I assume you are lost in the choices," he said. They nodded, a bit embarrassed. Were they being too obvious?
"This product requires a bit of a learning curve. Each person will also have a different taste. Some may prefer it with sugar, some with cream and so on…"
"We actually have a starter pack wherein you can taste our different offerings so you can determine which one fits you best.
They nodded, eyes brightening. "That sounds good."
"Only 50 silver per person!" they said. "Bonus opening price."
"..."
Okay, then.
Their small group sat down at the side after paying, holding a piece of wood plant with a number to indicate their order number. This was a pretty common system in Alterra, so they knew what to do with it.
While waiting, they observed the people around them. The seats were separated by partitions, offering some privacy for each group. They couldn't help but close their eyes to appreciate the aroma, though.
It literally felt like it was carrying them someplace nice, and they couldn't get enough of it.
Soon, a tray of small cups appeared and was placed in front of them. One of the staff—who they would later find out was the manager—was smiling widely as he proudly introduced each product.
The man was quite energetic, pointing at each cup. "This little one is the Espresso. This is the base of all our products. This one is strongly concentrated, and it could help energize you. If you're into intense flavors, you can try this," he said. "Of course, due to the differences in physique, the effect can be a bit less than what we're used to."
"Next is the Macchiato, which is espresso stained with a dollop of frothed broat milk," he continued, describing the rest of the cups. "Then, this is the Terranicano made by diluting the espresso in hot water. It is smoother than espresso but still strong."
He then pointed at the next row of cups. "The cappuccino combines equal parts espresso, steamed broat milk, and frothy milk foam. The foam adds light, airy texture, while the milk balances the espresso's boldness. It is creamy and well-rounded, and one of the more popular variants."
"Latte is one part espresso and several parts steamed broat milk. We usually add other flavors like vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut," he said. "It's really lovely," he said. "And we added Latte with different flavors too so you can find the taste you like best."
He then moved on to the final row of cups. "This is Mocha, which is a mix of espresso, steamed milk and chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream," he said. "This has the richness of chocolate and coffee's depth. A very interesting combination, and also quite popular."
"The Affogato is more dessert than coffee," he said, pointing at a cup with the popular ice cream. "It is a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in a shot of espresso."
"Then we also have Iced coffee and cold brew, where the latter was smooth and had a richer flavor than the former, but the former is also very good, especially if you want it quick."
The group took one cup at a time. The espresso was naturally shocking, but definitely gave a burst of energy. The locals had more understanding of their own energy, so they could attest to this.
They were taken aback by the bitterness at first, but then that taste was overtaken by the warmth and the taste of something earthy.
The other ones were much more subtle and each one of them found liking to different tastes. It's delicious!
Although it really did have a learning curve, some people with money-making instincts had their alarm bells going off. This was too amazing. Although they'd have to invest when introducing it in Twinwave, they would definitely gain back their capital sooner rather than later!
The manager could almost hear their thoughts and he could almost hear his bonus. An amusingly greedy smile graced his face, his voice sounding more tempting.
"Let it roll in your tongue, taste its different layers," he said said. "I can assure you that each one could bring a different experience.
"Although it seems minor, but isn't life all about this?"
Twinwave folks. Bart is a mercenary, while Pieto is a merchant