Name: Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Rating: 3.768401360544218 (1470 reviews)
ISBN: 9781035032280

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Geoffrey Trousselot

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

コーヒーが冷めないうちに

beautiful and so true🥹🥲☕️🌸🤍

Jessica Turner

Water flows from high places to low places. That is the nature of gravity. Emotions also seem to act according to gravity. When in the presence of someone with whom you have a bond, and to whom you have entrusted your feelings, it is hard to lie and get away with it. The truth just wants to come flowing out. This is especially the case when you are trying to hide your sadness or vulnerability. It is much easier to conceal sadness from a stranger, or from someone you don't trust. Hirai saw Kei as a confidante with whom she could share anything. The emotional gravity was strong. Kei was able to accept anything - forgive anything – that Hirai let flow out. A single kind word from Kei could cut the cords of tension that ran through her.

Axelle De Ceuster

Deyana

Julia Rutgers

Srijita Sarkar 

angie

People don't see things and hear things as objectively as they might think. The visual and auditory information that enters the mind is distorted by experiences, thoughts, circumstances, wild fancies, prejudices, preferences, knowledge, awareness, and countless other working of the mind. 

Jessie

Darshini ✨

Maria Laura

Michy

Klara Hansen 

What would you change if you could go back in time? 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, to see their sister one last time, and to 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 - translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot - 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?

thya

Di sebuah gang kecil di Tokyo, ada kafe tua yang bisa membawa pengunjungnya menjelajahi waktu. Keajaiban kafe itu menarik seorang wanita yang ingin memutar waktu untuk berbaikan dengan kekasihnya, seorang perawat yang ingin membaca surat yang tak sempat diberikan suaminya yang sakit, seorang kakak yang ingin menemui adiknya untuk terakhir kali, dan seorang ibu yang ingin bertemu dengan anak yang mungkin takkan pernah dikenalnya. Namun ada banyak peraturan yang harus diingat. Satu, mereka harus tetap duduk di kursi yang telah ditentukan. Dua, apa pun yang mereka lakukan di masa yang didatangi takkan mengubah kenyataan di masa kini. Tiga, mereka harus menghabiskan kopi khusus yang disajikan sebelum kopi itu dingin. Rentetan peraturan lainnya tak menghentikan orang-orang itu untuk menjelajahi waktu. Akan tetapi, jika kepergian mereka tak mengubah satu hal pun di masa kini, layakkah semua itu dijalani?

Funiculi Funicula

I think the concept of time travel in this book is really unique. Some of the stories are pretty emotional, and some are heartwarming. All in all, it's a pretty cozy book one can enjoy while drinking a cup of warm coffee. 

Interesting concept, enjoyed each story within thoroughly including the small unexpected twists in some. I liked the repeating characters in the stories, learning more about them as each story unfolds. 

Frazer Doughty

Nadine MacDonald

An amazing concept, beautiful stories. No complaints except that it was a lighter read than I had expected and had hoped it would make me cry more than it did hahahaha 😂 

i’m very conflicted about my rating of this book.

on one hand, i think this is an objectively good, solid book. the characters were diverse and memorable, the plot was well-though out with no gaps, a good pace and the writing style was enjoyable. 

on the other hand however, i found it extremely tedious to finish this book, despite it only being a mere 200-something pages. admittedly, all of the fault lies within me. i simply did not click with the characters, the plot, the idea. the act of the timetraveling itself quickly turned repetitive, some parts i found way too wordy, long and needlessly descriptive and also- the story of the woman in white never gets told? whatever happened to her? in all honesty, reading this book brought me no joy and i don’t believe it left me with any important lessons that will stick with me. the only itch this literary work managed to scratch for me is the one of marking it as read and adding it to my “already read” list.

looking at this book objectively, i cannot find enough flaws to justify this 3.5 rating, but looking deeper within myself- i simply cannot rate something, which i did not enjoy nearly enough while reading, anything higher than that.

with all that said, you should most definitely go read this book for yourself before forming opinions, since i certainly lack the right qualifications to write actual reviews and recommendations.

mio ⟡ˎˊ˗

i’m very conflicted about my rating of this book.

on one hand, i think this is an objectively good, solid book. the characters were diverse and memorable, the plot was well-though out with no gaps, a good pace and the writing style was enjoyable. 

on the other hand however, i found it extremely tedious to finish this book, despite it only being a mere 200-something pages. admittedly, all of the fault lies within me. i simply did not click with the characters, the plot, the idea. the act of the timetraveling itself quickly turned repetitive, some parts i found way too wordy, long and needlessly descriptive and also- the story of the woman in white never gets told? whatever happened to her? in all honesty, reading this book brought me no joy and i don’t believe it left me with any important lessons that will stick with me. the only itch this literary work managed to scratch for me is the one of marking it as read and adding it to my “already read” list.

looking at this book objectively, i cannot find enough flaws to justify this 3.5 rating, but looking deeper within myself- i simply cannot rate something, which i did not enjoy nearly enough while reading, anything higher than that.

with all that said, you should most definitely go read this book for yourself before forming opinions, since i certainly lack the right qualifications to write actual reviews and recommendations.

