The Origin Story: From Class Project to Full-Time Family Venture
Mi Cafesito, a two-location coffee shop in Fresno, California, started as a school assignment. Evelyn’s son was taking a business administration course and needed to design a company. His love for coffee made the choice obvious. What began as a senior project turned into a family business that now serves a loyal community, one horchata latte at a time.
Founded in 2021, Mi Cafesito is proud to highlight Latin American coffee culture. Their menu features beans from El Salvador, Mexico, and Costa Rica, along with drinks that pull from familiar, nostalgic flavors: churro, tamarind, crema, and cajeta. Everything is rooted in their identity, but still inviting to anyone who walks in.
“You don’t have to be Latino to recognize these flavors. They’re nostalgic, welcoming, and instantly familiar.”
What started as support for a teenager’s homework quickly became something larger. Today, the entire family works in the shop. Evelyn calls it a "full-circle story".
Outgrowing Clover: Limitations That Slowed Them Down
Mi Cafesito’s first POS system was Clover. It looked promising at first, but over time it became frustrating. Every time they needed something new like a kitchen display, mobile ordering, or kiosk features, they were charged extra hidden fees on top of other recurring subscriptions. There was no single dashboard or clear flow. Even choosing a display app meant comparing dozens of options that varied in price and functionality.
“We ended up paying way more than we expected and still didn’t have the tools we really needed.”
The system slowed them down and scattered their attention. Instead of focusing on customers and culture, they were constantly troubleshooting.
Finding Dripos at Coffee Fest
Evelyn met the Dripos team at Coffee Fest Los Angeles and immediately felt it was more compatible with their shop workflow. Dripos offered a complete system: everything they needed to run a shop without having to pay extra or download third-party apps. It was clean, flexible, and straightforward.
“What I liked most was that everything was included. Payroll, time management, rewards, kiosk, tipping. There were no hidden costs or confusing add-ons.”
Unlike their previous system, Dripos let them work at their own pace. There was no pressure to set up every feature immediately. They could focus on what mattered and add tools when they were ready.
The Features That Made the Biggest Difference
Mi Cafesito attributes these tools to what makes their shop run so smoothly:
- Flexible order management: Staff can view orders from different tablets and swap devices between the front and back of house depending on the rush.
- All-in-one pricing: No unexpected charges or mystery apps.
- Reliable customer support: Timely responses from real people when the Wi-Fi goes out or they have educational questions.
- Tipping system: Built-in percentage options led to more frequent and higher tips.
- Rewards program: A simple way to build loyalty that Evelyn plans to integrate further with her marketing team.
“Even now, years in, I can still schedule a meeting and get help right away. It’s not just good support at the start. It’s support anytime.”
How It Changed the Day-to-Day
With Dripos, the team spends less time on logistics and more time on people. The system is fast, easy to navigate, and adjusts to the needs of the day. Whether it’s helping a customer at the register or managing orders during a weekend rush, the tools work around the flow of their shop.
“We can jump in from any tablet and help each other out. It just makes everything smoother.”
Looking Ahead: From California to Mexico
Evelyn’s long-term dream was to build a coffee empire in the U.S., but plans shifted. This year, she’s opening two new locations in Mexico and hopes to build something powerful from there. Her vision is global, but it starts with a strong sense of home.
When asked how she would describe Dripos to another owner, Evelyn doesn’t hesitate:
“It’s the best POS for coffee shops. It’s easy, it’s complete, and it saves both time and money.”
Mi Cafesito is still growing. And now, they’ve got the tools to grow with clarity, intention, and ease.