Is Meeting for Coffee Good for a First Date or a Red Flag?

"Some folks have been been claiming that asking to "meet for coffee" is too low effort and a red flag. But a "coffee date" has long been a lower risk and cost approach to getting to know each other better. Asking someone to meet for coffee can be a good option if it matches your personality and preferences. Don't read too much into a request to meet for coffee since it alone doesn't say too much about the person."

"A coffee date is any date that's a relatively casual meeting at a coffee shop, cafe, or some other informal location. It typically will occur during daylight hours and is shorter than a more formal dinner date or go-to-some-kind-of-show date. In fact, asking someone to "meet for coffee" doesn't even have to signify a date. It could simply be a way of getting to know someone better for any type of personal or professional purposes."

"You could say that the whole "meet for coffee" thing is well-grounded in history, with quite a few advantages. It's certainly easier to schedule and, yes, lower cost than say going to the Cirque du Soleil. If a coffee date doesn't go well, the most you've lost is an hour or two of your time and maybe some money, depending on how many espresso shots, drizzles, powders, and toppings you have been added to the venti matcha"

Controversy has arisen on social media about asking someone to 'meet for coffee' as a first date, with some calling it low effort or a red flag while others defend it as low-pressure. A coffee date denotes a casual, often daytime meeting at a cafe or similar informal location and can be shorter and less costly than a formal dinner or event. A coffee meeting can be social or professional and often reduces scheduling friction and potential loss if it goes poorly. Personal preference and context determine whether a coffee invitation is appropriate, and the invitation alone reveals little about someone's character.

Read at Psychology Today