CofeeScript does have fewer characters, but it seems even the core functionality of the language is often overlooked.
Not only are the more special syntax values(like true, yes, on, false, no, off), but something simple in Javascript is really ambiguous in CofeeScript.
For example, take a look at the following examples, only white space changes throughout the examples, but look at the compiled code ;)
foo ->
bar 'foo'
, -> 'bar'
foo ->
bar 'foo'
, -> 'bar'
foo -> bar 'foo'
, -> 'bar'
foo -> bar 'foo',-> 'bar'
foo -> bar 'foo',
-> 'bar'