Choosing the right POS system for your coffee shop isn't like picking one for a restaurant or retail store. You've got unique needs, rapid order turnover, customisable drinks, loyalty programmes that actually matter, and kitchen display systems that can handle the morning rush without meltdown.
The problem? Most POS systems are built for restaurants or general retail, then marketed to coffee shops as an afterthought. That's where things get messy.
We've compared three of the biggest names in the UK market, Toast, EPOS Now, and SumUp, to work out which one actually delivers for coffee shop owners in 2026. Spoiler: one of them is purpose-built for this exact scenario, and it's probably not the one you'd expect.
The Quick Comparison
Let's start with the basics. Here's how these three stack up on price and positioning:
- EPOS Now: £25/month, sector-specific coffee shop modules, works across iPad, Android, PC, and Mac
- Toast: £80/month, restaurant-focused software, locked into Toast hardware
- SumUp: £49/month, quick-service focused, originally a card reader company that acquired GoodTill
On paper, EPOS Now is the cheapest option by a mile. But price isn't everything when you're trying to manage fifty oat milk flat whites before 9am on a Monday. Let's dig into what each system actually offers.
EPOS Now: Built for Coffee Shops (Not Just Adapted)
Here's the thing about EPOS Now, it's not just a restaurant POS system that someone slapped a "works for coffee!" label on. They've developed sector-specific modules designed explicitly for coffee shop workflows, which is pretty rare in this space.
That means features like:
- Customisable drink modifiers that don't slow down your till operators (extra shot, oat milk, no foam, etc.)
- Time-based menu switching so your breakfast pastries automatically swap out for lunch sandwiches
- Loyalty integration that works seamlessly without needing third-party plugins
- Kitchen display systems optimised for high-volume beverage service
In terms of hardware flexibility, EPOS Now works across nearly everything, iPad, Android tablets, PC, Mac, and even custom hardware if you decide to upgrade later. That's massive if you're bootstrapping now but want to scale in a year or two. You're not locked into proprietary equipment that becomes a sunk cost.
Payment processing is another win. You can integrate with Verifone, Worldpay, PayPal, Global Payments, or use EPOS Now's own payment service. That flexibility means you can shop around for the best rates instead of being stuck with whatever your POS provider dictates.
Customer support includes live chat, and the company has built a reputation around being genuinely responsive, not just "submit a ticket and wait three days" responsive. For a busy coffee shop owner who needs answers now, that matters.
Pricing: At £25/month, it's the cheapest POS system on this list and arguably the best value when you factor in what you're actually getting. It's also consistently ranked as the UK market leader in EPOS systems, which gives you some confidence it'll still be around (and supported) in five years.
If you want a full breakdown of features and real-world testing, check out our complete EPOS Now review here.
Toast: Great for Restaurants, Overkill for Coffee Shops?
Toast is a solid POS system. Let's get that out of the way. It's powerful, feature-rich, and used by thousands of hospitality businesses across the UK and US. The problem? It's engineered for full-service restaurants, not coffee shops.
You can run a coffee shop on Toast. But you're essentially using restaurant software and hoping it fits. There are no coffee-shop-specific modules, no optimised workflows for rapid counter service, and no real acknowledgment that your operation is fundamentally different from a sit-down dining experience.
The Hardware Lock-In Problem
Toast works on iPad and Android, which sounds flexible: until you realise you're stuck using Toast's own custom registers. You can't bring your own screens, and if you want to upgrade or change equipment down the line, you're beholden to whatever Toast sells.
That's a big deal if you're trying to control costs or future-proof your setup.
Paywall Features
Here's where Toast gets frustrating. Employee management features: something most coffee shops need from day one: are locked behind premium tiers. You only get basic inventory management in the lower-priced packages, which means you're either paying more or cobbling together workarounds.
The base price is £80/month, but if you want the tools to actually run a multi-employee operation with proper stock control, you're looking at additional costs pretty quickly.
Support Gaps
Toast doesn't offer live chat support. There's a phone line, but the hours aren't clearly advertised, and you're left wondering if you'll get through during your busiest service periods. For a first-time coffee shop owner who needs hand-holding, that's not ideal.
