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Before the Coffee Gets Cold

By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Series: Before the Coffee Gets Cold
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.67 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 627,310 ratings, 86,669 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is set in a quaint Tokyo café where patrons can travel back in time, albeit with strict rules and limitations. The narrative explores the lives of four visitors, each seeking a unique moment from their past, revealing poignant stories of love, regret, and hope. The experience is bound by one simple condition: they must return to the present before their coffee gets cold.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This may appeal to you if you are drawn to tales of time travel woven with emotional depth and a touch of magic. Set in a quaint café, it explores the bittersweet possibilities of reliving past moments while highlighting the human connections that define us. If you appreciate stories where heartfelt character interactions and poignant reflection take centre stage, this might be a delightful read for you.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A beautiful, moving story about a small Japanese cafe that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time, to find an answer to the question: what would you do if you could go back? For fans of The Guest Cat and If Cats Disappeared from the World.

A beautiful, moving story about a small Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time, to find an answer to the question: what would you change if you could go back?

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café's time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, see their sister one last time, and meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.

But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold...

Toshikazu Kawaguchi's beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?

Series: Before the Coffee Gets Cold

View all
  • Alex’s Pick
    On Sale
    20% off
    Before the Coffee Gets Cold
    Step into a quaint little café tucked away in a narrow alley in Tokyo, where the aroma of meticulously brewed coffee has been delighting patrons for over a hundred years. This is no ordinary coffee shop; it offers an extraordinary experience: the chance to travel back in time. Before the Coffee Gets Cold introduces us to a spellbinding narrative centred...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1600
    Usually:
    $1999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    19% off
    Lizzy's Pick Lizzy's Pick
    Tales from the Cafe
    In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time... From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    14% off
    Before We Forget Kindness
    In the fifth book in the sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, the mysterious café where customers arrive hoping to travel in time welcomes four new guests: The father who could not allow his daughter to get married A woman who couldn't give Valentine's Day chocolates to her loved one A boy who wants to show his smile to...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
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    Before Your Memory Fades
    The third novel in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, a true global sensation – now in a gorgeous, decorative special edition. On the hillside of Mount Hakodate in northern Japan, Cafe Donna Donna is fabled for its dazzling views of Hakodate port. But that’s not all. Like the charming Tokyo cafe Funiculi Funicula, Cafe Donna Donna offers its...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
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    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
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    Ships today
  • On Sale
    27% off
    Before I Knew I Loved You
    The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
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    Ships today
  • Before We Say Goodbye
    On Sale
    14% off
    Before We Say Goodbye
    The million-copy bestselling series Toshikazu Kawaguchi's poignant Before We Say Goodbye, translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot, explores the age-old question: what would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time? The regulars at the magical Cafe Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with its famous legend...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Before Your Memory Fades
    Before Your Memory Fades
    The third novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, following four new customers in a cafe where customers can travel back in time. In northern Japan, overlooking the spectacular view Hakodate Port has to offer, Cafe Donna Donna has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Before I Knew I Loved You
    The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Before We Forget Kindness
    The million-copy bestselling series. In the fifth book in the sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, translated from Japanese, the mysterious Tokyo café where customers arrive hoping to travel back in time welcomes four new guests: The father who could not allow his daughter to get married A woman who couldn't give Valentine's Day chocolates to her loved one...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold
    In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is generally well-received, often lauded for its imaginative premise and emotional depth. Readers appreciate its exploration of human connections through the enchanting theme of time travel. The book's poignant story and character development tend to resonate with many, providing heartfelt reflections on regret, love, and hope.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781035032280

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Contributors:

  • Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 296g

Pages: 224

Collections

Fantasy Fiction Fiction in Translation General Fiction Literary Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction Series: Before the Coffee Gets Cold Toshikazu Kawaguchi

About the Author

Toshikazu Kawaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. The novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold is adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize.

Also by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

View all
  • Alex’s Pick
    On Sale
    20% off
    Before the Coffee Gets Cold
    Step into a quaint little café tucked away in a narrow alley in Tokyo, where the aroma of meticulously brewed coffee has been delighting patrons for over a hundred years. This is no ordinary coffee shop; it offers an extraordinary experience: the chance to travel back in time. Before the Coffee Gets Cold introduces us to a spellbinding narrative centred...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1600
    Usually:
    $1999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    19% off
    Lizzy's Pick Lizzy's Pick
    Tales from the Cafe
    In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time... From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    14% off
    Before We Forget Kindness
    In the fifth book in the sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, the mysterious café where customers arrive hoping to travel in time welcomes four new guests: The father who could not allow his daughter to get married A woman who couldn't give Valentine's Day chocolates to her loved one A boy who wants to show his smile to...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    21% off
    Lizzy's Pick Lizzy's Pick
    Tales from the Cafe
    Embark on a poignant journey through time with Tales from the Cafe, the enchanting sequel in Toshikazu Kawaguchi's million-copy bestselling series. Tucked away in a quaint Tokyo alley, a mysterious cafe offers more than just a finely brewed cup of coffee—it presents its patrons with the extraordinary opportunity to travel back in time. Bound by a handful of peculiar rules,...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $5999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    28% off
    Before Your Memory Fades
    The third novel in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, a true global sensation – now in a gorgeous, decorative special edition. On the hillside of Mount Hakodate in northern Japan, Cafe Donna Donna is fabled for its dazzling views of Hakodate port. But that’s not all. Like the charming Tokyo cafe Funiculi Funicula, Cafe Donna Donna offers its...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    27% off
    Before I Knew I Loved You
    The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Before We Say Goodbye
    On Sale
    14% off
    Before We Say Goodbye
    The million-copy bestselling series Toshikazu Kawaguchi's poignant Before We Say Goodbye, translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot, explores the age-old question: what would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time? The regulars at the magical Cafe Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with its famous legend...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Before I Knew I Loved You
    Before I Knew I Loved You
    The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Before Your Memory Fades
    Before Your Memory Fades
    The third novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, following four new customers in a cafe where customers can travel back in time. In northern Japan, overlooking the spectacular view Hakodate Port has to offer, Cafe Donna Donna has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold
    Pre-order
    Before the Coffee Gets Cold
    The bestselling international phenomenon, now in a gorgeous, special festive jacket. What would you do if you could go back in time? In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a cafe which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    Pre-order
    Out 1 Dec 2026
  • Before We Say Goodbye
    Before We Say Goodbye
    The fourth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series - now in a gorgeously produced special edition with sprayed edges, foil and beautiful endpapers. Toshikazu Kawaguchi's poignant Before We Say Goodbye, translated from Japanese, explores the age-old question: what would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last...
    By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Before I Knew I Loved You
    The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew...
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