When I handed Amel-san the coffee sample set, Amel-san looked at it with interest before nodding slightly.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Since you went through the trouble of getting this, I’ll go ahead and brew this Jet-Black Drip right away. This hard shell shall be crushed and bring about a blessing of rain to the black desert.”

Since the sample was in bean form rather than powder due to its preservation period, I had brought a coffee grinder just in case, but it seemed Amel-san also had her own coffee grinder.

The coffee grinder Amel-san pulled out looked significantly larger than the ones Ozma-san and Alice used.

[Oh, that’s quite a large coffee grinder. Does Amel-san have some particular preferences as well?]

[……Eh? Ah, no…… This is a magic tool that, once you set the filter and put in water and beans, does everything automatically……]

[I see…… That’s quite convenient.]

I see, it’s not just a coffee grinder but a coffee maker with a built-in grinder. She just put in the coffee beans and water, set the filter in the designated spot, and then the magic tool does the rest automatically.

[……So something like this exists huh. No, I personally don’t have the dedication to coffee where I’d adjust the grind myself, so something like this seems more convenient.]

[I agree with you to that, my sworn friend. While I do prefer drinking the Jet-Black Drip, I don’t necessarily have extensive knowledge about it. I enjoy it because of the taste…… and it makes me look cool…… so I do habitually drink it, but while I can detect considerable differences, my palate isn’t sensitive enough to notice subtle differences.]

Honestly, I can totally relate to Amel-san’s perspective; I’m the same way. I enjoy coffee and have my preferences, but I’m not so fuzzy about it that I’d grind beans to the perfect level just to make the best cup.

I can tell how coffee is different to some extent. The coffee Alice brews was incredibly delicious, and drinking it makes me feel a bit moved. But if asked whether I can discern very slight differences in each grind, I’d have to say I honestly can’t.

And so, if I were to make coffee for myself, I’d prefer using a coffee maker. In fact, seeing Amel-san’s coffee maker, I even thought about getting one for myself.

[I guess I’ll bring out some snacks to accompany the coffee then. What would you like, Amel-san?]

[That’s a tough question. If we’re going with the staple, cookies would be the choice, but since the Jet-Black Drip is a bitter drink…… pairing it with something that has a contrasting radiance might be fitting.]

[Indeed, sweet things would pair well with it…… How about chocolates?]

[That would indeed be excellent. Chocolates, while they hold darkness within them, have characteristics opposite to the Jet-Black Drip…… It should harmonize well.]

Pairing the bitter coffee with sweet snacks is a classic combination, and since Amel-san agreed, I took out some chocolate from my magic box.

Incidentally, these chocolates were those that were made by Nebula and are not the kind meant to pair with tea sold by Nifty; it’s chocolate made separately as an ordinary snack.

Soon, the coffee was ready, so we sat at the counter seats as Amel-san requested. Amel-san looked happy and seemed pleased that the counter seats were being put to good use.

[We can’t exactly make a toast with the Jet-Black Drip, but I’m already happy sitting here like this with my sworn friend. Now then, let’s try this new possibility…… Ah, if you’d also like sugar cubes and creamers on your coffee, feel free to use them, my sworn friend.]

[Ah, yes. Thank you.]

While I was thinking of having my first sip of coffee black to start with, Amel-san took three sugar cubes from the jar and stirred them into her coffee.

……She sure added quite a lot. I think adding three sugar cubes would likely make it quite sweet…… but Amel-san seemed satisfied after taking a sip, so she probably drinks it with that much sugar regularly.

Amel-san then reached for the chocolate I prepared, took a bite, and her eyes lit up.

[Delish!? Wow, this is the sweetest and most delicious chocolate I’ve ever had! As expected, my sworn friend really knows about all the tasty stuff———— Hrnn!? Erhem. My sworn friend’s keen eye for finding valuable things always amazes me.]

[Thank you. Those chocolates are……]

Just like that, I spent some time enjoying casual conversation with the consistently happy Amel-san while sipping our coffee.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [In fact, it seems like most people have a preference for coffee at that level. Of course, there are those who are seriously dedicated to authentic coffee on the same level as those sold in cafés but…… Well, if you can enjoy it as a hobby, then it might be worth going all out and thoroughly pursuing it.]