Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 591 more book reviews


Cafe Fenniculi Funnicula, a tiny windowless spot located below street level in a Tokyo alley, is an unusual place. The clientele is consistent, one seat is especially popular, and the temperature of the coffee is very important.

You see, people don't visit the cafe for the beverages, but for the ability to time travel. If they follow a very strict set of rules, customers can briefly travel in time to be with someone who previously visited the cafe. This book shares the stories of four visitors, each with a different relationship they hope to mend.

I've heard lots of praise for this title, but as I began reading, I was skeptical about how impactful this little book could be. But as I read each visitor's story, I became more emotionally involved in their lives, and in the end, I was completely hooked into the power of these 200 pages.

I look forward to reading the two sequels to meet more patrons of this magical cafe.