A note from Dawoon Kang, co-founder & Chief Dating Officer of Coffee Meets Bagel
Listen, we know that dating sometimes gets a bad rap. And we totally understand why! Putting yourself out there is scary, and it’s disappointing when things don’t work out how you want them to.
But here’s our counterpoint: Dating itself isn’t all that bad, it’s the dating-the-wrong-people part that makes things so hard. You know who we’re talking about: the ghosters, the game-players, the “I know we’ve been seeing each other for three months but I’m not ready for anything serious,” kind of people.
But that’s where we come in. My sisters and I believe everyone deserves a fair chance at love. So, we created a dating app where you can spend less time on the wrong people and more on the right.
Sure, dating is still tricky sometimes. But CMB is here to help you every step of the way, from setting up your profile to meeting someone new to navigating a first date. Let’s dig into how we’re doing dating differently, plus everything you need to know to make the most of Coffee Meets Bagel.
While social media apps like Instagram and Twitter are convenient tools when used purposefully, they’re also time-sucks. Infinity pools. Black holes. They’re happy to grab your attention and suck you into endless scrolling: photos of your friends’ vacations, breaking news, pop-culture trends, cats playing the piano.
And when dating apps exploded onto the scene, most of them followed this pattern. In fact, this study says more than one in 10 dating app users swipe for over 14 hours a week.
This didn’t vibe with us, so we chose a different approach.
At CMB, we’re here for the dater who’s ready for something serious — and tired of wasting time on the people who aren’t. In fact, we’re so serious about being serious that we ask upfront what you’re looking for when you sign up. Only interested in a casual relationship? You’re welcome to join, but you won’t find that here.
This approach has attracted a special kind of community, with over 91% of CMB Daters looking for a serious relationship. That means you won’t be stuck wading through a sea of singles who aren’t on the same page.
And on top of a curated community, we’ve made it so online dating doesn’t have to be your whole life to be successful. Instead of making you swipe all day on the wrong people, we’ll introduce you to select people we think are the best fit.
We’ll use information — like the preferences you set and who you’ve liked or passed on in the past — to introduce you to your best potential matches (aka bagels). Then, we’ll send you a daily suggested batch every day at noon.
And then, before you can see your next bagel, make a decision to like or pass on them. Every time you like or pass on a bagel, we’ll learn more about you and your type, so tomorrow’s bagels will only get better.
It may even take a week to get your first match (when you like someone and they like you back). But that’s OK, too. Instead of feeling swipe-fatigue like on other apps, you can take a break and just live your life. We’ll continue working in the background to set you up with someone great.
Now that you know what to expect, let’s dive into a few terms that will help you better navigate Coffee Meets Bagel.
Bagels: Your potential matches (That means you’re someone’s bagel, too!)
Suggested: Suggested is where we introduce you to your best potential matches every day at noon. And since we’re always learning more about your type, that means our suggestions will only get better. You can like a limited number of profiles in Suggested for free each day, or go Premium to access Unlimited Suggested.
Discover: The section that’s “the schmear on top,” for when you want to browse extra bagels nearby beyond our suggestions. They may not meet your preferences, but we think they could still be a good match. Send flowers to show your interest in Discover.
Flowers: When you send flowers, your match will be notified right away, and your profile will be shown at the top of Likes You with a virtual bouquet. You can send them in both Discover or Suggested, and you can always match with anyone who sends you flowers for free.
Beans: Earn beans by signing in, exploring, and more. Trade them in to unlock special features such as sending flowers and boosting your profile. Need more beans? Pick some up at the Bean Shop.
CMB Premium: Our subscription package that includes special features such as Unlimited Suggested, so you can like and pass on as many suggested profiles as you want; Likes You, where you can see everyone who likes you at once and match instantly; Monthly profile Boost, so you can get up to 5x the views; and Premium Preferences, which let you set relationship goals, smoking habits, and more in Suggested.
Now that you know what to expect, make sure you’ve checked these must-dos off your list:
✅ Take and select your best pics
✅ Write a profile that reflects the true you
✅ Set your preferences and start connecting!
Lots of love and kindness to you as you embark on your dating journey! Remember: it might take time, it might feel slow, or it might even feel discouraging at times. But, I hope you savor and enjoy the process!
