Suggest a coffee date when she mentions she likes them

When she says she likes coffee dates, she's not being random. Coffee is short, it's easy to leave if there's no spark, and it doesn't demand a big chunk of time. She's signaling that she wants to meet you but she's not trying to commit to a three hour dinner with a stranger.

This is actually good news for you. It means she's open to meeting but realistic about what a first date should be. She's not flaking on the idea of dating. She's just being smart about it. Read it as a yes disguised as a preference.

Don't ask if she wants to get coffee. Don't ask what day works. Instead, say something like 'There's a place on Fifth that has great coffee. Are you free Thursday afternoon?'

You're doing two things here. First, you're showing you know an actual place, which means you're not just making noise. Second, you're putting a specific day on the table so she can say yes or suggest an alternative. She doesn't have to think or plan. She just has to decide if Thursday works or if she needs a different day. This is how you go from a nice conversation to an actual date.

If she just told you she likes coffee dates, that's the moment to strike. Waiting a week makes it weird. It looks like you forgot about her or you're not that interested. Send your reply while she's still thinking about the conversation.

Give her two days to respond. If she doesn't answer by then, she either didn't see it or she's not interested enough to make time. You can send one follow-up text after 48 hours if you want, but keep it short and don't apologize. If there's still nothing, move on. Three days of silence is the answer.