Best Coffee Shop POS System: Square POS Review
Best Coffee Shop POS System
The Authority on Coffee Shop POS Systems
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from our partner links on Coffee Shop Startups. Commissions do not affect our evaluations.
Best Coffee Shop POS System
Square POS Review
Reviewed by CSSU Coffee Business Advisors
Opening and running a successful coffee shop requires you to be selective about what equipment you choose to work with. This includes picking the right coffee shop point-of-sale (POS) system.
Over the years, we've looked at everything from espresso machines and coffee roasting profiles to the best coffee shop POS systems to help our readers make the right call for their coffee business.
Café owners face the tough challenge of figuring out which is the best POS system, especially as technology, fees, and options change so quickly.
There are quite a few POS systems on the market, but only several perform well for coffee shops, cafes, and small restaurants.
Today, we're looking at Square POS.
Square POS is a popular Coffee Shop POS System that is used by a wide spectrum of retailers, including coffee shops.
We pose the question:
Does the Square POS system help coffee shops grow?
Let's take a deeper look > Skip and Learn about Square Features and Pricing.
Whether you're just starting your coffee business or looking to switch out your POS systems, we’ll focus on how the Square POS system can help grow your coffee business.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
 Square POS Highlights:
| Recommended Coffee Shop POS:
Get Started Free |
What is Square POS for Coffee Shops?
Square is a well-known POS brand and partner for sellers and retailers like coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Over 2 million retailers use Square POS, which remains the fastest-growing point-of-sale system in the world, according to BusinessDIT.
Square can transform any device – such as your phone, iPad, or computer into a credit card terminal to help process customer transactions.
The company's stated goal is to empower small to medium-sized businesses to process money transactions efficiently, safely, and affordably.
Over the last 14 years, Square has doubled down on trying to create a seamlessly integrated omnichannel point-of-sale system that empowers coffee shop owners and other retailers.
And its investment hasn't stopped.
Every year Square’s point-of-sale products and services keep on getting better. We know this because we previously reviewed Square's POS system about ten years ago.
Since then, Square has been investing in its security, add-ons, user interface, multi-channel capabilities, and multiple ways of accepting payments – all seamlessly – and to its customers’ benefit.
Our previous review rated Square among the most affordable and user-friendly POS systems for coffee shop owners.
Today, Square POS remains, pound-for-pound, the most affordable.
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Get Started Free |
Own a Coffee Shop & Need a Coffee Shop POS Upgrade?
Coffee shop owners need a POS system just as much as an espresso machine. Without a POS system, their coffee shop day would grind to a halt.
In today's coffee shop economy, you can't make money without a point-of-sale system like Square.
Modern coffee shop customers rarely carry cash. Instead, they pay with their credit, debit card, Cash App, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, among others.
In addition to taking payments, your point-of-sale (POS) system needs to help you manage the rest of your business.
Keeping track of your sales, best-selling products, and your peak and slowest hours, as well as managing your employees – all in real-time – builds efficiency and generates the data you need to make better decisions.
Larger coffee shops, cafes, and bistros also need a management system for the front and back of the house. If you operate a large café or small restaurant, you can lean on Square's powerful and intuitive POS system to do this.
Okay, this is all great – but is Square POS affordable?
Yes, from our CSSU assessment, Square offers the most affordable and transparent fee schedule. We break down the pricing below, but you can see for yourself: Square POS pricing.
Coffee shop owners need an affordable POS system that will grow with them.
A Coffee Shop POS that Takes All Kinds of Payments
As coffee shop owners, we want customers to pay how they choose conveniently. This means offering them a variety of secure payment options. Square also supports contactless, magstripe, or chip payments.
Square Accepts Most Payment Options:
| Payment Type 1 | Payment Type 2 |
|---|---|
| Visa | Samsung Pay |
| MasterCard | JCB |
| American Express | Pre-Paid Cards |
| Discover | AfterPay |
| Apple Pay, Google Pay | International Cards |
A Coffee Shop POS is More Than Just a Cash Register
Today's coffee shop POS systems are more than just a cash register. Instead, POS systems are one compact digital toolbox – packed with tools to help you manage and run your business.
