Summary of Before the Coffee Gets Cold

"Before the Coffee Gets Cold" is a magical yet bittersweet Japanese novel about the possibilities of time travel and the bittersweet consequences of having that knowledge. It follows four people—Sakurai, Kazu, Satou, and Fujikawa—who are given the privilege of travelling back in time within the limits of a café in Tokyo. As they go back in time, they each have different motives and goals in mind—Kazu intends to make amends with a beloved aunt, Satou is determined to find solace after a loss, Fujikawa is looking for closure, and Sakurai is tasked with a mission of life-changing importance. Together, they face the bittersweet reality of changing the past, learning valuable lessons in the process. Ultimately, the novel is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be human.