Spark Hearts and Find Your Love at Coffee Meets Bagel [2021 Review]

While the name “Coffee Meets Bagel” seems rather atypical for a dating platform, you’d be surprised by the total number of members using it. It was launched back in 2012 by three sisters, who thought that creating a San Francisco-based mobile dating app that values quality over quantity is something they could do. The platform was created to “counter” the casual connections and instant hookups made possible by the online dating world’s swiping feature. They think it was already saturating the market, therefore, wanted to bring something fresh to the table. Is this where you will finally meet your match and find your best connection?

Read more to find out!

But first, what’s the idea behind Coffee Meets Bagel?

Source: Youtube

We already mentioned that this dating platform was created as a counter for the casual connections that are now prevalent in today’s age. Dawoon Kang, the co-founder of Coffee Meets Bagel, talked to Miss Bish to explain the idea behind their project. According to her, it’s all about putting ladies in the driver’s seat and empowering them to go and find their true love. You won’t see cringe-worthy pick-up lines, nor interact with thirsty vultures that would only send you their dick pics. Simply put, this platform is rather… wholesome.

Coffee Meets Bagel was made, guided with the vision of being the best dating service specifically for women. We are already living in the modern age, and gone are the days when only men are expected to take control of their destiny – love life included. If you are wondering about the name, it is because the app sends quality “bagels” or matches to their members. Think of it this way. You are subscribed to a bagel delivery everyday – but these come in the form of potential partners. And what better way to describe the individuals and working professionals than coffee (since everyone is looking forward to their coffee break)? Connect the dots and you get “Coffee Meets Bagel.”

Every day at noon, the app gives the women the profiles of men who liked them first. That being said, they have the final say on who they want to talk to.

Coffee Meets Bagel is responsible for over 120 marriages or engagements in the US

Source: Coffee Meets Bagel

Since being launched in 2012, the platform has initiated more than 2.5 billion introductions for singles from across the globe! The figures are astounding. It’s like getting the singles living in the United States for 7 times!

There are many dating success stories that will make you wish you created an account sooner. Things are no different for Coffee Meets Bagel because the dating app has over 120 marriages or engagements in the US so far. In addition, it has helped over 50,000 couples connect with each other. If you don’t believe it, just know that Dawoon Kang herself found the man of her dreams using the app!

How it Works

Source: Coffee Meets Bagel

Like with all dating platforms, you need to dedicate some time to completing your profile before you get your matches. The good thing about Coffee Meets Bagel is that you won’t have a hard time setting up your account. While it is not available as a desktop or mobile website, you will still find the app definitely worth your while.

You need to sign up using your Facebook account. There is no other way to register. Once done, you will get matches through your Facebook friends of friends. You will also be immediately guided through a series of steps for profile creation. They will need you to provide your basic info such as height, education, religion, and ethnicity. You can choose your best photos from your Facebook account – which is probably where you display lots of photos. There are also three phrases you need to finish, which will give your potential match, an idea about your interest/s. The phrases are:

“I am…”
“I appreciate when my date…”
“I like…”

Wait ’til Coffee Meets Bagel does its magic (a.k.a. algorithmic matching) and give you their recommended users or bagels at noon. If you are not satisfied with the users in the suggested list, you can always browse through different profiles in the Discover tab of the app. It will give you more freedom over your matches.

What happens if I get my matches?

The men recommended to you will only have 1 day to “pass” or “like” you. If by 24 hours, they still haven’t chosen their option, then it will expire. Women are also presented with 6 matches everyday – it’s a small figure if you are used to the matches given by other dating sites such as Tinder. However, these are quality matches and you can expect no less.

Women also have the power to chat with men, and the feature will only be available for 7 days. Sending messages to other users is a free feature. If you find someone you like, we suggest you take control of your life and see if he’s worth your time. The matches get refreshed every day at noon, and there’s a chance that they will disappear from your radar.

Note: Compared to other dating platforms, Coffee Meets Bagel is relatively small. This is why the number of matches is not so big. It is based on the availability of members in different cities.

The good and the bad about Coffee Meets Bagel

Source: Youtube

No dating platform is perfect, but at least you can see if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Here are the pros and cons of using Coffee Meets Bagel:

PROS

It is available as a mobile app. It’s safe to say that everyone is almost always on their phones 24/7. Given that, it’s only fitting that the dating site is available as an app. That way, it’s convenient and easier to use. You can download Coffee Meets Bagel for iOS and Android.

The free features are impressive. You can easily create your profile, and browse potential matches’ profiles easily. You will also get to use the messaging feature once you are both connected with each other.

You will be encouraged to review the whole profile. This app was made to combat the fast “swipe-now-look-later,” or the superficial factor, made popular by other dating apps. If you are using Coffee Meets Bagel, it is natural for you to be more discerning of matches, and not just judge them for their looks. Plus, you only get a few per day. It won’t take you all day to browse through their profile!

There are many women here. This app wants to empower women and let them take control of their lives. The vision must be clearly communicated to many, given that the current ratio is about 60/40 – women to men.

