"Prefer to" vs "prefer than"

I am confused as to when to use "prefer to" and "prefer than".
For example, we write:

I prefer coffee to tea.

So why can't we use than instead of to?
Also, can someone give me an example of a sentence where we use prefer than? I exactly can't remember a sentence but I'm sure I've read it somewhere.

Solution 1:

The English phrase is prefer to.

Q. "So why can't we use than instead of to?"
That's just the way it is - that's the way the language has developed.

Q. "Can someone give me an example of a sentence where we use prefer than?"
No. It wouldn't be correct English.

"I exactly can't remember a sentence but I'm sure I've read it somewhere."
If you have read it, it was incorrect.

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