In the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lantern Coffee isn’t just serving lattes—it’s cultivating a tight-knit community. For co-owner Jon Bailey, the shop is more than a business; it’s a second home. What began as a small café in a quiet neighborhood has grown into a cornerstone of the local coffee scene. The sense of connection runs so deep that when Jon took a short leave last summer, customers immediately noticed.
“I was in the hospital for three days, and my business partner had to text me, ‘Can I tell people where you are? Because they won’t stop asking,’” Jon recalls.
But behind the warm atmosphere and handcrafted drinks, running a coffee shop isn’t just about great beans—it’s about efficiency, adaptability, and having the right tools to keep up with demand. As Lantern grew, so did the complexity of managing orders, inventory, staffing, and customer experience.
The Challenge: Scaling Without the Headaches
Jon and his team were stretched thin, balancing front-of-house service with the increasing operational demands of a growing business. Their previous system—Square—was functional but fragmented. Payroll, online ordering, and reporting were all handled separately, leading to inefficiencies, added costs, and a fragmented workflow.
“With Square, it felt like every little feature came with an extra fee. We tried their email marketing, but it was expensive and didn’t move the needle. Splitting tips by shift? Another fee. At the end of the day, we needed something built for coffee shops—not just another generic POS.”
Manual processes also slowed them down. Orders were once scribbled in chalk on the counter, and tip distribution required hours of spreadsheet calculations. Time spent on admin work was time taken away from customers.
The Switch to Dripos: Everything Under One Roof
Lantern made the switch in August 2022, initially for Dripos’ built-in online ordering and automated tip- splitting. But they quickly discovered the value of an all-in-one system—POS, payroll, inventory, and customer loyalty tools all working together.
“Square charges for every feature. With Dripos, we get everything under one monthly fee. It’s worth its weight in gold.”
Beyond features, Jon was struck by Dripos’ exceptional support. Unlike many competitors that outsource customer service, Dripos keeps support entirely in-house—a major advantage in an industry where quick fixes matter.
“Having support available at 5:30 AM to quickly solve issues is invaluable. We even have Dripos’ number magneted to our espresso machine—I just tell my staff, ‘Don’t call me, call Dripos.’ That level of reliability is a game-changer.”
The responsiveness extended beyond troubleshooting. When Jon suggested a simple UI improvement for the Kitchen Display Screen, Dripos implemented it within two weeks—a level of agility that’s rare in POS providers.
Results: A More Efficient, More Profitable Lantern Coffee
Since switching to Dripos, Lantern Coffee has seen major operational improvements:
- Faster service, shorter wait times
- Automated tip distribution, eliminating manual calculations
- Live inventory updates, reducing waste and improving stock management
- Increased online orders thanks to a more reliable system
By cutting down administrative work, Lantern’s team now has more time to focus on what they love—serving great coffee and connecting with their community.
What’s Next for Lantern?
Lantern is expanding, exploring eCommerce and wholesale coffee sales. They plan to leverage Dripos’ upcoming eCommerce features to streamline online orders while maintaining their core mission: growing sustainably while staying deeply connected to their customers.
“It still feels like a small business that’s built for us.”
If you’re a coffee shop struggling with inefficiencies, Dripos isn’t just another POS—it’s your all-in-one growth partner.
Ready to see how Dripos can transform your coffee shop? Schedule a Demo.