Payment Processing Variability
Toast's payment processing rates can change month-to-month depending on your sales volume. That variability makes budgeting harder, especially if you're operating on thin margins (and let's be honest: most independent coffee shops are).
The verdict: Toast is the better choice if you're running a larger operation with table service or need advanced restaurant-style features. But for a straight-up coffee shop? It's overkill, and you're paying for features you'll never use.
SumUp: The Card Reader That Grew Up
SumUp started life as a payment processor: those little card readers you'd see at market stalls and pop-ups. They've since acquired GoodTill and repositioned themselves as a full POS solution for quick-service restaurants and counter-service hospitality.
That evolution means SumUp is better suited to coffee shops than Toast, but it's still more of a generalist quick-service system than a coffee-specific one.
What Works
SumUp is genuinely user-friendly. The interface is clean, setup is straightforward, and the learning curve is minimal. If you're a first-time business owner who's never used a POS before, you'll probably feel comfortable with SumUp within an hour.
It's priced at £49/month, which sits between EPOS Now and Toast. That's reasonable for what you're getting, though you're paying double what EPOS Now charges without getting the sector-specific features.
GetApp rates SumUp at 4.5/5 overall, higher than Toast's 4.2/5, which suggests customers are generally happy with the experience.
What Doesn't
SumUp's roots as a payment processor mean the POS functionality sometimes feels like a secondary feature rather than the core product. You're not getting the depth of inventory management, employee scheduling, or reporting that you'd find in a system built POS-first.
The coffee shop-specific features just aren't there. You can make it work, but you're adapting a quick-service system to fit your needs rather than using something purpose-built.
The verdict: SumUp is a decent middle-ground option if you prioritise simplicity and don't mind paying a bit more for ease of use. But if you want software that truly understands coffee shop operations, it's not quite there.
What Actually Matters for Coffee Shops?
Let's talk about the features that separate a good coffee shop POS from one that'll drive you mad within three months:
Speed at Peak Times
Coffee shops live and die by morning rush efficiency. You need a till system that can process complex orders (half-caf almond milk latte with an extra shot and caramel drizzle) without your barista needing to tap through five menus.
EPOS Now's customisable modifier system is built for this. Toast and SumUp can handle it, but it's clunkier.
Loyalty and Customer Retention
Independent coffee shops compete on experience and loyalty, not price. Your POS needs native loyalty features that don't require third-party plugins or convoluted workarounds.
EPOS Now integrates loyalty seamlessly. Toast offers it but charges extra. SumUp has basic loyalty features but nothing sophisticated.
Inventory Management for Perishables
Coffee, milk, pastries: you're dealing with perishables that need tight stock control. You can't afford to over-order oat milk that goes off or run out of your best-selling blend mid-service.
All three systems offer inventory management, but EPOS Now's is the most robust at this price point. Toast's is locked behind paywalls unless you're on premium tiers.
Hardware Flexibility
This one's underrated. As your business grows, you might want to add a second till, upgrade your display, or swap out tablets. Being locked into proprietary hardware (looking at you, Toast) limits your options and increases costs.
EPOS Now's cross-platform compatibility gives you freedom. SumUp is decent here. Toast is restrictive.
The Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
If we're being honest? EPOS Now is the best POS system for UK coffee shops in 2026.
It's not just about the price (though £25/month vs £80/month is a no-brainer). It's about the sector-specific features that actually understand how coffee shops operate. The customisable modules, the flexible hardware, the responsive support: it's all designed for your business, not a restaurant that happens to serve coffee.
Toast is a great system, but unless you're running a full-service café with table service and complex kitchen operations, you're paying for features you'll never touch.
SumUp is solid if you value simplicity above all else and don't mind paying more for a less specialised system. But you're still compromising on coffee-specific functionality.
Ready to Make the Switch?
If you're serious about upgrading your coffee shop's POS system, we'd definitely recommend getting a closer look at EPOS Now. They offer demos, and it's worth seeing the coffee shop modules in action before you commit.
You can also compare EPOS Now directly against other systems in our detailed guides:
At the end of the day, your POS system should make running your coffee shop easier, not harder. Choose the one built for what you actually do; not what someone thinks you do.