Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Bestselling Tale of Love, Regret, and Second Chances

LA TIMES BESTSELLER • INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

The beloved first book in the five million-copy magical realism series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

In a quiet back alley of Tokyo, hidden underground, sits Café Funiculi Funicula—a tiny, hundred-year-old coffee shop that offers its patrons a extraordinary chance to travel back in time. However, the opportunity comes with a strict set of rules: you cannot change the present, you must sit in one specific seat, you can only meet people who have visited the café, and above all, you must return before your coffee gets cold.

Told with warmth, quiet nuance, and whimsical charm, Before the Coffee Gets Cold weaves together four poignant stories of visitors seeking closure, reconciliation, and peace with their past choices.

"The present doesn't change, but the human heart can. Return to the past, say what was left unsaid, and drink your coffee before it goes cold."

The Four Visitors & Their Journeys:

• The Lover: A woman who seeks to confront the boyfriend who left her for a job in America before it is too late.

• The Wife: A dedicated nurse who travels back to receive a letter from her husband before early-onset Alzheimer's erased his memory.

• The Sister: A young woman who wishes to see her estranged sister one last time after avoiding her visits.

• The Mother: A pregnant café worker who travels to the future to meet the daughter she may never get the chance to raise.

Key Rules of the Café's Time Travel:

Perfect For:

• Fans of Magical Realism & Cozy Fiction: Readers who love gentle, atmospheric stories about human connections like The Kamogawa Food Detectives or Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

• Book Clubs & Discussion Groups: An ideal choice for exploring themes of grief, regret, forgiveness, and accepting the present.

• Comfort Reading: A brief, poignant novel perfect for anyone looking for a heartwarming, reflective afternoon read.