QR codes for cafes and coffee shops
In a coffee shop, speed matters more than a long menu. A code at the counter lets customers order ahead or join a loyalty program in seconds, and a code on the cup brings them back.
Pay $3 for each code, point it at your ordering or rewards page, and put it where people wait.
Order ahead and shorten the line
The morning rush is where a cafe wins or loses regulars. A code by the door that opens your order-ahead page lets people queue less, and your team can make drinks in the order they arrive.
Link the code to the ordering page from your point-of-sale or ordering tool. The code just makes it quick to reach.
Where to place the codes
Put them where people see them before they join the line, and where they hold the cup.
- At the door and on the counter, so people see it before they queue.
- On the cup sleeve or takeaway bag, linked to a loyalty page or a reorder link.
- On the pastry case, linked to today's specials.
- On table tents, linked to the full menu and your opening hours.
Loyalty without a punch card
Paper punch cards get lost in wallets. A code on the counter that opens your rewards sign-up lets customers join in a few seconds, and they carry the card on their phone.
Link the code to the sign-up page of your loyalty tool rather than a long form, and keep the first screen to an email address or phone number.
Keep the page current
Specials change, hours shift for holidays, and sold-out items need to come off. Because the code opens a page you control, you can update it between the morning and afternoon rush without printing anything.
Example signs
Each example code opens threedollarqrcode.com. Your code can open any page you choose.
Questions
Does the code take orders?
It opens a page. Use an ordering page from your point-of-sale or ordering tool for the actual order.
Will a sleeve code scan on a curved cup?
Keep the code on the flat part of the sleeve, at least about 0.8 inch (2 cm) wide, and test it on the real cup before printing a batch.
Should I print the code directly on cups?
A sleeve or a sticker is easier to change. Printing directly on cups means a new run whenever you change the page address.
Make your code for $3
Pay once. Pick the page your code opens and print it wherever you need it.