There are a lot of people who go on coffee dates when they are together. The first date is usually a non-romantic date. Think of it as a more of a friendly date when you can get to know the person that you have met online or the person that you have known for a long time over a cup (or two) of coffee. This is when you can determine if you have a lot of things to talk about or if it is going to be very awkward for the two of you.
You can already tell a lot about the person based on what he/she orders and you know that coffee is usually inexpensive. Another great thing about a coffee date is you will not get drunk. In fact, you can be alert so you can put your best foot forward.