Dating tips - Coffee on your first date

Grabbing a coffee is just one of many ways to spend time with your date especially if you want to get to know more about each other. However, there are some disadvantages to this classic fallback date standard.

The main attraction of a coffee date is that it’s casual. No one has to dress up, invest in theatre tickets, schedule a whole night out or commit to a proper evening. This kind of non-committal, casual feel makes coffee a great choice for first dates, blind dates or “getting to know you” meetings.

Another advantage of Coffee is that it's a lot cheaper than a night out on the town. There aren’t any awkward moments when the bill comes or questions about who is supposed to pay. Taking the pressure off about money really adds to the casualness of a coffee date. A coffee date is typically a brief and short date. If a coffee date goes longer than a couple of hours, the two of you may be onto something. But, if you don’t click with each other, you can both depart in 45 minutes without offending anyone and still be friends. Conversely, when you plan a full evening of dinner and dancing, that’s almost 4 to 5 hours of time to fill.

There is also no alcohol involved unless you’re mixing Bailey’s into that coffee. While alcohol can add to the enjoyment of the evening, it can also set you to act differently, say things you wouldn’t normally say and usually be a little more easygoing than you intended to be. If you want to keep things somewhat professional, nixing the alcohol is a good thing.

Coffee also offeres great Post-Date activity. If you’re a couple not ready for a uninterrupted evening at a location away from the cafe, coffee can be a great way to lengthen time together. Or, if you’re out with a large party, going for a nightcap coffee can add a touch of privacy to the end of the evening out without the pressure of heading elsewhere.

Some drawbacks of a Coffee Date is that it’s not always clear that it’s a date. One party may simply think it’s two friends grabbing a cup of joe and some conversation while the other person is having romantic feelings. This could lead to some uneasiness when it is revealed that each person’s expectations differ.

Another setback is that coffee dates may seem too casual. If you want to step it up a notch without upgrading to a full evening on the town, try suggesting going for a quiet dessert at a local, high-end cafe. There you can still enjoy a hot cup of coffee along with a tasty treat and great conversation.

All in all, an initial date over a cup of coffee with someone you are just getting to know socially can serve as a comfortable ice breaker that potentially leads to a more promising relationship.

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