After approximately 3 minutes, Kenji pressed down on the plunger of a French press, then gently poured the freshly brewed black tea into a glass cup. The combination of bergamot oil infused during the brewing process created a delightful aroma of lemony citrus with a floral undertone, awakening the senses of anyone who caught a whiff.
But his tea-making process didn't end there.
He added a dash of semi-skimmed milk to the same cup, transforming the liquid from a beautiful orange hue to a creamy light beige.
Setting the mug down, he glanced to his right and looked at Sakamoto, who was holding a notebook and a pencil.
"Try it," Kenji invited, nudging the glass cup toward the high school student.
"Oh, okay…," replied Sakamoto.
Setting aside his notebook and pencil, he then lifted the cup to his nose. He took in the aroma before cautiously sipping the still-hot tea, allowing the creamy concoction to linger on his taste buds.
After savouring the flavour for a moment, Kenji asked, "The other day, you mentioned you used to drink it without milk. So, what do you think now?"
"Well… I prefer it without milk," admitted Sakamoto, setting the glass cup down on the bar counter while he continued to analyse the taste. "The tea is creamier and mellower without the milk, but when it's added, the lemony scent gets somewhat overpowered."
"That's because Earl Grey is traditionally served without milk since it's made from black tea. Besides, bergamot oil doesn't mix well with dairy."
"Eh?"
"It can cause the milk to curdle, and as you said, the distinct lemony scent diminishes."
"But many people prefer it with milk, right?"
Kenji reached for a fresh glass cup and the French press, repeating the process by pouring tea into the empty cup.
While doing so, he explained, "Whether or not to add milk comes down to personal preference. However, if someone prefers milk with their Earl Grey, they should reduce the amount of bergamot oil and drizzle the brewed tea into the cup of milk instead."
"Ah, that's different from what you did earlier."
"Yes, that method can indeed cause the milk to curdle. Steeping the tea separately allows the milk to heat gradually."
"I see…"
Sakamoto jotted down some notes in his notebook, eager not to miss any details. Meanwhile, Kenji handed him another cup of Earl Grey, this time without milk.
He then asked, "What about you, Ueda-san? Do you prefer it with or without milk?"
"With milk," Kenji replied.
"Oh, wow… I didn't expect that," Sakamoto remarked, offering an awkward grin.
Kenji smiled, looking toward the entrance as the door opened, and the doorbell chimed, announcing someone's arrival.
It was Yuuji.
The boy had a charming smile on his face, and his gaze fixed ahead as he made his way to the bar counter. As Yuuji drew nearer, Sakamoto brought the teacup to his lips.
At that moment, a subtle, almost unnoticed smile played on Sakamoto's face as he remarked, "I guess one's taste can't be judged solely by their appearance."