How Does Coffee Meets Bagel Dating AppWork?
Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app that you've most likely heard of, but no one seems to understand how it works!
Is this a real app that helps you find... bagels?
And what about coffee?
No, it does not.
Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app that aims to help you make deeper, more meaningful connections with people on your level. It takes modern-day swipe apps like Tinder as inspiration and does the exact opposite.
That's right – if you're tired of endlessly swiping, Coffee Meets Bagel is a refreshing change.
But how exactly does Coffee Meet Bagel work? Is it true that there are no bagels?
Let’s find out!
1. Creating Coffee Meets Bagel Account:
Signing up for Coffee Meets Bagel is simple and should only take a few minutes. There is, however, no desktop version.
In order to sign up, you must also have a Facebook account, because Coffee Meets Bagel finds matches from your list of Facebook friends-of-friends. You cannot use Coffee Meets Bagel if you do not have a Facebook account.
Your profile is created in a step-by-step process. Before you can add basic information to your profile, such as your age, height, religion, occupation, and so on, you must first create a username and password.
You're also given three prompts to complete – I am, I like, and I appreciate when my date...
Finally, Coffee Meets Bagel can automatically pull photos from your Facebook profile (you can choose which ones).
2. Improving Your Coffee Meets Bagel Profile
Naturally, Coffee Meets Bagel is similar to any other dating app in that you must fine-tune your dating profile to attract more users.
And, as with any other dating app, your most valuable assets are your photos. They are the first things people notice, and they can influence someone's decision to match with you or not.
As previously stated, Coffee Meets Bagel will automatically pull photos from your Facebook profile, but you can still choose which ones they use. The maximum number of photos allowed is nine, and while we don't recommend exactly nine, it's always a good idea to upload at least 5-6.
Not sure which of your photos are the best?
The best thing to do is to invite a friend to assist you in selecting them. Then, select recent photos, photos of you smiling, and a mix of photos of just you and photos of you and others (preferably you having fun!).
While photos are your most valuable asset, it's worth noting that Coffee Meets Bagel differs from many other dating apps in that profiles are presented in such a way that your education and career are highlighted. This means that if you have a good education, you should be proud of it.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the three prompts (I am, I like, I appreciate when my date...), it's recommended that you think about your answers. Instead of simply saying, "I enjoy going to the gym," try to think outside the box a little. What distinguishes you? What do you like that would pique the interest of another person on a dating app?
Be as descriptive as possible, and if possible, inject a little humour into the mix.
3. Getting Matches on CMB
As previously stated, Coffee Meets Bagel differs from other dating apps in that there is no queue of potential matches (as with Tinder) and no classic search function (as with POF and many other dating sites) for free users.
Instead, any potential matches are tucked away in your profile's Suggested section. Simply navigate to this section to see today's daily recommendations (6 of them, max).
These suggestions are known as "bagels" (hence the name), and if you like them and they like you, you are a match and can begin chatting.
If you don't like the way someone looks, you can pass them up and move on to the next one. You can't land more than 6 matches per day, and you have 24 hours to like or pass on someone. Otherwise, they will disappear.
4. Sending Messages on CMB
One thing we haven't mentioned yet is that when you first create your account, you get to create three icebreakers. These are basically just three interesting facts about yourself that will not appear on your profile until you match with someone.
That's right, once you've matched with someone, they'll be able to see your icebreakers, and you'll be able to see theirs. As a result, if you don't know what to say to start a conversation, you can respond to their icebreaker (or they can respond to yours).
"I always sing in the shower," for example, could be a good icebreaker.
Alternatively, you could start with your own line or send someone a Like.
You will be unmatched if no one initiates a conversation within 7 days of matching.
5. The CMB Discover Feature
“What if I literally never like any of my daily 6 matches?”
It’s a popular question.
And, hey, anything is possible. You may not enjoy any of your daily six matches!
The good news is that, while free users do not have access to a search function, paying members do.
It's called Discover, and it allows you to use filters like education, activity, and location to find matches that go beyond what the app suggests.
6. CMB Beans
You're probably surprised that we're talking about Beans in a dating app review. However, the app's name is Coffee Meets Bagel, so clearly anything goes!
Beans are the currency of Coffee Meets Bagel. When you credit your account, you receive more Beans to spend on things like the Discover feature and Read Receipts (so that you can see whether or not someone has read your messages).
Furthermore, whether you're a paid-up subscriber or not, you get a handful of Beans when you first create an account. You can also earn Beans by completing specific tasks, such as sharing the IG page or logging in every day of the week.
When you subscribe, you will receive X number of beans – the exact number depends on your subscription plan.
By the way, 1 bean gets you nothing. Indeed, rematching with someone who "got away" would cost you a whopping 205 Beans!
Does that seem like a lot? Let's look at the prices...
7. Coffee Meets Bagel Membership Prices
If you want to subscribe, you have a few options:
If you'd rather buy Beans as a one-time purchase, the prices are as follows:
You can pay with a credit card or PayPal, and subscribing to Coffee Meets Bagel also grants you access to a feature that reduces the likelihood of being ghosted.
How does it work?
It essentially uses statistics based on other members' login behaviour and response time to determine whether the person you're speaking with is a typical "ghoster" who gets to know people on the app before disappearing.
Coffee Meets Bagel was founded in 2012, so it's been around for quite some time. Over the years, its user base has gradually grown to the point where more and more people are becoming extremely interested in it.
But here's the thing: Coffee Meets Bagel isn't like any other dating app you've used before. There is no swipe action, nor is there a search function!
So how the heck does it work?!
Every day, you'll be shown six different matches. The app's algorithm selects all of these, and it's up to you to decide whether or not to match with someone. If you get a match, you and your opponent can begin chatting.
Why are there only 6 members per day?
The main reason for this is likely due to Coffee Meets Bagel's low user base in comparison to apps like Tinder. However, it also implies that your six suggestions have been carefully curated and chosen specifically for you and your preferences.
Furthermore, it means you won't have to spend your entire day swiping through profiles.
And here's the thing: Coffee Meets Bagel doesn't want you to waste your entire day swiping. Instead, it wants to find you high-quality matches so you can get off the app and go on real dates as soon as possible.
Conclusion:
Coffee Meets Bagel may not be the most popular dating app in the world, but it is unquestionably one of the best at assisting you in making meaningful connections. It's simple to use, its algorithm matches you with high-quality matches nearby, and it's reasonably priced. You should be able to decide whether Coffee Meets Bagel is the right dating app for you now that you understand how it works.