Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A heartfelt story about love, loss and time
Some stories are small, almost quiet, but they carry so much weight inside them. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi feels like that. It’s a book that you finish and then just sit there, staring at nothing, because your heart feels so heavy…
The story takes place in a small café in Tokyo. This café has a special chair that allows people to travel back in time. But there are strict rules, you can only visit a moment with someone inside the café, you can’t change the present, and you must return before your coffee gets cold.
Each chapter tells the story of someone who uses the chair: a woman who wants to see her boyfriend one last time before he leaves, a wife who wants to read a letter from her husband, a sister who wants to say goodbye, and a mother who wishes to meet the daughter she never knew.
I think a way to describe it would be: a story about longing, about regret, and about the very human wish to fix things, even if we know we can't. Every story is touching. Some are sweet, others are almost unbearable in their sadness. But all of them are filled with love.
The writing is simple, but full of feeling. The symbolism of the coffee cooling down reminds me that even time, even the smallest moments, are precious and cannot be held forever.
While reading it, I kept thinking about my grandpa. About the conversations I wish I could have again. About the moments that seemed small at the time but now feel huge.
There’s this weight that settles in my chest, a soft ache that reminded me how much I can miss someone, something I can't still explain fully with words. Before the Coffee Gets Cold didn’t just make me think about time travel; it made me wish for one more afternoon sitting next to him, talking about nothing and everything at the same time.
This was just not just a time travel story. It’s about the memories we carry, the people we miss, and the small, important things we wish we could say if only we had one more chance.
FAQ: Before the Coffee Gets Cold
(Light spoilers coming)
Is Before the Coffee Gets Cold worth reading?
It was for me. It’s an emotional, beautiful book that explores love, regret, and the wish for second chances in a unique and gentle way.
Is Before the Coffee Gets Cold a love story?
In some ways, yes. It’s not just romantic love, it’s also about love between family, friends, and even the love we carry for people we have lost.
Should I read Before the Coffee Gets Cold in order?
Yes, it’s best to read the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series in order to fully understand the characters and their connections.
What is the message in Before the Coffee Gets Cold?
For me, it was that we may want to change the past, but what matters most is cherishing the people we love now, before it’s too late. It’s about acceptance, forgiveness, and appreciating every moment.
Instagram: @rouge.readings
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