While POS systems provide a method for various money transactions – from credit to cash – they also play a central role in data collection that can help you make better managerial decisions.
Having a reliable and secure POS system that helps you keep more of your money – and manage your business better – is critical for the success of coffee shop owners.
| Square Reviews (Third Party) | |
|---|---|
"Top Notch" - NerdWallet |
What Coffee Shop Owners Need
Real-Time Data Makes Lives Easier for Coffee Shop Owners
The instant information that a POS system provides coffee shop owners should give you the tools and knowledge you need to determine your financial success.
Square POS helps you answer the following:
- How much revenue are you making?
- What items are not selling?
- When are your peak sales times?
- What inventory is nearly out of stock?
- What are your most popular items?
- What items should you promote?
How We Measure Coffee Shop POS Systems
Coffee shop owners hate being nickel-and-dimed.
Still, there is no shortage of Point-of-Sale companies hawking their POS systems to bleed small business owners like cafes, coffee shops, and bistros dry.
Therefore, having a reliable system matters, but so too does not being bled dry by transaction fees.
POS systems today can offer a number of bells and whistles – some are cool (and pricey) – but we also think that there are specific core elements that should be considered when choosing a POS system.
While we can list dozens of ways by which to measure and compare Coffee Shop POS systems, we will list those categories below:
Our Coffee Shop POS analysis rated the following:
| Feature | Square's Result | CSSU Assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to Use | Yes | Easy to train |
| Reliable | Yes | Reliable software |
| Various Payments Accepted | Yes | Multiple payments accepted |
| Low Cost | Yes | Zero monthly, Affordable rates |
| Inventory management | Yes | Manage everyone in one centralized hub |
| Works online and offline | Yes | Works when the internet goes down, outside |
| Security | Yes | Square has invested in end-to-end encryption security. |
| Marketing | Yes | Coupons, text messages, customer data collection |
| Management | Yes | Clock in/Clock out / Real-time access |
| Customer support | Yes | Email, chat, or phone support |
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Get Started Free |
Point-of-Sale (POS) Security Means Everything
It doesn't matter how great a POS system is if it can't keep your customer data safe. Square has heavily invested in its security, offering end-to-end encryption. All financial services and transactions are maintained in-house by Square, reducing any possibility of hacking or skimming of data or funds.
Square also manufactures all its hardware, so security is embedded in its system from the ground up. In other words, no third-party systems to worry about.
How to Choose a Coffee Shop POS System
To run a successful coffee shop, you need a few things consistently:
- Employees showing up on time
- Working coffee equipment
- Fresh inventory
- Consistent and accurate accounting
- Good branding and marketing
- Reliable POS System
While we've discussed the first elements in our coffee business blog, we're going to focus on how to choose the best POS system for your coffee shop.
We Recommend Choosing a POS system based on:
Reliability
- Work online and offline
- Easy to use and train employees
- Customer support
- Features you need
- Inventory management
- Fully integrated payment systems
- Real-time reporting
- Hardware that is easy to setup
- Discounting
- Marketing options
- Fee simplicity
- Straight-forward fees
- No surprises or hidden fees
- No long-term contracts
- Quick Money Turnaround
- You get your money fast
- Next day or instant with a bank card or checking account
Like other equipment, a POS company can throw everything at you and then charge you for things you don't need. Then charge you extra for what you actually do need (Kinda like your local cable company).
You probably don't need your Coffee Shop POS system to do everything out there, so why pay for it?
This is what I like about Square – only pay for the services you need. When you grow into a large company, then you'll move up and pay for other services.
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Get Started Free |
Choose a Coffee Shop POS System that Works for You
Point-of-sale (POS) systems create a hub for all your data, including your sales, inventory tracking, staff management, accounting, and marketing.
