Product modifiers are a game-changer for businesses that need to customize orders on the fly, especially for coffee shops, cafes, and quick-service restaurants. If you’re using Shopify, you’ve likely noticed its limitations when it comes to product variants. Sure, Shopify will let us sell a large coffee, or even a small purple t-shirt with a 'powered by coffee' design, but it just doesn't cut it for a large decaf mocha on oat milk with 2 sugars and whipped cream.

So, how do you overcome the Shopify variant limit? Let's talk about product modifiers with POS Cafe!

What Are Product Modifiers?

Product modifiers allow you to customize products based on customer preferences. For example, a coffee shop might use modifiers for:

• Milk types (e.g., oat, almond, skim).

• Sweeteners (e.g., sugar, honey, syrups).

• Add-ons (e.g., whipped cream, extra espresso shots).

Modifiers ensure you can offer personalized experiences without cluttering your inventory with endless variants, or even worse, running out of variants due to Shopify's 100 variant limit! Instead of creating separate product listings for each variation, modifiers streamline the process by letting you adjust products within your Shopify point of sale.

Challenges with Shopify's Product Variants

While Shopify POS is a powerful platform, it has some inherent limitations when it comes to product variants for stores such as cafes, coffee shops and food businesses:

1. Variant Limits: Currently, Shopify will only allow you to create 3 types of variants (such as size, colour and design) with a combined variant limit of 100. Even with the upcoming variant limit increase to 2000, you will still be restricted to the 3 variant types.

2. No Flexible Selection Options: Shopify doesn’t natively allow for modifiers that are optional, required, or allow multiple selections.

3. No Extra Charges for Modifiers: Adding fees for specific modifiers (e.g., $0.50 for oat milk) isn’t straightforward, instead requiring you to calculate total cost of combined variants for every product.

4. Operational Inefficiency: These limitations can slow down your workflow and frustrate staff trying to fulfill customized orders quickly.

How POS Cafe Solves These Challenges

POS Cafe is built specifically for Shopify POS, addressing these pain points and more. 

1. Unlimited Modifiers and Modifier Sets: Add as many modifiers as your business needs. Whether it’s milk types, toppings, or customization options, there are no limits.

2. Flexible Modifier Options:

   • Required Modifiers: Ensure certain choices are made (e.g., milk type for a latte).

   • Optional Modifiers: Allow customers to skip selections if they’re not needed.

   • Multi-Select Modifiers: Enable multiple choices (e.g., selecting both caramel and whipped cream).

3. Extra Charges for Modifiers: Assign pricing to specific modifiers, such as $0.50 for premium toppings or alternative milks.

4. Streamlined Workflows: Use POS Tiles for fast modifier selection or stick with Classic workflows for step-by-step customization. This flexibility ensures your team can work efficiently, no matter their style.

5. Order Tickets and Prep Areas: Assign modifiers to specific prep areas (e.g., barista or kitchen) and print detailed tickets to keep your team organized (only available for merchants using Shopify POS Pro)

Real-Life Use Cases

Here are examples of how POS Cafe’s modifier features help coffee shops and cafes thrive:

• Coffee Shops: A customer orders a latte with oat milk and an extra shot of espresso. With POS Cafe, the barista can quickly apply these modifiers, print a ticket, and assign it to the barista station.

• Cafes: A sandwich shop lets customers select multiple toppings (e.g., lettuce, tomato, and cheese) with optional extras like avocado for $1.50. POS Cafe handles these customizations seamlessly.

Empower a Better Shopify POS Experience

Modifiers are essential for businesses that prioritize customization and efficiency. While Shopify POS has limitations, POS Cafe bridges the gap by providing flexible, powerful solutions tailored to coffee shops, cafes, and QSRs. With unlimited modifiers, pricing options, and streamlined workflows, you can improve accuracy, speed, and customer satisfaction.

Ready to simplify your Shopify POS? Try POS Cafe today and see the difference!