Inventory Mastery
Mastering Cafe Inventory: Stop Waste, Track Milk & Coffee Margins
By Shiv Akbari•8 min read•Updated for 2026
The Hidden Margin Killer in Cafes
In hospitality, food and beverage costs (COGS) typically account for 28% to 35% of total revenue. However, without automated recipe-level stock deduction, unexplained shrinkage, over-portioning, and milk wastage often push food costs past 45%, eroding profitability.
Automated Recipe Ingredient Deduction
When a cashier or customer orders a "Large Caramel Latte", CafeFlow automatically deducts:
18g Espresso Blend
From roasted whole bean inventory
260ml Whole Milk
From dairy refrigerator stock
20ml Caramel Syrup
From flavor syrup inventory
Need assistance setting up your cafe?
Our customer success specialists are available 24/7.