Ending this Year Before the Coffee Gets Cold

No spoiler review

Published in

3 min readDec 30, 2023

Credits to Rightful Owner — from Pinterest

Title: Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Date of Publication: 2019. Genre: Time Travel. Publisher: Picador. Pages: 195.

“If you could go back in time, who would you meet?”

Time travel — a genre packed with endless possibilities, from rewriting history to fixing personal regrets. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” dives into this intriguing realm but with a twist: a quirky cafe where time travel comes with a strict rulebook.Buckle up, fellow bookworms, for a journey that’s less DeLorean and more…coffee-powered contemplation.

Summary:

Nestled in a basement, Funiculi Funicula (the cafe name) offers a singular seat with the key to past (or future) adventures.

But there’s a catch (or six): one seat, one ghost-occupied break, no leaving the chair, and a cold coffee countdown.

Once back in time, customers can’t leave their seats ’cause you’re stuck in that chair like a sentient beanbag. The only people in the past who could be met were people who have visited the café — no gate crashers allowed!Whatever happens in the past, the present won’t change, This time travel gig is more like a temporal therapy session. Oh, and you can only do this once.Intrigued? Fumiko, our first-time traveler, navigates these absurdities, introducing us to a cast of characters seeking solace, forgiveness, and a chance to see things anew.

Characters:

Kazu, the stoic barista-time-travel facilitator, anchors the cafe. Nagare and his enigmatic wife, Kei, add layers of mystery, while Fumiko’s journey becomes a poignant exploration of missed opportunities. Each visitor, from the nurse Kohtake to the regular Hirai, brings their own baggage and yearnings, weaving a tapestry of human connection.

Themes and Analysis:

This book isn’t about changing history. It’s a gentle nudge towards cherishing the present, appreciating loved ones, and acknowledging the lessons life offers, even through regrets.The book’s strength lies in its quiet contemplations, prompting us to reflect on our own relationships and missed chances.This isn’t a fast-paced thrill ride, but a slow-sipping cup of introspection. If you enjoy character-driven narratives, gentle humor, and a touch of the fantastical, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” will warm your heart with its quirky charm and poignant message.Just remember, once you step into that time-traveling seat, you might find yourself reevaluating your coffee break chats.

Rating:

8/10 (for its unique premise, heartwarming characters, and thought-provoking exploration of relationships). I would time travel again just for another chapter (but with a bigger coffee cup this time).

Read This If:

You like your coffee strong, your stories quirky, and your emotions shaken (not stirred).Bonus points if you’ve ever wished you could tell your teenage self to ditch the neon leg warmers (or maybe invest in Bitcoin, who knows?).