Volume 6 Chapter 12: Macao Beans

"What are you planning to do, Keith?" Ange was quite curious. The two weren't working. Right now, Keith was standing with Helen behind the counter. He said he was going to repay Helen for the drink. Whatever Keith planned, it would be interesting.

"I'm going to make this drink more flavorful and delicious." Keith asked Helen, "Owner, how do you usually prepare this drink?" He wanted to know first.

"I usually crush the beans, pour water, and mix it until it turns black," Helen explained.

"I see." So that's how she does it. Keith smiled, "I'll show you another way to make your drink." Keith quickly looked at the bean. These were called Macao beans. However, he knew what these were; coffee beans.

It has been so long! He had been trying to find coffee beans for quite some time now! Yet, there were no descriptions of it in books. Just the thought made his head hurt, but he shook it.

Back to work. The first thing needed was to grind the coffee beans down. Good consistency.

With the beans ground down into the texture he wanted, Keith took out a cloth.

"Are you planning to filter the drink?" Ange questioned.

"That's correct, Beautiful Senior. One way to remove the drink's grittiness is to strain it. A cloth would be perfect." Pour-over coffee. It uses a filter to make it. However, a cloth will do fine for now.

"Ehe," Ange grinned when she heard the compliment.

"What do you need to do next, Keith?" Helen was curious.

"The next step will be to hydrate the coffee before we pour more water in." Hydrating the coffee would make extraction simpler. Pouring a small amount of water, he let the ground soak.

"And now you pour the rest of the water," Keith poured the rest of the water in. Slowly, liquid dripped down from the cloth and into the cup.

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"And we're done." Keith placed two cups in front of the two. They looked down,

"This looked nothing like the one I made before." The one Helen made was similar in color. However, it was murky. Anyone could tell it was a mix of water and Macao beans. The one in front of her now was dark black in color.

"Please have a taste," Keith smiled as he gestured the two. When the two drank.

"Oh, my!" "It's really smooth." Helen and Ange were astonished by the taste of the coffee. Keith made himself a cup as well. Much better. Besides the enhanced rich flavors from the beans, there was a smoothness that made it easier to drink.

"This drink is really delicious, young man!" Helen couldn't believe the macao beans could be made like this.

"You can also change the flavors if you seep the beans longer or add more. Also, you can add other things to change it." Keith explained. There were many different ways to change the flavor profile of coffee.

"Young man, how do you know so much?" The owner was surprised by Keith's vast knowledge. Wasn't this the first time he drank this?

"That's because I cook. I run a cart a bit farther away from here." Keith scratched his head.

"A cart?" The owner thought about it, and it hit her, "Wait! Do you mean the famous cart, Eden, that was opened up recently?"

"That's the one." His cart was the only one that had opened recently.

"I've been meaning to go there and try!" The cart was famous; however, there was always a long line.

"Hmm? Junior, did you open up a cart?" This was the first time Ange had heard about this. That caused Helen to frown,

"Ange, how have you not heard about it? That cart sells delicious food! From what I heard, it's otherwordly!"

Keith laughed wryly, "I don't think my food is that delicious." That was some high praise coming from her. But if he thought about it, what she said made sense. His food did break the conventional way of thinking.

"Then I will have to go there and try!" Hearing Helen's words, how could she not?

"That's great." Keith smiled, "Also, about this drink. If your customers find it hard to drink, try adding milk or cream."

"Milk?"

"Mmhmm. Milk really helps bring out the flavors. Not only that, it adds an extra layer of smoothness." Kinda want a frother. I wonder if Dalen could make me one?

"Owner, you have some right?"

"Of course! Please try it out," Helen handed the milk over to them. The dark color slowly turned dark brown.

"It's more fragrant." "Indeed."

"Will this work for you, Owner?"

"Of course!" The owner nodded her head. With this, she was sure it would become a hit for her menu.

"Let's return to work, Senior," Keith remembered his objective. It was to help Ange with her work.

"Don't remind me," Ange groaned, and like that, the two started to work again.