---
product_id: 164926042
title: "– Before the Coffee Gets Cold: The cosy million-copy sensation from Japan: 1"
price: "R278"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/164926042-before-the-coffee-gets-cold-the-cosy-million-copy-sensation
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# – Before the Coffee Gets Cold: The cosy million-copy sensation from Japan: 1

**Price:** R278
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** – Before the Coffee Gets Cold: The cosy million-copy sensation from Japan: 1
- **How much does it cost?** R278 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/164926042-before-the-coffee-gets-cold-the-cosy-million-copy-sensation)

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- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

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## Description

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: The cosy million-copy sensation from Japan: 1 : Kawaguchi, Toshikazu, Trousselot, Geoffrey: desertcart.co.uk: Books

Review: One of my favourite books ever - Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the book that got me reading again, and I absolutely loved it. It has such cozy, comforting vibes and I was completely immersed, which says a lot for such a small book. It’s gentle but emotionally rich, the kind of story that quietly sneaks up on you. I loved how it explores all the different reasons people might want to travel to the past or future, and how each story pulls you fully into that moment with them. The pace is calm and easy, but never boring, and every journey feels meaningful. I’d honestly recommend this to anyone, especially if you want an easy, comforting read. A perfect book to curl up with and enjoy alongside a cuppa!
Review: Diagram at the start explains the story - beautifully! - A recent trip to Japan has got me interested in reading Japanese translated novels and most of these have been very enjoyable. This novel has been recommended on various lists so I thought I would try it. This was published in Japan during 2015 then translated into English for publication in 2019. The recent interest in this genre seems to have encouraged a further publication. It has 213 pages and is split into 4 parts. At the start there is an interesting map of the character relationships. The setup feels very familiar - a small café with a few regulars who seem to know each other very well. The odd aspect is the promise of time travel, even though we are told that it's limitations make it hardly worthwhile. I was unsure about the premise but fell in love very quickly with the style of writing - it is very visual and deserves to be read slowly so you can soak up every detail. Each part focuses on a subset of the character group and is setup as a defined story. It seems that we are watching four parts of a TV series. There is an abstract feel that is familiar to many of the Japanese novels I have read. This seems to encourage the reader into believing that time travel is possible. Of course, the book is fantasy but is written in such a straight forward way that the reader barely questions the mechanics as they are explained to us. The stories are intimate portraits of relationships . Seeing them being revealed to others makes the book feel particularly poignant. Whilst the characters are an odd combination, they com together beautifully through the café. The linking diagram at the start is really unusual to see in a book. It doesn't mean too much when you first see it but turns out to be the whole novel summarised on one page. It explains everything but gives nothing away. The stories are heart warming. This is delightful to read and I enjoyed this book very much. I later realised that this is the first in a series of five books - whilst it is good I don't want to read more as I think the unusual angle would not work as well for me in further books.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 356 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1 in Time Travel 3 in Science Fiction Short Stories 31 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery |
| Book 1 of 6  | Before the Coffee Gets Cold |
| Customer reviews | 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (34,178) |
| Dimensions  | 13.1 x 1.6 x 19.8 cm |
| Edition  | Main Market |
| ISBN-10  | 1529029589 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1529029581 |
| Item weight  | 1.05 kg |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 224 pages |
| Publication date  | 19 Sept. 2019 |
| Publisher  | Picador |
| Reading age  | 18 years and up |

## Images

![– Before the Coffee Gets Cold: The cosy million-copy sensation from Japan: 1 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71kW0ESYl5L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of my favourite books ever
*by J***L on 6 January 2026*

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the book that got me reading again, and I absolutely loved it. It has such cozy, comforting vibes and I was completely immersed, which says a lot for such a small book. It’s gentle but emotionally rich, the kind of story that quietly sneaks up on you. I loved how it explores all the different reasons people might want to travel to the past or future, and how each story pulls you fully into that moment with them. The pace is calm and easy, but never boring, and every journey feels meaningful. I’d honestly recommend this to anyone, especially if you want an easy, comforting read. A perfect book to curl up with and enjoy alongside a cuppa!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Diagram at the start explains the story - beautifully!
*by J***U on 13 July 2025*

A recent trip to Japan has got me interested in reading Japanese translated novels and most of these have been very enjoyable. This novel has been recommended on various lists so I thought I would try it. This was published in Japan during 2015 then translated into English for publication in 2019. The recent interest in this genre seems to have encouraged a further publication. It has 213 pages and is split into 4 parts. At the start there is an interesting map of the character relationships. The setup feels very familiar - a small café with a few regulars who seem to know each other very well. The odd aspect is the promise of time travel, even though we are told that it's limitations make it hardly worthwhile. I was unsure about the premise but fell in love very quickly with the style of writing - it is very visual and deserves to be read slowly so you can soak up every detail. Each part focuses on a subset of the character group and is setup as a defined story. It seems that we are watching four parts of a TV series. There is an abstract feel that is familiar to many of the Japanese novels I have read. This seems to encourage the reader into believing that time travel is possible. Of course, the book is fantasy but is written in such a straight forward way that the reader barely questions the mechanics as they are explained to us. The stories are intimate portraits of relationships . Seeing them being revealed to others makes the book feel particularly poignant. Whilst the characters are an odd combination, they com together beautifully through the café. The linking diagram at the start is really unusual to see in a book. It doesn't mean too much when you first see it but turns out to be the whole novel summarised on one page. It explains everything but gives nothing away. The stories are heart warming. This is delightful to read and I enjoyed this book very much. I later realised that this is the first in a series of five books - whilst it is good I don't want to read more as I think the unusual angle would not work as well for me in further books.

### ⭐⭐⭐ A gentle, reflective story about time, regret, and acceptance
*by M***A on 7 January 2026*

In the small Tokyo café at the heart of this novel, traveling to the past comes with strict rules: you must sit in a specific seat, you can only meet people who have visited the café before, nothing you do will change the present, and most importantly, you must return before your coffee gets cold. These limitations set the tone for Before the Coffee Gets Cold, making it clear from the start that this is not a story about fixing the past, but about understanding it. Rather than focusing on time travel itself, the book explores human emotions like love, regret, grief, and closure. Each chapter follows a different character who chooses to go back for deeply personal reasons. Some of these stories are genuinely touching, though the structure can feel repetitive, and a few moments feel rushed due to the book’s short length. The writing is simple and understated, which suits the reflective mood, but it may not appeal to readers looking for complex character development or intricate plotting. Still, the message that while we can’t change what has happened, we can change how we carry it with us, is quietly powerful. Overall, this is a warm, bittersweet read.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Before the Coffee Gets Cold
- Tales from the Cafe (Before the Coffee Gets Cold)
- Before We Say Goodbye (Before the Coffee Gets Cold)

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-01-23*