Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, first published in Japanese in 2015 and translated into English by Geoffrey Trousselot in 2019. Originally adapted from Kawaguchi’s stage play performed by the theatrical group 1110 Productions in Tokyo, the book quickly became an international sensation, capturing readers’ imaginations with its blend of magical realism, human emotion, and existential questioning.
The story centers on a small, tucked-away café in Tokyo called Funiculi Funicula, where visitors can travel back in time—but only under specific, strict conditions, the most famous being that they must return “before the coffee gets cold.”
This novel is a magical realism and contemporary fiction hybrid, deeply influenced by Japanese literary traditions of minimalism, empathy, and quiet philosophical exploration. Kawaguchi draws from the I-novel tradition in Japanese literature, which often blurs reality and fiction to focus on inner emotional landscapes.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold’s quiet, self-contained setting and cyclical structure evoke the cozy intimacy of Ichi-go Ichi-e (“one time, one meeting”), a Japanese concept reminding us of the preciousness of each encounter. It also resonates with modern readers worldwide, particularly in an era when nostalgia and the “what if” scenarios of life have become more relatable than ever.
At its heart, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a meditation on regret, love, and the irreversible flow of time. Kawaguchi uses the supernatural premise not as a gimmick, but as a mirror to human longing. The book’s power lies in its emotional precision: it understands that even if we could change the past, our actions are still bound by human limitations.
Reading this novel feels like sitting in a warm café on a rainy afternoon, listening to strangers tell their stories—stories that somehow reflect our own. And as the pages turn, we begin to realize that perhaps the true magic lies not in traveling through time, but in choosing how we live in the moments we have now.
Table of Contents
1. Background Context
When Before the Coffee Gets Cold debuted in Japan, it quickly gained momentum through word-of-mouth. In a publishing market where translated Japanese fiction often leans towards the surreal (Haruki Murakami) or darkly introspective (Sayaka Murata), Kawaguchi’s gentle yet bittersweet narrative offered a refreshing middle ground—philosophical without being opaque, sentimental without being saccharine.
The English translation brought the story to an even wider audience, and by 2021, it had sold over a million copies worldwide. The novel’s themes of missed opportunities, reconciliation, and forgiveness have universal appeal, particularly in a world recovering from the isolation and uncertainty of global events.
The entirety of Before the Coffee Gets Cold takes place within the confines of Funiculi Funicula, a small, dimly lit basement café in Tokyo’s backstreets. The café has no windows, only a timeless, almost nostalgic atmosphere.
This enclosed setting acts as both a stage and a metaphor: the world outside keeps moving, but inside, time can bend—under rules that force characters to confront the reality that even magical chances come with limitations.
The boundaries of the café mirror the boundaries of life itself; as one character reflects, “You can’t change the present, no matter how far back you go.”
2. Plot Overview
The novel is structured into four interconnected stories, each centered around a different character’s journey through the time-traveling seat in Funiculi Funicula. The rules are clear:
- You can only meet someone who has visited the café.
- Whatever happens in the past, the present will not change.
- You must remain in the seat and not move from it.
- Most crucially — you must return Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
While these restrictions might seem to make time travel meaningless, Kawaguchi masterfully shows that even if the events of life cannot be altered, hearts can be changed.
Story 1 – The Lovers
The novel opens with Fumiko Kiyokawa, a 30-year-old woman whose boyfriend, Goto, is about to leave for a job in America. Fumiko is blindsided by his decision and feels betrayed. In the café, she hears of the time-travel chair from Kazu Tokita, the stoic waitress who serves as gatekeeper to the ritual.
Sitting in the seat, Fumiko is transported to her last conversation with Goto—hoping to persuade him to stay. But the immutable rule stands: his decision remains unchanged.
Yet, the journey leaves her with newfound clarity. She realizes she needs to live for herself, not in someone else’s shadow. As she says, “If nothing changes, then I will change.”
This first story sets the tone: the power of the past lies not in changing facts, but in changing perspectives.
Story 2 – Husband and Wife
We meet Kohtake, a nurse whose husband, Fusagi, is slowly losing his memory to early-onset Alzheimer’s. One day, Fusagi hands her a letter—but forbids her to read it until “the time is right.”
When Kohtake uses the café’s seat to visit her husband in the past, she finds him fully lucid. In this window of clarity, Fusagi tells her what the letter contains: his wish for her to live happily after he forgets her, even if it means she must love someone else.
Kohtake returns to the present in tears, not because the illness is gone—it isn’t—but because she has heard his heart in words she might never hear again. The lesson is quietly devastating: love’s endurance is not in permanence, but in its ability to grant freedom.
Story 3 – The Sisters
Hirai, the café’s lively regular, is estranged from her younger sister, Kumi, who runs the family inn back in their hometown. Hirai has avoided responsibility for years, preferring her life of independence in Tokyo.
When Kumi dies suddenly in a traffic accident, Hirai is crushed with regret. Using the café’s seat, she visits Kumi on the last day they met. Instead of changing history, she uses the moment to tell her sister she loves her, promising to take over the inn after all.
