5 Best Cloud POS Systems for Australian Cafes
Running a cafe requires speed and accuracy in every transaction. We look at five cloud POS systems worth shortlisting and the features that matter most for Australian cafes.
On this page
The morning coffee rush is the ultimate stress test for a point of sale system. Orders need to go in fast, modifiers need to be right every time (oat milk, extra shot, half strength), the barista and kitchen need to know what's coming, and payments need to go through without a hitch. A slow or clunky POS costs you sales and frustrates your staff.
Cloud POS systems have become the norm for Australian cafes because they let you update menus, check sales and manage more than one venue from anywhere. Below are five cloud POS systems worth shortlisting, followed by the features that matter most, so you can judge any system for yourself.
The shortlist
EPOS Now
EPOS Now is a cloud POS platform used across hospitality and retail. It covers the cafe essentials, including menu and modifier management, table service and sales reporting, and you can add extras such as a kitchen display, table management, loyalty and online ordering as your needs grow.
Fly
Fly brings cloud POS, payments and back-office tools together, and it's priced per device. That model makes it easy to scale up or down, from a single counter to a busy venue with handhelds for table service.
Square for Restaurants
Square's hospitality POS connects directly with Square's card readers and terminals, as well as its online ordering and invoicing tools. It's popular with new cafes and smaller operators because setup is quick and largely self-serve.
Lightspeed Restaurant
Lightspeed is a global POS company that acquired Australian hospitality POS Kounta in 2019, so many local cafe owners will know its roots. Lightspeed Restaurant is an iPad-based system with strong menu management, multi-venue tools and a wide range of integrations.
Abacus
Abacus is an Australian-built iPad POS designed for hospitality. It covers ordering, split bills, menu updates and sales reporting through a web-based back office, and it works with a range of payment providers, including Tyro and Square.
The Features That Matter Most for Cafes
Whichever system you shortlist, test it against the way your cafe actually runs.
Speed at the counter
Ask for a demo and time how long it takes to ring up a typical order: two flat whites, one with oat milk, and a toastie. Every extra tap adds up across a busy morning. Look for quick keys for your top sellers and modifiers that are easy to find.
Kitchen and barista dockets
Orders should go straight to the right place: coffees to the bar printer or screen, food to the kitchen. A kitchen display system can replace paper dockets entirely and help you spot slow tickets.
Integrated EFTPOS
Integrated EFTPOS sends the amount straight from the POS to the terminal, which removes keying errors and speeds up end-of-day reconciliation. Check which payment providers each POS integrates with, and see our payment solutions if you want to compare options.
Offline mode
Internet outages happen. A good cloud POS keeps taking orders when the connection drops and syncs when it's back. Ask exactly what still works offline, including card payments.
Online ordering and order-ahead
Many cafes now take a slice of their morning trade through order-ahead. If that's part of your plan, choose a POS that receives online orders directly rather than through a separate tablet.
Loyalty
Coffee is a habit business, so a simple loyalty program built into your POS can be more convenient for customers than a paper card. Our guide to loyalty programs via your POS covers what to look for.
Accounting and rostering integrations
Syncing sales to Xero or MYOB saves hours of bookkeeping each week. Read our guide to integrating your POS with Xero and MYOB for the details.
Hardware and support
Think about the full setup: tablets or terminals, docket printers, cash drawer, customer display and handhelds for table service. Then ask who you call when something stops working on a Saturday morning, and how quickly they can help.
Choosing the Right POS for Your Cafe
There's no single best POS for every cafe. A coffee cart, a 20-seat local and a multi-venue group all need different things. Start with your must-haves, book demos of two or three systems, and test them with your real menu and your busiest order types.
KBServices supplies and supports POS systems for Australian cafes and can help you compare options for your venue. Contact us to talk through your cafe's needs or request a quote.
- Cafe POS
- Hospitality
- Cloud Tech
- Restaurant
