Coffee Meets Bagel Review 2025
London's top dating photographer gives an insight into what his clients are all saying about Coffee Meets Bagel.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview
Coffee Meets Bagel Review in 6 seconds
Coffee Meets Bagel Dating Statistics
What does Coffee Meets Bagel offer that others don't?
Coffee Meets Bagel FAQ
Coffee Meets Bagel Review Conclusion
The Coffee Meets Bagel tagline "Quality over quantity" might sound like marketing waffle, but there's actually some substance behind it.
Unlike the endless scroll of faces you get elsewhere, CMB deliberately limits your daily matches to force you to actually pay attention to each person. It's the anti-Tinder approach, and for some people, that's exactly what they've been craving.
Founded by three sisters who famously turned down a $30 million buyout offer on Shark Tank (the biggest offer in the show's history, no less), Coffee Meets Bagel has carved out a niche for itself among the more thoughtful dating apps. It's not trying to be the flashiest or the biggest, it's trying to be the one that actually works for finding something real.
The whole concept revolves around slowing things down a bit. You get a curated selection of matches at noon each day (hence the "bagel" terminology), and that's your lot.
No endless swiping until 3am, no analysis paralysis from too many choices. Just a handful of people to consider properly.
Coffee Meets Bagel Review in 6 seconds ⚡
The good stuff
Quality over quantity approach with limited daily matches actually works
Better gender balance than most apps, with women slightly in the majority
Highly educated user base (96% have bachelor's degrees, 35% have master's or higher)
Clean interface that doesn't overwhelm you with options
Messages expire after 8 days, pushing people to actually meet up
Stuff you might not love
Very limited daily matches might feel restrictive if you're impatient
Premium features are pricey for what you get
Smaller user base means fewer options, especially outside major cities
The whole "bagel" terminology gets a bit too cute too often and might make you cringe
Coffee Meets Bagel Dating Statistics
The numbers tell an interesting story about who's actually using this thing:
Coffee Meets Bagel has made over 150 million matches since launching
91% of users are looking for a serious relationship, which is refreshingly high
The gender split is 62.5% male to 37.5% female, which is actually more balanced than most dating apps
64% of users are aged 30-49, making it more mature than the typical swipe-fest
96% of users have a bachelor's degree or higher, with 35% holding master's degrees or above
Working with dating photography clients across London, I've noticed Coffee Meets Bagel tends to attract a more professional crowd. These aren't your typical "looking for fun" profiles, people here generally mean business when it comes to finding a relationship.
What does Coffee Meets Bagel offer that others don't?
☕ The Bagel System - Every day at noon, men get up to 21 potential matches while women receive up to 5. Before you cry sexism, there's logic here, it counteracts the typical male heavy activity patterns on dating apps.
⏰ Message Expiration - Conversations expire after 8 days, which sounds harsh but actually pushes people to meet in person rather than become pen pals for months.
📚 Educated Crowd - This isn't by design, but Coffee Meets Bagel has somehow attracted one of the most educated user bases in online dating. Great if you want conversations beyond "wyd."
🎯 Curated Matching - The algorithm uses mutual Facebook connections and detailed preferences to serve up matches, rather than just proximity and age ranges.
💰 Bean Currency - You can earn or buy "beans" (yes, really) to unlock premium features like seeing who liked you or getting more matches.
🔄 Discover Section - Beyond your daily bagels, there's a separate area where you can browse additional profiles, though you'll need beans to interact.
Coffee Meets Bagel FAQ
What's the male to female ratio?
Currently sitting at about 62.5% male to 37.5% female, which is actually better balanced than most dating apps. The slight male majority isn't as pronounced as on Tinder or other swipe heavy platforms.
Best pictures to use on Coffee Meets Bagel?
Since the user base skews professional and educated, your photos should reflect that. Clean, clear shots that show your face properly work best. Get some professional photos done, the investment pays off when you're dealing with a quality focused platform.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel for dating or hookups?
Definitely dating. With 91% of users looking for serious relationships, this isn't the place for casual encounters. The whole setup, limited matches, message expiration, educated user base, is designed for people who want something meaningful.
How is Coffee Meets Bagel different from Tinder?
It's basically the opposite of Tinder. Where Tinder gives you unlimited options and encourages rapid fire swiping, CMB gives you a few carefully selected matches and forces you to slow down. The user base is older, more educated, and more relationship focused.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel good for over 30s?
Absolutely. With 64% of users between 30-49, it's actually one of the better apps for people who've moved past the party phase and want something serious.
Why am I not getting matches on Coffee Meets Bagel?
The limited daily matches mean competition is fierce. Your profile needs to be absolutely spot on. Professional photos, thoughtful answers to prompts, and a bio that shows personality without trying too hard are essential.
Do men or women message first?
Either can start the conversation, but remember you only have 8 days before it expires, so don't hang about.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel worth it in 2025?
For the right person, yes. If you're tired of endless swiping and want to focus on quality connections with educated, relationship minded people, it's worth trying. Just don't expect the same volume of matches you'd get elsewhere.
Coffee Meets Bagel free vs paid?
The free version gives you your daily bagels and basic messaging, but the premium tiers unlock additional features:
CMB Premium Features:
See who liked you
Get read receipts
Access to additional filters
More beans for extra features
Activity reports on your matches
Is CMB Premium worth it?
Depends on your patience levels. The free version works fine if you're not in a rush, but premium features can speed things up significantly. Given the limited daily matches, seeing who already liked you can save time.
Coffee Meets Bagel vs Bumble
These are quite different beasts. Bumble gives women control over who messages first and has a larger user base, while CMB focuses on quality curation and has a more educated crowd. Bumble's better for volume, CMB's better for targeted matching. I'd still give the edge to Bumble for most people, but CMB has its place.
Is Coffee Meets Bagel a good dating app?
For the right demographic, educated professionals in their 30s and 40s who want something serious, it's actually very good. The quality over quantity approach works well when you're dealing with people who have limited time and clear intentions.
The key is managing expectations. You won't get dozens of matches, but the ones you do get are more likely to lead somewhere meaningful.
Best Coffee Meets Bagel alternatives?
Bumble remains the gold standard for serious dating with good volume. Hinge is another quality focused option that's worth running alongside CMB. For the over 35 crowd, Match.com still delivers results.
Coffee Meets Bagel Review Conclusion
Coffee Meets Bagel isn't trying to be everything to everyone, and that's actually its strength. It's carved out a specific niche, educated professionals who want quality over quantity, and serves that market well.
The limited daily matches force you to be more thoughtful about your choices, and the 8 day message expiration pushes people towards actually meeting up. For busy professionals who don't have time to scroll through hundreds of profiles, this focused approach makes sense.
Just don't expect the same rush of matches you'd get on more volume focused apps. This is about making fewer but better connections, and for the right person, that's exactly what they need.
If you're tired of the swipe fest and ready for something more thoughtful, give it a go. Just make sure your profile is absolutely dialled in first, you won't get many chances to make a first impression.
Happy dating!
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