Chapter 365: Accusing The Judges
Lauren gave a subtle nod to no one in particular as she wondered what the man had squeezed into her hand
She hurried over to the store to see what it was the man had given her.
At the store, she opened her palm and saw that it was a note.
"I hope you love the gift, Ren. Second drawer in your corner."
Only one person called her Ren, so she knew who the note was from even though there was no na attached.
She quickly went to the location and her eyes widened in shock, there it was! The much sought after Geisha beans.
There was not much ti left to be too touched by George’s tily intervention and she hurried off to et her teammates.
They sprang into action at the speed of light, and adjusted their brewing process imdiately.
The Geisha beans had a different flavor profile, but Lauren was ecstatic as she knew sothing more groundbreaking than what had happened the second day of the competition was brewing.
As the clock wound down to 2pm, the coordinator signaled that it was ti for the judges and on-sight viewers to taste and pass their judgnt.
Lauren and her team looked up in excitent. They had managed to beat the ti by just ten seconds to the countdown.
Each team’s signature drink was carefully poured and distributed to the judges and on-site viewers and instantly, the air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Starting with Silk and steam, their leader, Marco, stepped forward first. His team had crafted a bold blend from Colombian beans, known for their rich, full-bodied flavor.
The first judge took a sip and nodded appreciatively. "This has a robust flavor profile, with deep chocolate notes and a hint of walnut. Very well executed."
The second judge chid in, "The acidity is sharp but balanced, giving it a clean finish. A solid effort, Silk and Stream."
Two more judges also tasted and gave their remarks.
After evaluating Silk and a steam, Cafe Solstice was called and Peggy stepped forward with a bold smile.
Their team presented a complex blend using Ethiopian beans, aiming to impress with its intricate flavor layers.
The first judge took a sip and smiled. "There’s a delightful burst of berry notes, with a smooth, wine-like acidity. It’s vibrant and engaging."
Likewise the second judge praised their drink. "The body is rich, and the flavors are well-integrated. This is a strong contender, Café Solstice ."
Peggy bead, confident in her team’s performance.
The third and fourth judge also gave their assessnt. Each evaluation caused Peggy’s smile to widen than the previous.
She was sure that she was the winner. After all, she had tampered with Lauren’s beans and there is no way she would be able to co up with sothing worth tasting with what she had replaced their beans with.
She was so sure Empress Brew was dood to fail this ti around.
The last but not the least was Empress Brew and as the leader of the team, Lauren stepped forward to make the Presentation
The judges took their cups, inhaling the aromatic steam before taking their first sips.
The first judge did sothing dramatic as he directly closed his eyes, savoring the taste.
"Exquisite. The floral notes are so prominent, with a delicate hint of jasmine and a bright citrus acidity that dances on the tongue. There’s a smooth, lingering finish of bergamot and honey. Truly remarkable."
The second judge, a woman, who was a technical expert, was sohow ticulous in her evaluation. She swirled the coffee in her mouth, analyzing the balance and body. And soon enough, her expression shifted from curiosity to admiration.
"The acidity is perfectly balanced, neither too sharp nor too llow," she comnted, nodding appreciatively.
"The mouthfeel is creamy, almost silky, enhancing the complex flavor profile. Each sip reveals another layer of flavor, which clearly showcases the precise roasting and brewing thods. It is a masterful execution," the third judge said.
The fourth judge, Mr Khan, who had not bothered to taste from the other two teams, took a generous sip and imdiately bead. He set his cup down, eyes wide with excitent. "As expected of Empress Brew, this is Phenonal!" he exclaid, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
"The depth of flavor is astonishing. I can taste tropical fruit notes like mango and papaya, intertwined with a sweet, caral-like undertone. It’s vibrant and refreshing, yet incredibly smooth. This coffee tells a story with every sip."
The judges exchanged glances, their expressions unanimous in their approval.
The onsite viewers who had the chance to taste the brew shared similar sentints, when they tasted Empress Brew’s coffee. Murmurs of admiration filled the air as people discussed the unique flavor profile and the skill evident in Empress Brew’s creation.
Contrary to what had happened during Cafe Solstice’s presentation, with each assessnt on Empress Brew’s brew, Peggy’s face darkened by several degrees.
She clenched her fists by her side and she glared at Lauren who had a triumphant smile on her face as she stared back at her.
From the unanimous approval from the judges and the on-sight viewers, the host stepped forward to address the room.
"Ladies and gentlen, it is clear that Empress Brew has delivered an exceptional cup of coffee. The judges and on-sight viewers are unanimous in their praise for the Geisha beans’ nuanced flavor profile and the skillful execution by Lauren and her team. This is a truly morable mont in our competition." He paused briefly.
Peggy’s confident deanor faltered inexplicably as she heard the overwhelming praise for Empress Brew and before the host could declare the winner for that challenge, she couldn’t hold back her frustration any longer and cried out.
"This is ridiculous! They’re clearly lying. There’s no way her coffee could be that good."
Everywhere went silent and one could even hear a pin drop from the silence that ensued.
Not long after, a murmur broke out. At the sa ti, strange looks ranging from shock to confusion, to disdain and even pity were thrown in Peggy’s direction as the murmurings continued.
"Did she just accuse the judges of being biased?"
"It’s is outright slander."
"What is wrong with Ms Carter? Is she okay?"
"She doesn’t appear so."
While everyone was still questioning Peggy’s ntal state, Lauren turned to Peggy, her expression calm but inquisitive.
"Why are you so sure we don’t deserve the praise they’re giving us?" Her voice was loud and authoritative enough to be heard above the murmurings and everywhere went quiet again to listen.
Yes, they also wanted to know why it looked as if Peggy was over-reacting when it ca to Empress Brew.
Peggy’s face turned red as she stamred, "I-I just know! It’s impossible for your coffee to be that good."
Lauren’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why is it impossible? Is it because you did sothing that made you so sure we used the wrong beans to brew?"
Peggy’s face drained of color. For a mont, she was speechless, her mind racing for an excuse. "I... I an, it’s just unlikely," she finally said, her voice faltering.
Seemingly unconvinced, Lauren held Peggy’s gaze. "What exactly did you do, Peggy?"
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