Receipt printer for POS: what to buy and how to connect it
A Bluetooth thermal printer that speaks ESC/POS is all a cafe or restaurant needs. Choose 58 mm paper for a counter, or 80 mm if you also print kitchen tickets, then pair it to Epidom in a few taps.
Why thermal printers
A thermal printer uses no ink or ribbon. Heat darkens the paper directly, so printing is fast, quiet and cheap to run. The only thing you buy again is the roll of thermal paper.
If the printer is Bluetooth, there is no cable across the counter. One small box next to the tablet is the whole setup.
What to look for in a Bluetooth thermal receipt printer
- ESC/POS: the standard command language for receipt printers. Check that the spec sheet lists it.
- Bluetooth: convenient with a tablet or phone, and no cable to trip over.
- Paper width: 58 mm for narrow receipts and a compact body, 80 mm for easier reading and longer lines.
- Auto-cutter: handy in a kitchen where you tear off a ticket every minute.
- Print speed: during a rush, a few seconds saved per ticket adds up.
Epidom does not certify any printer brand. Buy a Bluetooth thermal ESC/POS model in 58 mm or 80 mm, and run a test print right after pairing, before you buy several.
58 mm or 80 mm?
58 mm is plenty for a standard counter receipt at a cafe or bakery: a few lines, a total, a payment method. 80 mm earns its size when item names are long, such as kitchen tickets with modifiers and notes, or table bills with many lines.
A receipt for the guest, a ticket for the kitchen
One printer is not always enough. With the POS plan, Epidom pairs up to four printers to one till, one for each job. A kitchen ticket printer is simply the second one.
- Receipt printer: the receipt with prices and total, the bill and the shift report.
- Kitchen printer: order tickets for the kitchen, with no prices.
- Bar printer: bar items only. Leave it off and bar items print on the kitchen printer.
- Label printer: one sticker per item ordered, for cups and packaging.
How to pair a printer with Epidom
- Open hardware settings — In POS Mode, open the Epidom menu, then Hardware settings. These settings belong to each device.
- Turn on the roles you use — Switch on only the printers you need: receipt, kitchen, bar or labels.
- Pair over Bluetooth — Pick your printer from the Bluetooth list. This needs Chrome on Android or on a computer.
- Run a test print — Use Test print on each printer. Label printing in particular isn't verified on every model.
Limits to know before you buy
- An iPad can't send receipts, kitchen or bar tickets, or labels to a printer. Plan on an Android tablet or a computer.
- With no printer at all, you can still send the receipt to the guest as a PDF or by email.
- A barcode scanner also works at the POS if you sell packaged goods.
Questions
What receipt printer should I buy for a small cafe?
A Bluetooth thermal ESC/POS printer in 58 mm is usually enough for a counter. Go with 80 mm if you also print kitchen tickets with long item names. Always do a test print before ordering several.
Does Epidom work with any Bluetooth thermal printer?
Epidom supports Bluetooth thermal printers in 58 mm and 80 mm over ESC/POS. We don't vouch for any particular brand. The test print after pairing tells you whether your model works.
Can I get a separate kitchen ticket printer?
Yes. On the POS plan you pair a kitchen printer apart from your receipt printer, printing orders without prices. You can add a bar printer and a label printer as well.
Can I print from an iPad?
No. An iPad can't send receipts, kitchen or bar tickets, or labels to a Bluetooth printer. Pairing needs Chrome on Android or on a computer.
How much does receipt printing cost with Epidom?
Printing comes with the POS plan at $14.99 per month ($12.49 per month on the annual plan), with a 14-day free trial. The printer itself is a separate purchase.