A coffee shop’s POS problem is speed. Three taps to a latte with oat milk and an extra shot, tap to pay, tip, next. Anything slower backs up the line. The second problem is that a cafe pays 2.6% to 3% on tickets where the margin is thin to begin with. Clover on a Mini solves the first; dual pricing solves the second.
The setup
| Position | Device |
|---|---|
| Register | Clover Mini with cash drawer through the hub; screen turned or on a swivel stand for tap and tip |
| Second lane at peak | Second Mini on the same account |
| Cart, events, farmers market | Flex, or Clover Go with a phone |
| Pickup orders | Clover Online Ordering to a printer or the Mini’s order screen |
Hardware placed at no charge for qualifying cafes. The Mini’s specs are on the Clover Mini page.
Menu design for drinks
Modifier groups do the work: size, milk, shots, syrups, temperature, with a price on the ones you charge for. A latte becomes latte, then medium, then oat, then done. Pastry and food items with a few modifiers. Combos for breakfast pairings. Daypart pricing if you run afternoon specials. The order prints or displays for the barista with modifiers in a fixed order so drinks are made right.
We build the menu from a photo of your board before install day.
Tips on screen
The Mini shows preset tip options to the customer at tap. Cafes that move from a jar to on-screen tips typically see tip totals rise. Tip pooling and per-employee reports handle payout. Under dual pricing the tip is prompted on the card total and paid to staff in full.
Loyalty, gift cards, online ordering
- Loyalty. Clover’s rewards program or an App Market loyalty app, tied to the customer’s card or phone number, with punch-card or points rules. One program is enough.
- Gift cards. Clover physical cards at about $1 to $1.25 each (100 minimum) and digital gift cards through the dashboard. Details on Clover gift cards and loyalty.
- Online ordering. Clover Online Ordering for pickup, included on restaurant plans, with orders to a printer or screen. Details on Clover online ordering.
Each app has a monthly fee. Pick what you will use.
Dual pricing on small tickets
The Mini shows both totals before the tap: $6.00 cash, $6.24 card. The customer picks. Signage at the register and a line on the menu board disclose it. On $22,000 a month in cards at a $11 average ticket, the cafe keeps about $700 a month that Square or Clover direct would take. The worked example is on dual pricing on Clover.
Cost
Mini placed. Counter Service plan at $59.95 a month, or Essentials at $14.95 for a very simple menu. Processing $0 under dual pricing or interchange-plus. Month to month. Compared with Square, the cafe pays Square roughly $600 a month in processing at this volume; the full comparison is on Clover vs Square.