Coffee Noir – Business Detective Game: Maximum Attitude & Prices for Contracts, and Discounts for Interlocutors/Witnesses

This guide shows you which dialog options to select to achieve the highest possible attitude, maximum price for your coffee beans, and maximum discount for interlocutors to decrease investigative costs.

For efficiency, I’ve only listed options to increase attitude or to options to prevent an abrupt end to negotiations. Neutral, negative or single (non-multiple choice) options are not listed.

*IMPORTANT: Make sure you’ve fully researched the customer (found out 2 pieces of information about the customer) before going to each meeting or you might not get the dialog option you need.

And a tip: If you want to explore all dialog options, save the game at two points – at the start of the conversation, and right after you set the initial price/sales margin.

Happy haggling.

This guide has mild spoilers. Proceed at own discretion.

To continue – this guide lists what I selected to get the “Master of negotiation” achievement, and all contracts at 95% or above of the maximum price and the biggest discount I could get for all interlocutor/witness interactions. But no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t quite get 100% attitude/price on all contracts.

Same with the “Outstanding move” achievement (sign a contract with Claribel on very good terms), despite achieving 100% attitude and 100% of the maximum price. Not sure if it’s a bug, since only 0.4% of players at this time of writing have the achievement.

If you were able to fully 100% any of the ones I couldn’t, get the “Outstanding move” achievement or if you find any mistakes in this guide – please comment, it would be very helpful!

Achieves: 100% attitude | 100% maximum price

• Get right down to business
• Give a compliment about the aroma in the cafe

Set product unit price to 604 GBP / sales margin to 63.91%

• Mention the product’s quality
• Propose altering the contract to suit the client

Achieves: 100% attitude | 100% maximum price

• Ask about studying at the London School of Economics
• Congratulate him on the birth of his daughter
• Get to business
• Loosely present the product
• Keep listening
• Interrupt – comment on Joseph’s joke and return to the sales pitch

Set product unit price to 1025 GBP / sales margin to 64.98%

• Talk about the problems of a beginner salesperson – mention Joseph’s youth (role reversal)
• Ask if Joseph has any doubts of needs to consult it with anyone – emphasise that he isn’t the one that should have any
• Uncover Joseph’s bluff about his boss

• Introduce yourself, expressing your delight at meeting van Haven’s “famous” home help
• Get to business

• Introduce yourself and promise to be discreet
• Ask about his relations with Claribel
• Get to business
• Ask about the picture Richard gave to Joseph
• Ask about the size of the picture and what it shows
• Find out more about what happened to the picture

Achieves: 100% attitude | 100% maximum price

• Begin the conversation with some small talk, ask about George’s travels, business and future plans
• Ask about George’s theatrical past
• Ask about Richard Kersey
• Propose a personalised offer for the product
• Let George continue
• Interrupt – refer to George’s words and go back to the sales pitch

Set product price at 1362 GBP / sales margin at 57.42%

• Try to get into George’s good books (tactic of complementing)
• Pretend you aren’t sure what terms you can offer as you prepared the deal together with someone else (wolf in sheep’s clothing)
• Delay George by offering him the coffee album you were given as a present by Claribel (apparent concession)

• Introduce yourself directly
• Ask if he doesn’t miss the rush of working at Scotland Yard
• Ask about George McFowl

Achieves: 100% attitude | 100% maximum price

• Set out the aim of your visit and propose a product promotion strategy
• Ask about when she studied in London
• Ask about Haga, Gothenburg’s coffee district
• Move on
• Set out the benefits resulting from your innovative promotional strategy
• Encourage cooperation through timely deliveries of supplies
• Compliment Soroté’s success and steer the discussion towards business

Set product price at 1592 GBP / sales margin at 52.32%

• Tell Britt that a chain store of similar renown is offering better terms and your social contacts have enabled you to set up a meeting with them to discuss terms (false BATNA)
• Agree with Britt and tell her you’re only taking baby steps in the industry (wolf in sheep’s clothing) – put the onus on Britt to construct the offer, appealing to her greater experience
• Stress that relations are the key to success in business and propose 7% (generalisation, exaggeration technique)
• Present Britt with the details for an eco-friendly campaign designed for Soroté (competitiveness tactic)

• Introduce yourself and compliment Mrs Gammalkvist on her appearance
• Ask how often her daughter visits
• Ask how much it costs to stay

Achieves: 100% attitude | 99% maximum price

• Introduce yourself confidently and assess Baptiste’s taste by commenting on his tie
• Ask about the success of Baptiste’s cafe, the Black Mug
• Continue
• Ask Baptiste about his vision for the company
• Keep listening
• Praise Baptiste’s idea and ask how he plans to develop it

Set product price at 1621 GBP / sales margin at 41.7%

• Play the role of someone new to business, who’s impressed by Baptiste’s success – ask about his vision for implementing the idea (wolf in sheep’s clothing)
• Tell Baptiste you love the idea, but you don’t have enough funds at the moment to meet his terms (empty wallet)
• Suggest collaborating with Soroté as a partner of the new range and ask Baptiste to consider giving a 17% discount (benefactor-before-beggar)
• Decide it’s not worth digging into the reasons for the mutual dislike – appeal to their professionalism and stick to your idea (valuation technique)
• Propose organising a pop-up cafe event at the new stall promoting the Black Mug’s new offer

• Introduce yourself and try to reassure Amanda

Note on food menu options: There are supposed to be two achievements for picking either the most expensive or cheapest option for all courses, but I can’t seem to unlock these achievements.