Sindhujaw

"no matter what difficulties people face, they will always have the strength to overcome them." It's a story of four individuals, whose lives are interconnected; who wishes to travel back in time in a coffee shop and return to present ' before the coffee gets cold '. But the rules for time traveling are so hard – that makes no sense of the purpose of traveling back. Yet people in the locality visits this coffee shop and waits for their turn to time travel. ( Read to know the secret

Tiff W

Just what I needed in a book… these five short stories can be read as standalones, but there are some recurring characters who frequent the coffeeshop. If you know going to the past won’t change anything, would you still go? I could feel the desperation so clearly in each character, wishing that knowledge would somehow bring them salvation. “If one thing had been different, would everything be different today?” as Taylor Swift once said… The very first story made me cry…

Joana Mae

This heartwarming Japanese novel explores the concept of time travel through a unique lens - a magical cafe where customers can return to the past, but only while their coffee is still warm. The story weaves together four interconnected tales of love, regret, and human connection. While the premise is fantastical, the emotional core of each story feels deeply authentic. The rules of the cafe's time travel (like not being able to change the present) create interesting limitations that force characters to focus on emotional closure rather than changing outcomes. The writing style is simple yet effective, though some emotional impact may be lost in translation. The slow pacing and repetitive elements might not appeal to all readers, but they help create the contemplative atmosphere that makes the story's messages about cherishing the present moment more impactful.

Mała kawiarnia w Tokio pozwala swoim gościom na podróż w czasie. Pod warunkiem, że wrócą, zanim wystygnie kawa.

Światowy bestseller. Ponad milion sprzedanych egzemplarzy.

A gdyby móc cofnąć się w czasie? Gdyby choć na chwilę wrócić do przeszłości i spróbować coś wyjaśnić, czemuś zaradzić, spotkać się z kimś, może po raz ostatni...

W małej bocznej uliczce w Tokio ukryła się klimatyczna kawiarnia, która od ponad stu lat serwuje starannie parzoną kawę. Krążą pogłoski, że swoim klientom oferuje też wyjątkową możliwość podróży w czasie.

W Zanim wystygnie kawa spotykamy cztery osoby, z których każda ma nadzieję skorzystać z tej oferty. Ktoś chce się skonfrontować z dawną miłością, ktoś powrócić do czasów sprzed utraty pamięci, zobaczyć się z siostrą, spotkać córkę, której nigdy nie było okazji poznać.

Wszystko może się wydarzyć, ale pod wieloma warunkami. Najważniejszy: musisz wrócić, zanim wystygnie twoja kawa.

Zanim wystygnie kawa

Dalia

Spodziewałam się czegoś lepszego , i jestem zawiedziona bo pomysł na fabułe mega a wykonanie mocno średnie 

What would you change if you could travel back in time? Down a small alleyway in the heart of Tokyo, there’s an underground café that’s been serving carefully brewed coffee for over a hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers its customers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time. The rules, however, are far from simple: you must sit in one particular seat, and you can’t venture outside the café, nor can you change the present. And, most important, you only have the time it takes to drink a hot cup of coffee—or risk getting stuck forever. Over the course of one summer, four customers visit the café in the hopes of traveling to another time: a heartbroken lover looking for closure, a nurse with a mysterious letter from her husband, a waitress hoping to say one last goodbye and a mother whose child she may never get the chance to know. Heartwarming, wistful and delightfully quirky, Before the Coffee Gets Cold explores the intersecting lives of four women who come together in one extraordinary café, where the service may not be quick, but the opportunities are endless.

i like how they weren't allowed to change the circumstances or outcome (like normal books about time travel stories normally do) which made it a lot more unpredictable, and how it revolved around the quaint shop and it's main few people. it's not a long book but a deep one, i really liked how each person's feeling of regret was stemmed from extremely different situations but expressed in such a beautiful manner that really relates and pulls at the heart strings. 

a much needed sweet read. very digestible and warm for all readers. i enjoyed each story, the characters, and the concept of one setting. lovely magical realism!

kate 

Such a warm book, but idk i think i prefer if the narration can be more emotional focused than repeatedly talking bout the cafe’s vibes?

But yea, keren2 walau di pertengahan agak boring. Kopinya bisa ga ya diganti jd butterscotch sea salt latte-nya fore? Kalo ada ya ak maw 😔☝🏼

lynn

Such a warm book, but idk i think i prefer if the narration can be more emotional focused than repeatedly talking bout the cafe’s vibes?

But yea, keren2 walau di pertengahan agak boring. Kopinya bisa ga ya diganti jd butterscotch sea salt latte-nya fore? Kalo ada ya ak maw 😔☝🏼

Sweet and easy to read. Whilst not a mind blowing, complex concept nor storyline the characters and their story arcs are compelling.

Beatrix

I like the concept of the story though I was confused at times with the different characters

Haley

I wanted to love it so bad but I just didn’t. Beautiful writing and premise but something didn’t connect.

