Ok, stubble not good. But it's better than a goatee. Anytime better. And anyway, not like I'm gonna have any stubble trouble.
And with all the news editor's wiles and bullying, the coffee machine scored a small, little victory thanks to its 'soothing' properties. So why did coffee man offer that explanation to news editor? I prefer to think of it as a polite explanation and a no thank you to an underlying invitation from the news editor waiting with his better coffee cup in hand.