Book Review: Before The Coffee Gets Cold

By Mercy Mwaniki

If you could go back in time, who would you want to meet? Would you choose to travel to the past, knowing you can’t change the present? And what if you could also journey into the future?

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a captivating work of fiction set in a small café called Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo. It is the first in a series of four books, each offering new adventures and different outcomes.

This book evokes a range of emotions, laughter, anger, excitement, and anxiety, among others. You may find yourself questioning whether there’s a worthwhile reason to revisit the past, even when the present remains unchanged. Funiculi Funicula has taken on an air of urban legend because the characters can not only travel to the past but also, on rare occasions, to the future. A ghost inhabits a specific seat that one must occupy to time travel, and there are rules to follow, including the critical one: “before the coffee gets cold.”

The four stories within the book provide closure in various ways. One tale features lovers who part ways due to a better job opportunity, while another centre on a wife seeking a connection with her husband, who has Alzheimer’s disease. There’s also a story about two sisters with different dreams, and one that follows a pregnant mother who travels to the future to meet the child she bore before her untimely death.

The themes of unspoken words, fading memories, undisclosed thoughts, and the inevitability of death resonate throughout. The characters are vividly drawn, drawing you in and prompting deep reflection on whether you would make similar choices. The suspense is palpable and adds to the excitement.

This book invites you to see different perspectives in a variety of situations. The urge to learn more will compel you to seek out the second, third, and even fourth instalments, you won’t want to say goodbye. You’ll come to appreciate the power of words, the strength of promises, and the relief that comes from making different choices.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the Tales from the Café, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a book I wouldn’t hesitate to read again. It offers fresh insights that might even provide solutions to the dilemmas you’ve been pondering. I would rate it an 8/10 and highly recommend picking up a copy at the Textbook Centre for just 1450 Ksh.