Best POS for a coffee shop in London
Last reviewed 2026-08-05 · by the RetailPOS team
An independent espresso bar in Shoreditch and a small chain across Zones 1–2 need different things. This guide covers the criteria that separate a real coffee-shop POS from a generic till in London, then where RetailPOS fits.
What a London coffee POS must do
1. Recipe-based inventory.Deplete milk, beans, syrups and cups as you ring drinks — real cost and waste, not just a count of “flat whites.”
2. VAT done properly. Standard 20% VAT with correct handling of eat-in vs takeaway so your returns reconcile; the POS should apply the right rate per line.
3. Processing economics. Bring-your-own processing lets you negotiate your card rate rather than pay a fixed percentage to the POS on every sale.
4. Multi-store & offline. Central menu, per-site stock, one report — and a register that keeps working if connectivity drops.
5. Own your hardware. Run on an iPad or Android tablet plus a receipt printer you buy once; no proprietary terminal lease.
How the options compare
| RetailPOS | Square | Lightspeed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card processing | Bring your own (negotiate) | Bundled fixed rate | Own or Lightspeed Payments |
| Monthly pricing | Flat per shop, all features | Free; paid tiers | Tiered per location |
| Recipe/ingredient depletion | Every plan | Add-on / limited | Higher tier |
| VAT eat-in / takeaway handling | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Multi-store on base plan | Yes | Higher tier | Per-location |
| Works offline | Yes | Limited | Limited |
Where RetailPOS fits — and where it doesn’t
Pick RetailPOS if you want recipe inventory, flat per-shop pricing and your own processor across one or more London sites.
Stay on Square ifyou run a single low-volume site where the free tier wins on absolute cost, or you want Square's first-party card readers and quick setup. RetailPOS is bring-your-own and runs on hardware you own.
Frequently asked
- What VAT applies to a London coffee shop?
- The standard UK VAT rate is 20%. Hot drinks are standard-rated whether eaten in or taken away; the eat-in/takeaway distinction matters more for some cold items and food. Check any price with the VAT calculator (select United Kingdom).
- Can I bring my own card processor?
- Yes — RetailPOS is bring-your-own-processor, so you negotiate your rate directly (e.g. with Stripe) rather than paying a fixed percentage to the POS.
- Is it cheaper than Square?
- At higher volume and across multiple sites, typically yes, because you are not paying a percentage of every sale to the POS. At a single low-volume café, Square's free tier can be cheaper.
Open your shop in 30 seconds.
No card. Free until your first 100 sales. Bring your own Stripe; keep your hardware.