Episode 618: Brewello: Simple Tech That Helps Independent Cafés Thrive

Wil sits down with Tim Wittman, a Denver-based developer and founder of Brewello, a white-label mobile app built for independent cafés and bakeries. Rooted in the same “simple tool + legendary support” ethos as Schedulefly, Brewello integrates directly with Square to enable order-ahead, loyalty, and push notifications—without the complexity or high cost of larger tech platforms. Tim shares how the idea was born after seeing local cafés struggle, why he’s focused solely on independents, how his success-based pricing model works, and why word of mouth, authentic partnerships, and community trust will always beat venture-backed speed.

10 Takeaways

1. Shared philosophy: Both Schedulefly and Brewello focus on simplicity, fair pricing, and treating customers like family.
   
   
2. Founder origin: Tim, a longtime software consultant, created Brewello after seeing beloved Denver cafés close and spotting an unmet need.
   
   
3. Square integration: Brewello connects directly to Square (covering ~80% of local cafés), removing extra management layers.
   
   
4. Practical value: Enables order-ahead, fast pickup, and loyalty without complexity—ideal for local cafés and bakeries.
   
   
5. Affordable model: Base version is transaction-fee based (cafés can pass along or split fees); the Pro tier adds marketing tools for $100/month.
   
   
6. Built for scale: Technically robust enough to handle large volumes, though focused on small to mid-sized café operators.
   
   
7. Community pride: Local customers love when their neighborhood café “has an app,” driving engagement and loyalty.
   
   
8. Grassroots growth: Tim’s early success has come from referrals, Coffee Fest demos, and built-in customer feedback loops.
   
   
9. Marketplace debut: Brewello recently joined the Square marketplace—another grassroots step toward broader visibility.
   
   
10. Sustainable growth: Tim and Will align on long-term, values-first growth over the VC “rocket ship” model.