What is a coffee date?

A coffee date (or "drinks") is a common style of first dates made popular by the increase of people meeting through online dating. It is great to use when you have never seen the other party or you are unsure if you will click with her.

If you are setting up one of your friends to go on a blind date, make it a coffee date or something similar. This will keep both parties relaxed as they most likely are out of their comfort zones just with the idea of a blind date.

Many guys go out of their way to think up fun things to do on the first date, only to find that there is no connection, or she is not what he thought she was. The coffee date makes for easy escape if things go wrong and you should really save the fun ideas for dates later on.

Location

There is only really one place to have a coffee date and that is the most convenient coffee shop, cafe or Starbucks. The coffee shop is the best place as it is a public location for a coffee date where both you and her can feel safe. The public aspect to it helps calm down the nerves of both parties allowing for a relaxed conversation.

Who buys?

As you do not know the other party well if not at all, you should not expect to pay for their coffee. If you did pay for her coffee and show your financially frivolous side, you will be giving her the expectation that you will pay on all following dates. Make paying for her more of a treat rather than the normal thing, and it will mean more to her when you do.

One hour

The problem with many other fun things you can do on dates is that they are all time consuming. They do not allow for either party to cut the date short if things do not go to plan or if they are not what you were looking for.

You should head into a coffee date with the expectation that it will not last any longer than one hour. Any longer and you run the risk of running out of things to say or becoming boring.

After the date

Once your coffee date is over, you both leave and reflect on the coffee date. If you feel it was a success you should start thinking about a second date.