Coffee shop owners are looking for low-cost POS options that provide them with what they need to process transactions.
How to Choose a POS System for Your Coffee Shop
Coffee shop owners want to know how much their POS will cost them. It's not uncommon for coffee shop owners to be charged for things that they don't need. So, like most coffee shop owners, we are often skeptical of fees, random charges, and extra payments – especially for things we don't need.
We value price transparency.
Specifically, how much will it take to get their Coffee Shop POS set up and running?
We require reliability.
Coffee shop owners need everything to work in order to go smoothly, from our expresso machines, grinders, and fridges to our employees. We also need a reliable Coffee Shop POS system.
Third, your customer experience matters. Is our coffee shop POS a catalyst for efficiency? Does it help get your customers in and out in a snap?
Fourth, does the point-of-sale system provide you with the real-time data management that you need to make important decisions?
Everything from inventory management, sales data, employee management, and marketing, our Coffee Shop POS system needs to deliver.
Coffee shop owners value essential real-time data.
What We Love About the Square POS System
Square POS offers coffee shop owners everything they could imagine – at an affordable cost. In summary, they include the following:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Pricing Breakdown | Easy to Use | Multi-channel and Multi-location Options | Inventory Management |
| Marketing Preferences | Fully Integrated Payment | Real-Time Reporting | Manage Taxes |
| Manual Discounts | Easily Process Refunds | Customer History | Staff Management |
Own a Coffee Shop and Thinking About Switching to Square?
If you aren't using the Square POS system for your coffee shop, you're likely hammered with fees and costs.
Most coffee shop owners hate getting nickel-and-dimed at every corner. And chances are that you're getting the bill.
We know how every sale matters.
We understand how every bit of revenue works to cover our costs. And that bleeding a little cash in fees, transaction costs, and monthly contracts can eat away at our margins.
Square has double-down on this: Keep fees simple, fair, and reasonable.
“My goal is to simplify complexity,” Square CEO Jack Dorsey said. When you remove the complexity, you get more efficiency and lower costs.
Here's Why You Might Want to Make the Switch
- More bang for the buck (Low, upfront cost)
- Easy to setup
- Low transaction fees
- No long-term contract
Square's attitude is transparent. If you don't like their system or fee schedule, there is no contract that needs to be broken. This gives coffee shop owners the freedom they want at a price they feel comfortable with.
What To Know About The Square POS System:
- No Contracts
- No Credit Checks
- Low Transaction Fees
- Grows With You
- Quick Turnaround
- Instant, Next day (standard); Instant with Square checking
- Perfect for Coffee Shops and Mobile Coffee Trailers
Square Provides Additional Financial Services for Coffee Shops
Business Loans
Square provides business loans based on your sales and history with the company. Therefore, it doesn't pull information from your credit report. It offers an easy application process and relatively quick loans in about seven days.
Checking Accounts
Square offers retailers a checking account that seamlessly integrates with their POS system. This makes paying your employees to settle the bill with your vendors easy.
Instant Access to Funds
You can use your checking account funds immediately. Typical financial deposits occur the next business day, but there are options to get access to your funds instantly.
Dispute Assistance
Unfortunately, one of the things retailers have to deal with is disputes and chargebacks. Square helps you navigate disputes that you may encounter with customers. They will communicate directly with the banks involved so you can stay focused on your business.
