20 The True Taste of the Ultimate Cup of Joe

Tom choked on the joke he was about to make about the price.

"I'm sorry," Alan said. "At the moment I haven't figured out a way to properly ensure that the experience of drinking my coffee will maintain its quality as takeaway coffee. Please do understand."

Alan had thought long and hard about this excuse ever since the system told him about the new rule. He was pretty proud of it actually, and he kept a straight face as he said it.

Tom suddenly felt like he'd made a bad decision helping Alan get his own cafe.

"Alan, come on, can't you make an exception? Think of how much I helped you." Tom tried.

Alan hesitated, he really did owe Tom a lot. However, as he did so the system spoke up. "Host, as a reminder, the rules are non-negotiable. As the future owner of the world's most luxurious cafe you must be even handed in how you deal with all customers be they family, friends, or strangers."

Alan sighed internally, but remained calm on the surface. "No can do Tom. You know how I am about my rules."

Tom muttered something about him being a square under his breath before saying, "Fine, just get me a coffee."

He felt somewhat disgruntled at this point.

Alan went to make him his coffee.

When he came back, the smell hit Tom instantly and made his mouth water. It was like the best sip of coffee he ever had bottled and sprayed in the air. He stared at the steaming cup of coffee heading his way.

He chose to seat himself at the bar. If he was going to stick around he wanted to at least be able to talk to Alan while he did it.

He lifted the coffee to his mouth in anticipation, letting the wonderful smell waft upwards, stimulating his sense of smell and making his mouth water.

He carefully sipped at it.

The coffee was hot, and slightly burned his tongue, but Tom didn't care. If his first time tasting Alan's coffee had been an awakening to the difference between good and bad coffee, then this time was an awakening to how good coffee could be.

He couldn't restrain himself and lifted the coffee for another sip despite the pain on his tongue.

Alan watched, feeling satisfied by the look on Tom's face. "Well, it's worth $20 right?"

Tom didn't stop drinking the coffee and just nodded.

He drank the coffee in the span of a couple of minutes.

Afterwards he sat for a moment before saying to Alan, "I had my doubts, but you proved once again that you know how to make an unparalleled cup of coffee. Even if I have to come here and sit every day in order to drink it, I would come here."

Alan nodded, accepting the praise.

Tom continued. "I don't suppose there's anyway I could-"

Before he could go any further, Alan cut him off. "No seconds. You know the rule. If you want another cup of coffee come back in 6 hours."

Tom put on a look like he'd been dealt a grievous wound. Still, he got up contentedly and went off to work.

Alan took the cup and put it in the dishwasher in the kitchen.

Then he came back out and waited for more customers to come in.

And waited. And waited.

Before long, it was noon, and he had still only had one customer: Tom.

Just as he was despairing, a woman in a pantsuit came inside. She looked distracted, reading a document in her hands, and just said, without looking up, "Get me a coffee please."

Alan hesitated but then cleared his throat and said, "Ma'am, first maybe you should take a look at our prices."

The woman looked up at him irritatedly before looking at the prices. She stiffened in shock, but recovered quickly. She eyed him doubtfully.

Part of her suspected he was a scam artist. However, this cafe looked very well put together. Furthermore, he'd even warned her about the price when he could have just served her coffee and demanded payment.

She opened her mouth and said, "It's fine. In fact, get me a cup of cappuccino."

Alan opened his mouth to agree, but as he did so the system spoke again.

"Attention Host. You have met the requirement to learn of another rule. Cappuccino may only be served after 3:00 PM. It is meant to be a drink to help wind down from the rest of the day. Serving it earlier will not deliver the same luxurious experience."

Alan's mouth closed with an audible clack. He ground his teeth momentarily in frustration. The system dropped this rule on him now?