Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Elf and the Coffee Farm (10)
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Coffee cherries, the fruit of the coffee tree, have roughly a six-layer structure from a processing standpoint. There's the exocarp serving as the fruit's outer skin, the fleshy pulp, the mucilage encasing the seed inside the pulp, the parchment—an outer shell around the coffee bean—the silver skin that's removed during roasting, and finally, at the very core, the green bean commonly known as the coffee bean.
Why does this matter? In modern coffee processing, how much of this structure you remove directly affects the coffee's classification.
Ignoring the finer details, you can generally understand it like this: drying the fruit whole is the natural process; removing the exocarp and pulp before drying is pulped natural; removing some of the mucilage and then drying is the honey process; and stripping away all the mucilage to dry just in the parchment is the washed process.
Naturally, the more pulp or mucilage left on, the harder it is to precisely manage the fruit's sugar content, quality, and prevent spoilage during drying—which means it takes more effort and leads to more quality issues.
On the flip side, leaving more pulp or mucilage allows those components to seep into the bean during drying, and the chemical changes from drying and fermentation produce richer flavors.
"So, you want to process the coffee cherries in different ways to vary the flavors?"
"Yes. There are only two places where I can get proper coffee beans, so it's a bit disappointing."
"...I have no idea how you came up with that without ever farming yourself, but it's an interesting idea."
Oh no. Did I get too excited and ramble about something unnecessary?
But what can I do? Even in my past life, I'd visited coffee farms, but the language barrier kept me from getting involved in the work.
Anyway, Ellie seemed to grasp everything I was saying. She picked up a coffee cherry and crushed it in her hand.
Examining the inner structure, she summoned a familiar, then methodically removed the components one by one.
"Hmm. If we just get a few more tools, it seems doable. I'm intrigued if the processing method really changes the taste."
"Right?"
"Lately, I've been feeling a bit stuck in a rut, doing the same things over and over. It was getting boring. How long do you plan to stay here?"
"I haven't set a schedule yet. I came planning to help out with whatever I can."
"I see. Besides what you just mentioned, do you have any other ideas?"
"Not sure how well it'd work, but I was thinking of trying to remove the caffeine—the part that chases away sleep—from the coffee..."
At that, Ellie tilted her head.
I could tell she was wondering why anyone would drink coffee if not for awakening their senses.
I explained it was for people who love the taste but get heart palpitations or can't sleep from the caffeine—yet she didn't seem fully convinced, probably because she didn't know anyone like that.
"Though I'm not even sure if it'll work."
"Still, sounds like you have a method in mind."
"Yes."
In my past life, there was a process called the Swiss Water Process. Simply put, it uses the maximum solubility of certain substances in water.
First, you soak the green beans in hot water to extract all water-soluble components from the coffee until it's saturated. Then, you use activated carbon to remove the caffeine from that water before adding new green beans.
This way, the other components are already saturated and won't dissolve further, preserving the flavors, while only the caffeine—which was removed from the water—is extracted from the new beans.
Of course, since you can't precisely control the activated carbon's properties, there's no guarantee only caffeine gets removed, and you'd need to verify if it's hygienic to use.
I explained the principle as simply as possible, and Ellie looked genuinely curious.
"Were you majoring in alchemy or potion-making originally?"
"Not really."
"Most people wouldn't think of that. Even after hearing it, it sounds worth trying."
She didn't pry deeper, instead leading me further into the farm. Plant-based familiars moved about, tending crops and trees with precision rivaling humans, even handling harvest. It was nothing short of amazing.
Crossing the orchard and fields, we reached a cabin.
"I prepared it for guests and kept it maintained, but no one's come for this purpose in a while, so it might be uncomfortable or missing things. Just tell me, and I'll fix it."
"Ah, thank you."
"Feel free to roam as long as you don't mess with the crops or familiars."
"Got it."
Opening the door revealed a neatly kept room—desk, bed, and a plush chair—proving her words about steady maintenance.
