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A coffee pass for your café: make the numbers work

A pass can give regulars a reason to return and bring payment forward. It needs clear rules and a price based on your costs.

What a coffee flat rate means

Guests pay a fixed amount for coffee over a defined period. For an independent café, a limited offer can be easier to price than unlimited drinks.

Three models

ModelHow it worksPricing risk
UnlimitedAny number of drinks during the termHeavy use and sharing are difficult to estimate
One drink per dayOne specified product, at most once a dayA defined limit for a guest’s usual order
A fixed allowanceFor example, ten drinks in thirty daysEasy to explain, less incentive for daily visits

These are general models to compare, not a list of JustBack features.

Define the rules

  • One named product. For example filter coffee or Americano.
  • A minimum interval between redemptions. Avoid several immediate repeat redemptions.
  • A personal code. Staff scan it to see whether the pass is currently redeemable.
  • A fixed term. Renewal is a new decision by the guest.

A worked example

Use an expected usage scenario and compare it with full use. The following numbers are illustrative, not a benchmark or a recommended price.

Term30 days
Assumed redemptions18
Assumed ingredient cost per drink€0.90
Ingredient cost over the term€16.20

Payment fees, labour, overheads and your margin still need to be included. Also consider normal full-price purchases displaced by the pass.

Check actual usage before expanding the offer. Extra purchases such as pastries are possible, but not guaranteed. The Café Pass calculator compares expected use, full use and displaced purchases.

How it works in JustBack

With the Café Pass, you define the product, term and minimum interval. Guests pay at your counter and staff activate the pass by scanning their code. Staff scan again to redeem. No app installation is required, and there is no automatic renewal.

Questions

Can a coffee pass work for a small café?

It depends on costs and actual use. Defined products and redemption intervals make the offer easier to price than an unlimited allowance.

How do I limit pass sharing?

Use a personal code and a minimum interval between redemptions. Staff can see whether the pass can be redeemed at the time of the scan.

Does a JustBack pass renew automatically?

No. It ends with the term. Guests can pay at the café to extend it.

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