Chapter 83: Coffee (2)

Making an espresso machine wasn't difficult.

In the past life, complex principles might have been necessary, but in this world, there exists a supernatural ability called 'magic.'

The core principle of espresso, 'steam compression,' could easily be implemented like magic.

You just needed to use the two-stage overlapping magic formula that follows the 'vapor-compression' principle.

However, producing and mass-producing it in the form of a magical tool required an enormous initial investment.

Making it so that ordinary people can use the magic that wizards use wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Fortunately, it was resolved thanks to the generous support of the Second Princess.

As promised, she generously donated the enormous sum of ten million gold to the White Tower.

The espresso magic tools produced under the sponsorship of the Second Princess were placed in pubs and bakeries on a rental basis.

And thus, the 'Americano' is made.

"Eww, gross!"

"Ugh, it's not good."

"Why would you drink this?"

It flopped spectacularly right after its release.

People did not understand the bitterness of Americano and could not find a reason to buy coffee with money.

This was something that could be easily understood when considering the history of coffee's development.

The fundamental reason why coffee from the past could spread widely in Europe is that the conditions in Europe at the time were such that coffee had to be sold.

Europe had poor water quality, making it unsuitable for drinking, so people used wine and beer as substitutes for drinking water.

Since there were no alternative drinks to replace alcohol, coffee, the first alternative drink to appear, was bound to succeed.

Unlike alcohol, which frequently caused accidents, coffee didn't have any significant side effects.

The 'first-mover' effect played a significant role in establishing coffee as a popular beverage.

On the other hand, the water quality in the Empire was not as severe as it had been in Europe in the past.

In this world where magic exists, finding unpolluted water wasn't relatively difficult, and above all, carbonated drinks, a 'substitute beverage,' were commonly available.

BoliCola, Pure Cola, Cider, Welch's, etc., sweet and tasty alternative drinks were readily available.

It seemed almost impossible for coffee, the 'bitter water,' to surpass these carbonated drinks and capture the taste of the Empire's citizens.

However, coffee didn't sell well only during its initial release, and before long, it started flying off the shelves.

"Fill this container with Americano."

"Three 2-liter bottles of Americano, please make them very cold."

Every morning on their way to work, bureaucrats and robed wizards stood in long lines to buy Americanos.

"Stop taking so long and hurry up. Can't you see everyone waiting behind you?"

"Which department are you in?"

The awakening effect of not being able to sleep after drinking an Americano became widely known, leading to its explosive popularity among night shift workers.

They sought out Americano not for its taste, but for survival.

"Ugh, my head is spinning."

"But you have to drink it..."

Morning and evening, weary bureaucrats, clutching their Americanos, headed to the palace.

Of course, Snoopy, which was tastier than an Americano became a bigger topic of conversation.

"Huff, s-s-Snoopy is here!"

"Where! Where!? Ugh!"

Due to the powerful strength that doesn't let you sleep and the Snoopy that comes to wake you up even if you do, Americano gained popularity as it was relatively less burdensome.

Seeing bureaucrats with dark circles under their eyes, holding an Americano as they pass by, has become a common sight in the capital.

Early coffee was established not for its taste but as a beverage to ward off sleep and enhance work efficiency.

"How do you drink this bitter beverage?"

"My life is so bitter that I can't even drink Americano."

"...."

Of course, due to its unique bitterness, there are still many who don't understand it, making the Americano a drink with strong preferences for and against.

However, it was true that the capital became more vibrant with the birth of the Americano.

"Are you having an Americano again today?"

"Haha, so you're still adding sugar to your milk today, huh?"

The bureaucrats and wizards, who usually had no contact with each other, became acquainted through the coffee shop.

"If you're not in a hurry, why don't you sit down and have a chat?"

"Sure, which tower are you working at?"

"I'm affiliated with the Blue Tower."

"Ah, so you make holy water..."

"Right, that's my job."