CONS

There is no website or desktop version. We listed the availability of a Coffee Meets Bagel dating app as part of the pros, but it is actually a double-edged sword. There is no desktop version, so you won’t be able to use it when you are simply relaxing at home, or if you are working, and want to squeeze in a quick profile view during lunchtime.

The few matches may bore you. While the platform takes pride in its quality matches, you’ll probably get tired one day and say you need more options. This will discourage members who want to make the most out of their online dating activities. They will think that 6 matches per day are not enough.

Your circle of friends may know who you’re matching with. Some people want to keep their dating life a secret. Since Coffee Meets Bagel requires you to sign up using your Facebook account, and your matches will also be partly based on that platform, you might have a hard time keeping your dating activity a secret.

It’s a small world. Matching with the people from your circle of friends might be embarrassing for those people who would like to keep their searches of a life partner in secret.

Free and Paid Features of Coffee Meets Bagel

Source: Coffee Meets Bagel

How does this dating platform compare to other sites? Here are the free and paid services you can expect from Coffee Meets Bagel:

Free

1. Profile creation and browsing potential matches’ profiles
2. Access to messaging feature
3. Free beans (beans are the in-app currency that lets you unlock extra features)

Paid

1. Activity Report on your matches
2. Monthly 6,000 beans
3. 5 free “takes”
4. Access to mutual friends for your matches
5. 15% more beans for every purchase
6. “Read” feature in messages (you will see if what you sent have been read)
7. Unlimited woos

Everything You Need to Know

Source: Google Play Store

If you are just jumping into the online dating world, it’s easy to get lost in the forest of jargons. Since it varies per site, it helps to know what the unique terms are for each. If we are to talk about Coffee Meets Bagel, here is everything you need to know:

Woo
Remember the unlimited woos we listed under the paid features of this dating platform? Well, a woo is exactly what it is. You send it to someone you’re interested in, but it is more of a “super like” than a plain hello to a stranger. It helps you get noticed by your potential match faster because they know it costs some beans to send one.

Open Sesame
Are you curious about the mutual Facebook friends between you and your match? What if the one you are looking for can be found there? Well then, Open Sesame will be a good feature for you!

#LadiesChoice
You get 6 curated matches every day. But before that, Coffee Meets Bagel actually sends men 21 quality matches that they can “like” or “pass.” Among the men that hit like, the app selects the best matches, to be sent to all the women. In the end, the women get to decide who gets to talk to them.

Beans
Beans are this app’s in-app currency. They will serve several purposes, as you can use these to get access to special features. For instance, if you spend some beans, you can use the Activity Reports of Read Receipts which are normally offered to premium members. You will get free beans the moment you sign up for an account at Coffee Meets Bagel, and you can also save on more by doing other activities.

Mirror Mirror
If you want to see where you rank across the app, then you can check out the data based on your 10 most recent matches. Mirror Mirror shows the score among male and female average ratings – and is based on weekly activities

Express Delivery
Some people just know they’ve met their “match” after reading through their profile. If you want to secure your spot, then you can send a message to a match in advance through the Express Delivery Feature. It will cost you 50 beans, so you better buy and use them wisely.

Give
Do you want to be the best wing woman there is? This feature lets you become a matchmaker by giving a past match or any of your Discover matches to a friend. Plus, if your friend checks the match you sent them, you will also earn free beans. Think of it this way: you are pushing them closer to a guy you know they are compatible with, and you also get a reward for doing so. Using the Give feature can provide you a maximum of 300 Beans per friend per day.

Take
If there is a Give feature, naturally, there will also be a Take. This lets you maximize your exposure to matches that aren’t really part of your set preferences. Still, you will never know if this is where you can find your best partner. By taking a match in the Discover tab, your profile will appear there for a couple of days, accompanied by a note saying that you liked them. If they like you back, you will be connected and they don’t have to spend their beans.

Paid Membership

The platform is free to use, but if you want access to more powerful features, you might want to consider upgrading. The premium account costs anywhere from 15 USD to 35 USD and it increases the number of profiles you can like each day. Committing for a longer time will get you the best deal.

Rates:

• 1 Month – 34.99 USD
• 3 Months – 25 USD or 74.99 USD TOTAL
• 6 Months – 20 USD or 119.99 USD TOTAL
• 12 Months – 15 USD or 179.99 USD TOTAL

Beans (In-App Currency)

• 100 Credits – 0.02 USD/credit or 1.99 USD TOTAL
• 2,000 Credits – 0.01 USD/credit or 23.99 USD TOTAL
• 3,000 Credits – 0.01 USD/credit or 24.99 USD TOTAL

If you don’t want to upgrade, then you better maximize all the opportunities that will help you earn some beans.

A Guide to Dating by Coffee Meets Bagel

If ever you find yourself in need of tips, you can easily check out the Blog section of the website. They regularly post “Save the Date” podcasts, which can greatly help in your dealings of love. Some of the topics covered so far include:

How do I build my decision-making confidence in dating?
How do I get better at asking my date the tough questions?
Dating Hacks
Tips to take your chats to the next level

What do you think of this dating platform? Does it match up to others?

Before you go, read on about The 2020 Dating Guide: Best Dating Sites for Lesbians That You Should Know About and 30 Best Sex Tips to Spice up Your Relationship.