Back in the present, Hirai does exactly that—proving that while the past cannot change, the future can be rewritten by choices made now.
Story 4 – The Mother and Child
The final, and perhaps most emotional, story follows Kei Tokita, Kazu’s sister-in-law, who is pregnant but battling a severe heart condition. She knows she might not live to see her child grow up.
Kei’s wish is not to revisit her own past but to travel to the future—a rare exception allowed by the café’s mysterious rules. There, she meets her grown daughter, Miki, and shares precious moments, knowing she will not survive childbirth.
Her time runs out, and she returns to the present just as the coffee cools. The scene is hauntingly beautiful: Kei’s acceptance of her fate transforms her remaining days into a gift for her family, rather than a countdown to death.
Setting in Depth (Separate Note)
The Funiculi Funicula café is almost a character in itself—dim lighting, the faint hum of a wall clock, the aroma of coffee, and an air of stillness untouched by the outside world. The seat for time travel is always occupied by a mysterious woman in white, reading silently. Only when she gets up can another take the seat, and even then, the rules are absolute.
The confined setting intensifies the emotional stakes. There are no sprawling landscapes or grand time-travel spectacles—only human connection distilled to its most essential form.
3. Analysis
3.1 Characters
Toshikazu Kawaguchi crafts his characters with quiet precision. Each one carries emotional depth and a distinct voice, their motivations shaped by personal regrets, unspoken truths, and love in its many forms.
- Fumiko Kiyokawa – Fumiko’s arc is one of self-discovery. Initially defined by her relationship with Goto, she realizes, “If nothing changes, then I will change,” capturing the book’s core philosophy that growth is internal.
- Kohtake and Fusagi – Their story offers a heartbreaking yet tender portrayal of Alzheimer’s disease. Fusagi’s letter, unread in the present but revealed in the past, becomes a symbol of love beyond memory.
- Hirai and Kumi – Hirai embodies avoidance; Kumi, responsibility. Their reunion in the café bridges the gap between estrangement and forgiveness, illustrating the theme that love often waits for courage.
- Kei Tokita – Kei’s choice to meet her future daughter instead of altering her present highlights acceptance of mortality. Her courage reframes tragedy into an act of selfless love.
- Kazu Tokita – As the café’s keeper of the time-travel ritual, Kazu seems detached, yet she quietly facilitates the most transformative moments in each character’s life. She represents the guardian archetype in storytelling—present, watchful, and unwavering in enforcing the rules.
These characters are not grand heroes; they are ordinary people confronting extraordinary emotional truths. This ordinariness is precisely what makes them so relatable.
3.2 Writing Style and Structure
Kawaguchi’s style is deceptively simple—short sentences, clear imagery, and minimal embellishment—yet every word is deliberate. He uses dialogue-driven storytelling, allowing characters to reveal themselves naturally through their conversations.
Structurally, Before the Coffee Gets Cold unfolds in four self-contained yet interconnected chapters, each with its own protagonist but tied together by the café and Kazu. This episodic format mirrors short-story pacing but delivers the emotional continuity of a novel.
The use of repetition—reiterating the café’s rules before each journey—serves a dual purpose: it builds ritualistic suspense and reinforces the theme of inevitability.
3.3 Themes and Symbolism
Thematically, Before the Coffee Gets Cold revolves around regret, acceptance, and emotional closure. Kawaguchi challenges the traditional allure of time travel by removing its most desired outcome—changing the past.
Key themes include:
- Acceptance over Alteration – The inability to change events forces characters (and readers) to confront the truth that healing is internal.
- Love Beyond Time – Whether romantic, familial, or platonic, love persists even when physical presence or memory fades.
- Mortality and Legacy – Kei’s story, in particular, reframes death not as an end but as a continuation through those we love.
Symbolically, the coffee itself is a metaphor for life’s fleeting opportunities—it must be savored in the moment. The seat in the café represents both possibility and limitation, a liminal space where personal transformation occurs.
3.4 Genre-Specific Elements
Though the novel includes time travel, it is far from traditional science fiction. Instead, it fits into magical realism—the extraordinary is treated as an accepted part of everyday life. There are no technical explanations for how time travel works; the focus is entirely on emotional truth.
The world-building is minimalist, confined almost entirely to the café. This works to the book’s advantage, creating a feeling of intimacy. Dialogue quality is consistently high, blending subtle humor with deep vulnerability.
Recommendation: Before the Coffee Gets Cold is ideal for readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories such as The Midnight Library by Matt Haig or Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is also perfect for book clubs, as each chapter invites discussion on personal regrets and “what if” moments.
4. Evaluation, Comparisons, Reception, and Notable Information
4.1 Strengths
- Emotional Resonance – The novel’s greatest strength is its ability to evoke deep empathy. Readers are not just observers; they become participants in the characters’ emotional journeys.
- Simple Yet Powerful Rules – The constraints of time travel (“you must return before the coffee gets cold”) are not arbitrary gimmicks—they shape the moral and emotional stakes.
