AI for coffee shops: less milk down the drain

By mise · Updated September 29, 2026

Quick answer: in a coffee shop AI helps with inventory: scan the milk, beans, syrups, cups and packaged pastries (or snap a photo), the AI identifies and categorizes each item and you just count. Two counts a week show real daily usage so you can order the right amount. mise does this with a 7-day free trial.

Coffee shops run on perishables and thin margins per cup. A milk order that's 20% too big shows up at the end of the month.

How mise's AI works

Scan the barcode with your phone camera, or snap a photo of the label if there's no barcode.
mise's AI finds the product instantly. If it isn't in the database, it looks it up on the web and identifies it.
The product comes up categorized: name, brand, category, size, photo and a reference price.
You just enter the quantity. On hand, shrinkage and cost work themselves out.

Example: 250 drinks a day, 60% with milk at 4 oz each: about 4.7 gallons a day in theory. If two counts show 39 gallons used in a week instead of 33, six gallons (about $25) went down the drain or into over-steamed pitchers.

Try mise's AI on your inventory

Scan the barcode or snap a photo: mise's AI finds the product and categorizes it. 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK).

Start free

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Frequently asked questions

What should a coffee shop track in inventory?

Milk and alternatives, beans, syrups, cups and lids, packaged food and pastries, cleaning supplies.

How often should a café count stock?

Perishables twice a week, everything else weekly.

Does it work for several cafés?

Yes, each location is a store with its own stock.

How much does it cost?

A 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK), with unlimited products and counts.