As You Like It

This morning I finally made coffee for my wife after a long time1, using my brand new kettle for a drip brew. A technique that any purist would probably shudder at, but no purist were in the room when I made it so I'm ignoring that2. As I brought it to her in bed, she asked me if I put in sugar; I answered that I didn't and I'd do it right away, but that maybe first she'd like to taste it without. As I anticipated, it was "not as bitter" and, while a bit of sugar would've been more to her taste, she preferred to take it without this time. I see it as a kind of problem-solving: what can it be done to make something that you like a certain way to still be enjoyable in a different one, making you discover another side of it, or maybe just appreciating more your specific preference? It's different from pushing "the right way" or "just another one" because there's understanding behind. It's "have you tried this different way? It has X instead of Y, serving the same purpose, what difference…