I set my communication orb on the desk, unpacked essentials like clothes, and flopped onto the bed.
Of course, it rang immediately, forcing me back up.
"Yes, I've got the call."
『What's a 'phone'? Anyway, Cafe Manager. You probably guessed from the timing of my call, but His Imperial Majesty has taken an interest.』
"...Is he there with you now?"
『No. He said he'll visit the shop tomorrow, so get ready, then left.』
"What?"
That didn't fit his personality from the original story or his childhood traits.
His sharp mind gave him talents across fields, but as a tradeoff, he saw everyone around him as idiots, acted like a lone wolf with no consideration, and would've barged in immediately if interested.
Had something changed?
"So, what was he like?"
『Surprisingly polite and considerate.』
"Hmm."
Where did that paranoid, irritable temper go?
I thought I was the only change from the original, but I hadn't done anything for the Emperor.
What wind was blowing?
Still, if she wasn't so aggressive, there might be room for negotiation.
"So, what does the Emperor know so far?"
『Urgh. Liza working there for two weeks, you going out alone. And collaborating with Mr. Dras on coffee tools. Sorry.』
"No, it's fine. That could happen. She didn't summon me or demand by name or face, right?"
『Probably?』
"Then we're good."
If she knew I was Julius Lebedev and prepared cards accordingly, it'd be a headache. But if she didn't know exactly who I was, revealing my face might throw her off a bit.
With the right negotiation, maybe I could settle for minor losses without being dragged away, shop shutdown, or deportation to the kingdom.
It had been about three and a half years since I last saw the Emperor. Without knowing what changed since then, my conclusions were limited.
"Anyway, I need time to think it over. Don't worry too much—it's happened already."
I reassured Big Sis Cosetica, who looked a tad crestfallen on the screen, then crawled back into bed.
Considering Alina's confidence in herself and curiosity across fields, she'd likely inspect the stalls and then check the shops too.
Showing off the shop's items would've been smart anyway, but oh well, it ended up like this.
Maybe take a slow stroll and ponder tomorrow's approach.
**
"So, the investigation results are like this."
Alina sat on a sofa in far more comfortable lodgings than a carriage, reading reports from investigators she'd deployed upon arrival and updated midway through her tour.
Slum issues invisible from the city's surface, habitual troublemakers at the Adventurer's Guild with their profiles, taverns frequented by adventurers.
Leimi's arrival in Astraea, shops Dras often visited or sought out, Liza's upbringing, and info on that cafe's manager.
"As expected, Leimi settled here right after leaving the Magic Tower... That old dwarf Dras came so long ago there's barely any notable info—definitely a drunk, though. And Liza's definitely the child of someone who settled here."
Most matched what they'd said, nothing groundbreaking. But the cafe manager had ghost-story-like rumors.
One: The owner braved a brutal winter night alone to reach Astraea.
Two: Despite few customers, the shop never goes under.
Three: Easily beats skilled adventurer thugs but doesn't adventure.
Four: Face prettier than a woman's, but he's a man.
Five: Suspiciously dotes on orphans and widows.
Six: Hides his face when leaving, despite the glass windows exposing it anyway.
Ridiculous tales everywhere—who knew what was fact or filter-worthy?
Well, ridiculously strong with a girly face? I knew one.
"Julius... that'd be perfect."
She'd met him often around his ascension. Even raised in Imir Kingdom's outskirts under a father who prized only force, he cherished the weak and held knowledge across fields.
He deemed everyone idiots, thought no one could follow his ideals and plans—but Julius's ideas were worth her ear.
She even thought imperial reforms would've been underway or done if he were her subject.
He'd hated the Academy and fiancee enough to leave—maybe to the Empire? But exhausted by nobility itself, he hadn't sworn to her.
"Even if that manager is Julius, forcibly dragging or appointing him isn't realistic. In that case..."
The night was long.
Alina racked her brains for a way to gain profit without tantrums or risky politics.