Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi that explores time travel in the most human way. Set in a small, cozy Tokyo café called Funiculi Funicula, this story reveals a unique offer: customers can travel back in time—but only under strict rules, and only for the duration it takes for their coffee to get cold.

Through four interconnected stories, readers meet people who wish to revisit moments with loved ones—a woman hoping to confront her boyfriend before he left, a nurse wanting to receive a letter from her sister, a wife wishing to meet her husband one last time, and a mother longing to see the daughter she never met.

Despite the fantastical premise, the novel is rooted in emotional realism. It explores themes of regret, closure, love, and the enduring power of memory. The simple yet powerful narrative resonates deeply, leaving readers with a sense of peace and reflection.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the first in a bestselling series, beloved for its tenderness and quietly magical storytelling.