Chloé

Ani Velasquez

Una mesa, un café y una decisión. Eso es todo lo que hace falta para ser feliz. Una novela sobre el amor, el tiempo perdido y las oportunidades que están por llegar. Un rumor circula por Tokio... Oculta en uno de sus callejones hay una pequeña cafetería que merece la pena visitar no solo por su excelente café, sino también porque, si eliges bien la silla donde sentarte, puedes regresar al pasado. Pero como incluso lo increíble está sujeto a limitaciones, no podrás salir de la cafetería mientras dure el viaje, volverás cuando el café se enfríe y, hagas lo que hagas, el presente no cambiará. A través de las emocionantes historias de cuatro clientes que se atreven a embarcarse en esta aventura por motivos diferentes, Antes de que se enfríe el café nos ofrece un relato atemporal sobre el amor, las oportunidades perdidas y la esperanza de un futuro que siempre está por llegar. La crítica ha dicho... « Antes de que se enfríe el café está destinada a convertirse en un éxito internacional.» Publisher's Weekly «Más de un millón de ejemplares vendidos.» The Bookseller «Una lectura memorable y cautivadora.» Books and Bao «A través de sus cuatro personajes principales, Kawaguchi demuestra una profunda comprensión de las relaciones y del amor.» The Straits Times «Una lectura inspiradora y llena de esperanza que se queda contigo mucho después de que hayas terminado de leer. Hará las delicias de los entusiastas de la cultura japonesa con su evocador y romántico retrato de Tokio.» Pop Culture Bandit Citas de lectores: «Un tema complejo, pero que se trata de una forma aparentemente simple, hace de esta una inolvidable novela. Las emociones que evoca son eternas y universales: el amor en todas sus formas, joven y fresco, maduro y asentado, o el de una madre por su hijo nonato. Completamente delicioso, con una profundidad sorprendente. Un libro maravilloso.» « Antes de que se enfríe el café es una encantadora e inteligente historia acerca de cómo, no importa cuánto lo intentemos, no podemos cambiar el pasado y solo nos queda aprender de nuestros errores y crecer. Disfruté mucho de este emotivo relato.» «Me gustaron los personajes tan idiosincráticos y su amable sentido del humor, que se deja entrever de vez en cuando. Si estás buscando una lectura breve y diferente, este es tu libro.» «Una novela encantadora que te deja con mucho en lo que pensar.»

Antes de que se enfríe el café

Este libro me gustó bastante ya que se lee rápido y la idea está cool, son historias cortas que tocan cosas bien humanas como arrepentimientos y despedidas sin ponerse intensas, y eso se siente honesto. Lo que no me encantó es que algunas historias se parecen entre sí y los personajes no se desarrollan mucho, cuando empezaba a conectar ya se acababa. En general me pareció un libro bonito pero sencillo, no es nada que te vuele la cabeza, pero sí perfecto para leer rápido y quedarte pensando un ratito después.

₊˚.⋆☾ eva ☾ ⋆⁺₊

the acceptance of letting go is what kept me going honestly 

cassandra

absolutely in love with the theme of "letting go", the whole "you can go to the past/future but nothing will change" is also really intriguing and the message delivery is *chef's kiss*. though there are still many things left unexplained (prob due to it having sequel) and the pacing left me feeling kinda bored. then again its pretty enjoyable if you're looking for something light to read with a few sobs in between as a bonus.

Mionne

SUMPAH SUMPAH SUMPAAAAAH. aku nyesel kenapa kemarin waktu beli novel ini gak sekalian beli yang kedua jugaaaaa. fyi aku ngetik ini masih dengan ingus yang meler (maaf jorok) tapi ini beneran honest review dan fresh from the oven. jujur ya, awalnya aku underestimate novel ini (MARAHIN AJAA EMANG) soalnya pas baca awalnya kaya "hah apaan sih? kok bertele-tele banget? kok gak kaya kata orang-orang?" gitu deh intinya. jadi, bisa dibilang, aku lumayan butuh waktu yang lama buat baca novel ini. TAPIII pas udah masuk ke chapter 2, aku mulai merasa "keseruan" yang orang-orang bilang dan akhirnya aku bisa nyelesein baca novelnya hari ini. dari chapter 2, aku udah nangis jelek banget T^T narasinya gak ada yang gagal, aku menikmati banget karena gak ada tuh yang namanya kalimat dengan kombinasi yang aneh, padahal in fact novel ini tuh novel terjemahan. semakin dibaca, semakin kepo sama cerita-cerita di tiap chapternya (spoiler: total ada 4 chapter, masing-masing chapter ada ceritanya sendiri tapi masih berkaitan karena karakternya sama). intinya, aku super duper recommend novel ini BANGET kalau misalnya kalian lagi cari bacaan yang seru dan kalau lagi pengen nangis. this novel deserves 4,5 out of 5 stars!!!! ⭐

leah

What a lovely trip through time paired with beautiful and raw human storytelling. Thoroughly enjoyed this anthology, and will definitely be moving on to the sequels. 

Liv Wukasch

the writing suffers from translation for sure. also a book should not have the first story be boring as hell only for the rest to be actually a bit captivating

Vincent Osvald

Loved the stories but the book felt too long towards the end and I almost lost interest (I struggled finishing it). Nonetheless, I liked the gentleness of the atmosphere and how everything felt comforting throughout the book.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

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