They leisurely enjoyed coffee and had a conversation during lunch break.

A bakery that simply sold coffee has transformed into a 'coffee house' where people can drink coffee and have conversations.

The birth of these coffee houses became a venue for people from all walks of life to meet and interact.

"I became an apprentice at a Dwarven Forge..."

"Oh, that's impressive!"

"Haha, it's not like it's excellent or anything. Just getting by day by day, you know."

It also became a wellspring of knowledge for each person to learn about fields and worlds they were previously unfamiliar with.

"Don't be ridiculous! War is not fought simply with swords and magic!"

"So what is war then?"

"Can't you see the Cornel Kingdom incident? What is important for national power is precisely culture!"

People met through coffee houses, built friendships, and sometimes engaged in heated debates.

People from completely different social classes met and developed into lovers and friends.

This was possible because, unlike the 'high society' where only the upper class gathered, the coffeehouse was a popular and open space that allowed not only intellectuals but also common people to frequent.

Due to a single cup of Americano coffee, a 'community' was being formed in the imperial society.

"Hehe, this is interesting."

Princess Christina, the Second Princess, quietly smiled as she observed the interactions of those people.

"Is it permissible for royalty to come out and drink like this?"

"What's the big deal, no one recognizes me anyway."

"Isn't there such a thing as 'what if'?"

"Then can't you just protect me?"

"I can't do things like fighting, but... Perhaps the princess will have to protect me."

"Asking the princess to guard you, how audacious of you."

I looked at the Second Princess, who was holding her coffee cup with a slight smile, with newfound admiration.

The Second Princess was indeed a fascinating woman.

More authoritative than anyone else, yet sometimes more easygoing than anyone else.

If I were the First Princess or the Third Prince, I wouldn't have been able to freely come and go in such an open space.

Should I call the act of entering such a space without any escort bold or reckless...?

The woman who was utterly unpredictable was none other than the Second Princess.

By the way.

"How about an Americano?"

"It's bitter and even astringent. If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, but they even diluted it with water, making the flavor drop."

"Is that so?"

"It would be better to drink water with lime in it."

"...."

At the sharp criticism from the Second Princess, I scratched my cheek.

I thought I would get praise for drinking well without saying much, but instead, I only received criticism.

But why is that?

"Just as I thought, it's not to my taste."

Even while criticizing the Americano, the Second Princess couldn't take it out of her mouth. A faint smile even formed at the corners of her mouth.

And.

"But it seems like I'll be coming here often."

She walked around the coffee house, smiling. With a very satisfied expression.

"...."

She was indeed an unpredictable woman.

*

At first, the Americano was noted for its stimulating effect, but it became known to the public through 'coffee houses.'

The 'coffeehouse,' where people from various fields gathered to chat, was a type of place that could not be found in the previous Empire.

This form of interaction gained popularity among the citizens of the Empire, and coffee began to be recognized not just as a drink for awakening but as a beverage for sharing knowledge with one another.

However, coffee's popularity was similarly obstructed by the wall of 'awareness.'

"Aren't coffee cherries the devil's fruit that Samarians eat?"

"Drinking the beverage that devils drink feels awkward."

"This awakening effect might actually be the work of the devil."

The people who drank coffee were the Samarians, who settled in the east of the Empire.

With brown skin and red eyes, they were called the spawn of devils by the Empire's citizens because of their different skin color and their denial of the Heavenly Lord.

And when it became known that the coffee they traditionally drink and Americano actually share the same 'coffee cherry,' the coffeehouse saw a decline in visitors.

"Coffee is a drink of the heathens!"

"I can't let the demon's bitter poison spread across the continent!"

The coffee house that the Second Princess loved was in constant uproar due to the priests causing a commotion.

And there was someone who questioned this commotion.

"Hmm, is that all?"

Pope Paul XIII.

He couldn't understand the sudden change in people's reactions overnight.