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The Before the Coffee Gets Cold series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is a collection of books set in a small Tokyo café, where a mystical chair allows its occupants to travel back in time.
However, there is one crucial condition—they must return before their coffee gets cold.
The series has gained international popularity, with over one million copies sold. Each book in the series introduces four new characters, each with their own unique story.
2019
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
In a small back alley of Tokyo, there’s a legendary café known for its century-old tradition of serving meticulously brewed coffee. Rumours circulate that this café possesses an extraordinary offering—the opportunity to travel back in time.
Throughout one summer, four individuals venture to the café, each longing for a chance at this remarkable journey. However, time travel is not as straightforward as it seems, and strict rules govern the process. The most important rule is the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold.
Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?
2020
Tales from the Cafe
In this book, familiar and new faces visit the café to take advantage of its time-traveling offer.
The patrons revisit moments with their family, friends, and lovers, facing their past in order to move forward with their lives.
The stories include a man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago, a son who was unable to attend his own mother’s funeral, a man who travels to see the girl he could not marry, and an old detective who regrets not giving his wife a gift. This beautiful and simple tale explores the power of confronting the past.
2022
Before Your Memory Fades
Set on the hillside of Mount Hakodate in northern Japan, Cafe Donna Donna offers its customers not only breathtaking views but also the ability to travel through time. This book introduces four new customers, including some familiar faces from Kawaguchi’s previous novels.
The characters include a daughter who resents her deceased parents for leaving her orphaned, a comedian longing for his beloved and their shared dreams, a grieving younger sister consumed by sorrow, and a young man who realizes his love for his childhood friend too late.
Before Your Memory Fades continues the exploration of the emotional complexities of time travel.
2023
Before We Say Goodbye
The regulars at Café Funiculi Funicula are well-acquainted with its whimsical ability to allow time travel. This book introduces a new set of visitors, each with their own unique story.
The characters include a husband with something important left to say, a woman who couldn’t bid her dog farewell, a woman who couldn’t answer a proposal, and a daughter who drove her father away.
Before We Say Goodbye continues to delve into the profound impact of time travel on relationships and personal growth.
Before The Coffee Gets Cold Series in Order: Written List
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold (2019)
- Tales from the Cafe (2020)
- Before Your Memory Fades (2022)
- Before We Say Goodbye (2023)
This is the complete list of Before The Coffee Gets Cold series in order. I’ll keep this list updated as and when any new books are released.
At the time of writing this blog post, there are three books in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series. However, the fourth book is scheduled for release in November 2023, adding to the series and enticing readers with more intriguing stories.
To fully grasp and appreciate the narrative, it is advisable to read the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series in order. The books offer a blend of heartwarming storytelling, wistful introspection, mystery, and delightful quirkiness that captivates readers from start to finish.
Additional questions
What is the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series?
The Before The Coffee Gets Cold series is a collection of books written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Set in a small Tokyo café, the series revolves around a special chair that grants the ability to travel back in time.
However, there is a crucial condition—those who travel must return before their coffee gets cold. Each book introduces new characters and explores their personal journeys through time.
What are the themes explored in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series?
The Before The Coffee Gets Cold series delves into themes such as regret, loss, forgiveness, and the complexities of human relationships. Through the lens of time travel, the books explore how revisiting the past can impact the present and shape the future.
Each story invites readers to contemplate what they would change if given the opportunity to travel back in time.
Can the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series be read as standalone books?
While each book in the series introduces new characters and stories, it is recommended to read the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series in order.
The books build upon one another, and reading them sequentially provides a more comprehensive understanding of the café, its rules, and the interconnected nature of the characters’ experiences.
How many books are in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series?
At the time of writing, there are three books in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series.
The first book, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” was published in 2019, followed by “Tales from the Cafe” in 2020 and “Before Your Memory Fades” in 2022.
The fourth book, titled “Before We Say Goodbye,” is scheduled for release in November 2023.