I would be interested, I have lots of ‘needs’ in the cafe/coffeshop area
Topic summary
Cafe operators moving from Square/Squarespace to Shopify POS report major gaps for fast counter service.
Key pain points:
- No simple modifiers (checkboxes) for drinks; variant limits and slow UI.
- Hard-to-see tip screen; rigid checkout flow; difficult to hold/stack tickets.
- Order ticket printing (with large text/names) not supported natively.
- Returns/exchanges/curbside require POS Pro ($89) on top of base fees; performance lags when busy.
Current workarounds/decisions:
- Many keep Shopify for online (robust ecommerce) but use Square for in‑store (faster, better modifiers); some consider Clover.
- Inventory sync between Shopify and Square via SKUIQ (free first 200 orders, then $45/mo) or Shopventory; accounting integration influenced Square vs Clover choices.
- Some build custom items/“extras” collections for modifiers (often not inventory‑tracked). Loyalty programs complicate running two systems.
- Square Retail used for COGS reporting but lacks “tiles”; COGS requires inventory tracking.
Latest updates (apps/extensions):
- POS Cafe app: adds modifier sets; auto printer access not available via Shopify POS (workarounds in progress).
- Simmer POS extension: KDS (kitchen display), modifiers, ticket management, customizable menu grid, improved modifier UI; ticket printing in development; tipping remains Shopify’s flow.
Status: No consensus resolution; thread ongoing with emerging app solutions and continued split between app-based fixes and reverting to Square.
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