There isn’t one ‘best’ café or coffee shop POS for every business. The right choice of card machine for cafés depends on your size, service style and how customers order and pay. Many cafés look for café POS systems that support fast card payments, contactless, digital wallets and clear reporting.

In practice, café EPOS systems (electronic point-of-sale systems) and café POS systems are often used to mean the same thing. What matters most is that the system supports quick service at the till and reliable payment processing during busy periods.

Not always. If you already have an electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) for a coffee shop or café that works for you, you may be able to keep it and connect payments in a way that suits your setup. The main requirement is a secure, reliable payment flow that supports your service style.

Often, yes. Many cafés keep their existing till system and connect it to card payments. Where Smartlink is used, it can help the till and card terminal share transaction details automatically, reducing manual entry.

Yes. iPad POS systems for cafés are popular because they save space, are easy to use and support fast, flexible payments at the counter.

Yes. Cafés can take payments online for click-and-collect, preorders or catering using secure online checkout, Pay by Link or QR codes.

Yes. If you take online orders, payments can be set up to support click-and-collect, preorders and catering, with reporting that helps reconcile orders and payments more easily.

Most cafés accept cards, contactless and digital wallets to keep queues moving quickly, especially during busy periods.

Fast terminals, contactless payments and simple payment flows help speed up service at the counter and reduce wait times at peak hours.

Elavon Connect brings transactions, settlements and reports into one place, making it straightforward to reconcile daily takings and manage back-office tasks. For cafés with multiple sites, consistent reporting across locations will make it easier to compare performance and spot errors without switching between various systems.

Costs depend on the setup you choose (countertop or portable terminals), your transaction mix and whether you need extras like receipt printers or cash drawers. Elavon offers clear, transparent pricing tailored to your café’s size and service style, with no hidden fees. Getting a quote based on your specific setup is the most accurate way to compare options

Yes. Many café POS systems are designed to scale as your business expands, whether that means adding another till, introducing online ordering or opening additional locations. Using the same payment setup across sites can also make reporting, reconciliation and staff training simpler.

Card machine fees for cafés depend on how you take payments (in-person, online or over the phone) and the payment types your customers use. Elavon offers clear, competitive pricing that reflects your cafe’s transaction mix, with no hidden fees and no surprises at the end of the month.

Yes. Elavon’s payment terminals support tipping at the point of sale, prompting customers to add a tip before paying. This makes the process simple for customers and removes the awkwardness of asking if they would like to tip at a busy counter. Tip amounts are tracked separately in reporting, making end-of-day reconciliation clear and easy to understand.

Yes. Elavon’s portable card readers accept contactless, chip and PIN and digital wallet payments without the need for a fixed counter setup, making them suitable for pop-up cafés, market stalls and outdoor events.

Smartlink connects your café till and card machines, so transaction amounts are sent automatically from the till to the terminal. This removes the need for staff to manually enter the amount on the card machine, speeding up the payment process and keeping queues moving.