• Ask if Joseph had been having any problems
• Ask for the real reason for her dislike of the Kerseys (the damaged photo of Katherine and the card found in Richard’s mouth)
• Ask Amanda what she does for a living

Achieves: 100% attitude | 99% maximum price

• Introduce yourself and apologise for being late
• Check the gossip surrounding Gabriel
• Go back to your sales pitch
• Criticise greedy London businessmen
• Continue listening

Set product price at 1862 GBP / sales margin at 42.48%

• Refer to Gabriel’s words and recall your earlier conversations with business partners, criticising how closed the market is, and the burden of business conventions
• Explain to Gabriel that in return for a really large order, you can offer him some free sacks of coffee (future benefits tactic)
• Disclose your business tactic to Gabriel – imply that you never show all your cards in any conversation and offer a 28% discount
• Admit your lack of negotiating experience to Gabriel (wolf in sheep’s clothing) – suggest that your business partner advised you to offer free samples
• Agree but tell Gabriel that non-standard services cost more – reduce the discount to 21%
• Suggest to Gabriel that it’s a bad idea and that by agreeing to it, you are exposing him to losses
• Threaten Gabriel that you will end negotiations if he doesn’t change his attitude – stick at 21% (vice technique)

Achieves: 90% attitude | 97% maximum price. This was the highest attitude I could get, but it still unlocks the “Master of negotiation” achievement. Probable bug.

• Greet Coralie, kissing her hand [-OR-] Introduce yourself and congratulate Coralie on the organisation of the company banquet which you attended
• Ask about when she studied journalism
• Continue
• Flirt with Coralie and explain the benefits of working together
• Boast about your company’s reliable deliveries
• Ask about the benefits of collaborating with Coralie’s company

Set product price at 1759 GBP / sales margin at 48.83%

• Tell about the individual terms of cooperation and speak about the benefits of the new logistics system, slightly bending the truth
• Praise Coralie, claiming you are certain she has more experience than you – offer to take her for lunch (tactic of complementing)

Achieves: 92% attitude | 122% maximum price. Yes, you read that right.

• Bow and wait for Hitomi to make the first move [-OR-] Introduce yourself and ask Hitomi if she plans to go to the Art House exhibition
• Show interest in the painting hanging behind Hitomi
• Draw attention to the books in Hitomi’s office – initiate a discussion of literature
• Tell Hitomi about the future strategy you’d like to achieve together with Grind, demonstrating your planning ability
• Boast about your familiarity with Grind’s future plans and suggest how you could improve them
• Refer to your experience in time management and suggest going back to talking business

Set product price at 2158 GBP / sales margin at 53.06%

• Offer 40% free delivery and new product support in the form of original promotion ideas (the “but that’s not all” tactic)
• Tell Hitomi about the number of full imperfections in your beans and put forward an idea for a promotion
• Propose production of luxury coffee under the Grind brand
• Offer Hitomi the production of personalised, elegant packaging for Grind

• Ask the exact time of death
• Ask how the incident happened

Achieves: 92% attitude | 98% of maximum price. Still works for the “Master of negotiation” achievement.

• Greet Tom with a handshake and ask what he would like to know about your company [-OR-] Say hello and initiate a detailed conversation about tendencies on the futures markets
• Show you are familiar with Marvey’s books
• Ask Tom to describe the ideal bean
• Carry on listening
• Refer to Tom’s story and begin your sales pitch

Set product price at 1888 GBP / sales margin at 37.34%

• Explain that you use two suppliers, and for Tom you’ve chose coffee from Colombia
• Tell Tom that he’ll get the certificate along with the first delivery and add that each delivery will be tested by a professional
• Tell Marvey you’ve received exceptionally large beans from the plantation – size 20
• Reply that on account of the torrential rains in Colombia, the beans in your coffee are moist and the number of full imperfections is 4
• Promise to prepare the certificate
• Declare that the coffee will be delivered in a week, and add that the beans ordered by Tom will have waited in the plantation stores for a maximum of 2 months
• Surprise Tom with your specialist knowledge of the standards demanded of futures contracts and tell him about how the beans are stored

Achieves: 88% attitude | 96% of maximum price. Still works for the “Master of negotiation” achievement.

• Say hello, being first to offer your hand, and introduce yourself [-OR-] Say hello and praise the dish of the day in Disingrediation
• Ask about the success of the bar in Chicago
• Ask Jordan about his vision for the development of Disingrediation
• Rtefer to opinions about Jordan’s business skills
• Present a rough draft of an agreement to Jordan

Set product price at 3383 GBP / sales margin at 60.27%

• Delay Jordan, offering him improved coffee supplies based on a certification system using known samplers
• Offer Jordan delivery of coffee in the sacks used in the futures contract market
• Offer Jordan an investment in more expensive coffee from a trusted plantation – more resistant to damage from bad transport
• Suggest Disingrediation introduce a bonus system forthe best suplies
• Offer to look after the delivery of coffee to Disingrediation as a sub-contractor

There’s no way to change their attitude, it’s all single choices.

Note: For Francesco, you can only research one detail about him, not two.

Achieves: 100% attitude | 95% of maximum price.

• Wait for Francesco to start the conversation
• Pass on greetings form your boss’ family
• Tell about the values that guide you in business
• Make a balanced offer that will make both parties profitable
• Offer beans from the plantation with which your company has been cooperating from the beginning of its operation
• Go to the offer

Set product price at 4300 GBP / sales margin at 67.44%

• Express your surprise and admiration for the momentum of Francesco’s ideas
• Ask Francesco for details of the idea
• Pre-agree to sell the company
• Tell about your collaboration with Tom
• Tell about working with Hitomi
• Agree with Francesco’s opinion and talk about working with Gabriel and offer 10% discount

There’s no way to change their attitude, it’s all single choices.