by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Published 2019
The cosy, heartwarming first book in the multi-million copy bestselling series.**Pre-order Before I knew I loved you, the new book in the series, now!**What would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time? Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold, translated from Japanese, explores this age-old question . . .In a cosy back alley in Tokyo, there is a cafe which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.Prepare to meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the cafe’s time-travelling offer in order to:- confront the man who left them- receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by Alzheimer's- see their sister one last time- meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat. They cannot leave the cafe. And finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .‘This book broke my heart, took the pieces, and put them back together in a messy and beautiful way. . . ' - well.read.woman on Instagram Continue the beautifully moving storytelling with Tales from the Cafe, Before Your Memory Fades, Before We Say Goodbye and Before We Forget Kindness.
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Veda Sky's soothing, warm, and intimate tone is perfect for a reflective storyteller setting a cozy, magical atmosphere.”
Female · Young · Narration · Soft · Warm · Calm · +3 more
“This voice is soothing, gentle, empathetic, and intimate with a measured pace, fitting the narrator's warm and reflective qualities.”
Australian · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Helene-Marie offers a warm, intimate literary voice with emotional composure, well-suited for gentle fantasy and reflective storytelling.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Kimberly's warm, calm, and natural narrative voice with a steady cadence is ideal for engaging, reflective storytelling.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Lauren's gentle, reassuring voice with clear, measured delivery is excellent for calm and reflective narration.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
The stoic waitress of the Funiculi Funicula cafe, who serves the coffee for time travel. Her voice is calm and matter-of-fact, delivering the rules without much emotion, yet with an underlying kindness.
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Mina's gentle, calm, and steady presence with measured pacing and restrained emotion perfectly captures Kazu's stoic yet kind demeanor.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Aida Adriana's calm, clear, and composed voice with measured delivery is ideal for Kazu's matter-of-fact rules without much emotion.”
Nigerian · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Saint Icy's warm, calm, and measured narrative tone aligns with Kazu's underlying kindness and steady presence.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“Christine's expressive yet natural flow and clear articulation can convey Kazu's matter-of-fact delivery in an engaging way.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Cliff 1's warm confidence and clarity can be adapted to Kazu's gentle, neutral delivery of the cafe's rules.”
A woman seeking to confront her boyfriend who left her. Her voice should convey a mix of hurt, determination, and lingering hope, perhaps with a touch of vulnerability.
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Modulated
“Juliet's bold, gripping, intense, and expressive tone is ideal for Fumiko's mix of hurt, determination, and vulnerability.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Serious
“Lauren's smooth, intense, and captivating voice is well-suited to convey Fumiko's determination and serious intent with a touch of intrigue.”
Standard · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Intense
“Meher's gripping, expressive, and intensely controlled delivery can portray Fumiko's dramatic emotions and serious confrontation.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Intense
“Valory's ability to build intensity and dramatic pacing aligns with Fumiko's emotional journey of hurt and hope.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Intense
“Olivia's cool, poised voice with subtle tension and dramatic narration can convey Fumiko's underlying hurt and determination.”
A wife wanting to receive a letter from her husband whose memory is fading. Her voice should be filled with tender love, quiet sorrow, and a deep, enduring affection.
Indian · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Ayesha's soft, emotionally rich, warm, and intimate voice is perfect for Kohtake's tender love, quiet sorrow, and deep affection.”
Us Southern · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Danielle's warm, calm, and emotionally expressive voice with gentle and intimate narration is ideal for Kohtake's tender traits.”
Canadian · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Luna's warm, gentle, soft, and nurturing tone naturally fits Kohtake's tender love and quiet sorrow.”
Indian · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Mature
“Gaia's warm, expressive, and versatile voice with a nurturing quality can beautifully convey Kohtake's deep affection.”
British · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Alexandra's warm, gentle, and resonant voice can effectively convey Kohtake's quiet sorrow and deep affection.”
A woman who wishes to see her sister one last time. Her voice should convey a sense of regret, longing, and a profound desire for reconciliation or understanding.
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“Vera Onyx's deep, velvety, and emotionally controlled voice with dramatic storytelling capability is ideal for Hirai's regret and longing.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · Social-Media · +58 more
“Jade's dramatic, sad, intimate, and expressive traits, combined with calmness, perfectly suit Hirai's complex emotions of regret and desire for reconciliation.”
British · Old · Female · Narrative Story · Mature
“Beatrice's mature, warm, rich, and calm voice with an engaging and wise delivery can convey Hirai's profound desire for understanding.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Entertainment · Low · Educational · +56 more
“Max's dramatic, intimate, sad, calm, and expressive traits make her a strong choice for conveying Hirai's emotional depth and longing.”
Irish · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Crisp
“Beckie's mature, gentle, and warm melodic tone can subtly convey Hirai's vulnerability, regret, and longing.”
A woman who wants to meet the daughter she never got to know. Her voice should express a deep maternal yearning, quiet grief, and a hopeful, tender anticipation.
African American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Excited
“Ms. Harris's comforting, wise, warm, and hopeful tone beautifully expresses Kei's deep maternal yearning and tender anticipation.”
Indian · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Mridula's soothing, expressive, gentle, and inviting voice with warmth is excellent for conveying Kei's maternal yearning and quiet grief.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Whispery
“Gentle Gemma's intimate, soft, and soothing delivery is ideal for expressing Kei's quiet grief and tender anticipation.”
British · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“Frayr's warm and friendly British accent can bring a tender and hopeful quality to Kei's character.”
Indian · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Ami Sarah's warm, friendly, and engaging voice can convey Kei's hopeful and tender anticipation for her daughter.”
The cafe owner, a kind and observant man. His voice should be comforting, steady, and wise, offering a sense of stability and warmth to the cafe's magical atmosphere.
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Archer's deep, steady, calming, and reassuring voice perfectly matches Goro's comforting, wise, and stable presence.”
Male · Young · Medium · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · +56 more
“Gus's deep, calm tone and clear articulation can convey Goro's gentle, observant, and comforting nature.”
American · Old · Male · Narrative Story · Confident
“Emilio's educated, articulate, and older voice can effectively portray Goro's wisdom and steady demeanor.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“The British Podcast Narrator's warm, relaxed, friendly, and engaging tone aligns well with Goro's comforting and approachable character.”
Australian · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Bruce's warm, mature, steady, and trustworthy narrative tone suits Goro's wise and stable presence in the cafe.”