Square POS Options for Coffee Shop Owners
| Type of Coffee Business | Feature |
|---|---|
| Mobile Coffee Trailers & Coffee Trucks | Easily use Square on your phone or iPad terminal. Works offline or online. |
| Coffee Kiosks and Carts | Square’s sleek and minimalistic design is perfect for kiosks and coffee carts. |
| Farmers Markets | Accept a variety of payments at farmer's markets with Square. |
| Coffee Shops | From a single terminal to multiple registers, Square provides multi-location solutions. |
| Restaurants | Utilize Square's front-of-house and back-of-house powerful app to help with customer and employee management. |
| Multi-locations | Grow with Square to manage one, two or many different locations. |
Recommendation for Coffee Shop Owners:
The Square POS System
Why we recommend Square POS for coffee Shops:
- Accept most payments & gift cards securely
- Easily add inventory to your POS and manage in real-time
- Easily send digital receipts and manage customer information
- Get your money the next day or sooner
- Real-time reporting and analytics
- Support through phone or email
- Sync online and offline orders
Conclusion:
Earlier, we posed the question: Does the Square POS system help coffee shops grow?
After our CSSU assessment of price transparency, robust real-time data tools, and efficiency, yes, we believe that Square POS provides coffee business owners the tools to grow and improve their business every day affordably. If you are searching for an affordable and reliable coffee shop POS, we strongly recommend Square POS.
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Square POS Highlights:
| Recommended Coffee Shop POS:
Get Started Free |
Best Coffee Shop POS Systems
Related Questions:
Is Square POS affordable?
Yes, Square POS is arguably the most affordable and robust POS system for retailers like coffee shops and boutiques.
When you factor in the initiation fees, hardware costs, monthly maintenance fees, and transaction fees that other POS systems charge, Square is the winner for affordability.
But don't let the affordability factor skew your thinking that you're getting less of a product. In fact, despite its affordability, Square provides you with a robust and secure network.
How much does a POS system cost?
POS system costs vary from company to company. Typically, you can expect to pay for the hardware, software, and additional add-ons, as well as the cost and fees per transaction.
Does Square check your credit score?
No, Square does not check your credit score when setting up your point-of-sale system.
What hardware do I need for my POS to work?
The great news is that you have a variety of different options for hardware.
Whether you operate a mobile coffee truck or a cafe or coffee shop, you'll likely find the right fit:
- Square Terminal
- Square Register
- Square Reader
- Square Stand
Can I link Square to my website?
Yes, Square can easily sync your coffee shop to your website. So, if you sell coffee mugs, t-shirts, or bags of coffee, your customers can order online. Your transactions will sync and provide real-time updated sales reporting.
Can I promote and market my coffee shop with Square?
Send digital receipts, surveys, coupons, and messages easily with Square. You can track sales and see the results of your marketing and loyalty programs.
Is Square the Most Popular POS System for Coffee Shop Owners?
Certainly, the POS market is competitive. There are several other good POS systems out there to choose from. However, when it comes to coffee shops, bistros, and large cafes – Square is among the most popular POS systems for coffee shops. Currently, there are over two million Square point-of-sale users, and many of them are coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Is there a free or low-cost Coffee Shop POS system?
Every point-of-sale (POS) system that you would want to have a way to process transactions will charge a percentage of that transaction. Square offers a free app and an inexpensive reader that can be used on your iPhone. So, anyone can get started right away with minimal costs.
Other Reasons to Choose Square
Square POS is dedicated to providing its customers with tools to make sales happen – affordably.
- Proved reliability
- Transparency and low-cost
- Security
- Management tools
A Quick Look at Square POS, the Company
Square first opened in 2009 – at a time when POS systems were bulky and expensive. Since then, they have strived to make transactions easier, sleeker, more affordable, and reliable.
Today, Square works with retailers of all sorts – from coffee shops and food trucks to large companies with one or many locations.
Square is a popular brand that falls under its parent company Block. The company defines Block as an “ecosystem of many businesses united by their purpose of economic empowerment.”
As of this writing, Block is valued at $34 Billion and traded on the NYSE. Over the last couple of years, it has made significant investments in its' sellers platform and aims to grow even further.
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Square POS Highlights:
| Recommended Coffee Shop POS: |
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from our partner links on Coffee Shop Startups. Commissions do not affect our evaluations.
* The information on this page is for educational purposes only. We do not offer legal advice.
Coffee Shop Startups
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