- Compact Setting – Limiting the entire story to the café allows the reader to focus on people rather than world-building distractions.
- Universal Themes – Love, loss, forgiveness, and regret transcend culture, making the book relatable across the globe.
4.2 Weaknesses
- Repetitive Structure – Some readers may find the repeated explanation of the café’s rules redundant.
- Lack of Action – Those expecting dynamic time-travel adventures may find the narrative too static.
- Minimal Background on Characters – While this is intentional for pacing, it leaves some relationships less explored.
4.3 Impact
Before the Coffee Gets Cold resonates because it asks readers to reflect on their own “what if” moments. It shifts the focus from changing the past to understanding it, which has a healing effect on many who read it during times of personal transition or grief.
4.4 Comparison with Similar Works
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – Both explore alternate possibilities in life, but Kawaguchi’s novel is more subtle, focusing on interpersonal closure rather than life-altering rewrites.
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – Shares the minimalist, emotionally rich narrative style.
- If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura – Another Japanese magical realism novel dealing with life, death, and emotional reconciliation.
4.5 Reception and Criticism
The English translation received strong praise for its gentle, heartfelt tone and philosophical depth. It holds a 4.1+ average rating on Goodreads and was a Japanese bestseller before reaching international acclaim. Critics note its theatrical roots, evident in its dialogue-heavy narrative.
Some reviewers, however, wanted more variety in the plot mechanics, feeling that the repeated time travel sessions made the latter chapters predictable.
4.6 Adaptations
The novel was adapted into a Japanese stage play and later inspired sequels, including Tales from the Café and Before Your Memory Fades. There is ongoing speculation about potential film adaptations outside Japan, given the book’s global popularity.
4.7 Notable Facts
- Publication Stats – Over 1 million copies sold globally within a few years of release.
- Cultural Impact – Before the Coffee Gets Cold is now a common recommendation in Japanese literature reading challenges and “cozy reads” lists.
- Sequels – The continuation of the Funiculi Funicula stories keeps the same rules but explores new characters, further deepening the fictional universe.
5. Personal Insight, Educational Relevance, and Contemporary Connections
5.1 Personal Insight
Reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold feels like being invited into an intimate conversation about life’s unfinished business. Each story acts as a mirror—forcing you to reflect on your own regrets, unresolved relationships, and the conversations you never had.
What struck me most is how Kawaguchi uses limitation as liberation. By telling us we cannot change the past, he paradoxically frees us from the paralyzing weight of “what if.” In a way, the book teaches acceptance in the same manner that a trusted friend would: gently, patiently, without judgment.
5.2 Educational Relevance
The book’s lessons have strong connections to psychology, ethics, and even decision-making studies. Modern research, such as that from Cornell University’s “Regret Research Group,” shows that the majority of people’s deepest regrets are about relationships, not missed achievements.
This aligns perfectly with Kawaguchi’s focus—none of the characters wish to win the lottery or become famous; they wish to speak, listen, forgive, or understand.
Educators could use this book in:
- Psychology classes (modules on emotional closure and cognitive reframing)
- Philosophy courses (free will vs. determinism)
- Literature studies (narrative minimalism, magical realism)
5.3 Contemporary Relevance
In today’s hyper-connected yet emotionally fragmented world, Before the Coffee Gets Cold stands as a counterbalance. It suggests that true connection is not found in instant messaging or social media updates, but in intentional, heartfelt conversations—sometimes even with people who are no longer part of our present.
Interestingly, a 2023 survey by YouGov found that 64% of people would travel back in time to have one last conversation with a loved one, even if it changed nothing in the present. Kawaguchi’s premise reflects this exact longing, making the book deeply relatable across cultures and generations.
5.4 Lessons for Today
- Say it while you can – Don’t wait for the perfect moment to express gratitude or love; that moment is now.
- Accept what you cannot change – Peace comes not from altering history but from changing how we live with it.
- Be present – Like the coffee cooling in front of you, opportunities expire. Savor them while they’re warm.
6. Quotable Lines
Kawaguchi’s writing is filled with simple yet profound lines that resonate long after reading:
- “No matter what difficulties people face, they will always have the strength to overcome them.”
- “You can’t change the present by going to the past.”
- “People don’t realize they’ve changed. That’s why you have to meet them again.”
- “Time only flows in one direction.”
- “The only thing that’s certain is the past won’t change. But that doesn’t mean there is no meaning in going back.”
7. Conclusion
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is not just a novel—it’s a quiet meditation on life’s fleeting opportunities. Toshikazu Kawaguchi crafts a narrative that blends magical realism with emotional truth, delivering a story that lingers like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
If you’re seeking action-packed science fiction time travel, this book will not meet that desire. But if you want a story that makes you pause, reflect, and maybe even reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to call—this is it.
It’s a reminder that closure isn’t about changing outcomes; it’s about changing hearts. And sometimes, that’s enough.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for readers of literary fiction, Japanese literature, magical realism, and those going through periods of transition, loss, or self-reflection.
*
