Feeling slightly embarrassed, Eva stuck out her tongue playfully and added two sugar cubes to her coffee.

Observing the two charming young women, Wern’s initial reservations about his business trip vanished completely. He offered a polite compliment, saying, “The coffee here is superb, with a rich, mellow flavor. It brings back memories of a café I used to frequent in Lanster with my friends.”

“Espresso is unique.” Estelle started talking about coffee because Wern seemed to be ...