Connect CafeTally to ChatGPT, Codex, and Claude

CafeTally's remote Model Context Protocol server connects your live cafe or restaurant operations to ChatGPT, Codex, Claude, and Claude Code. Use one secure MCP endpoint to review business performance, inspect expenses and inventory, calculate recipe costs, manage products, and work with Square catalog data from your preferred AI assistant.

Copy the CafeTally MCP server URL

Use this same Streamable HTTP endpoint in every supported client:

https://cafetally.com/mcp

CafeTally uses OAuth, so you do not need to create or paste an API key. The authorization screen lets you sign in directly to CafeTally and review access before approving the connection.

Choose your AI client

Before you connect

You need a verified CafeTally account with access to at least one active store. The tools available to you follow your existing CafeTally team role, feature access, and subscription or trial status. Owners and managers can perform applicable write actions, while read-only team members remain limited to the data they can already view. Owner financial review tools require the Finance feature, an owner account or owner-granted finance access, and current Finance MFA verification in CafeTally. Complete Finance verification before connecting, or reconnect the MCP client after verifying, so the connector can carry the time-limited proof.

Connect CafeTally to ChatGPT

Until CafeTally is available in the public Plugins Directory, add it as a custom MCP connection in ChatGPT developer mode.

1. Open Settings > Security and login in ChatGPT.
2. Turn on Developer mode.
3. Open ChatGPT Plugins.
4. Select the plus button and create a new connection named CafeTally.
5. Choose the public MCP server connection option and paste the URL below.
6. Review the discovered tools, continue to CafeTally, and approve OAuth access.
7. Start a new conversation and enable CafeTally from the tools or plugins menu.

https://cafetally.com/mcp

For the current developer-mode flow, see OpenAI's connect and test a plugin guide.

Connect CafeTally to Codex

Add the remote MCP server and start its OAuth sign-in from a terminal:

codex mcp add cafetally --url https://cafetally.com/mcp
codex mcp login cafetally

After the browser authorization finishes, verify the saved server:

codex mcp get cafetally

Open Codex and enter /mcp to confirm CafeTally is active. The ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI, and Codex IDE extension share MCP configuration for the same Codex host. See OpenAI's Model Context Protocol guide for client configuration details.

Connect CafeTally to Claude

Open the prefilled CafeTally connector setup, or add it manually:

1. Open Customize > Connectors in Claude.
2. Select the plus button, then Add custom connector.
3. Enter CafeTally as the name.
4. Paste the MCP server URL below.
5. Continue to CafeTally, sign in, and approve access.
6. Enable CafeTally from the connector menu in the conversation where you want to use it.

https://cafetally.com/mcp

On a Team or Enterprise plan, an owner must first add CafeTally from the organization's connector settings. Anthropic documents both account flows in its remote MCP connector guide.

Connect CafeTally to Claude Code

Add the remote HTTP server from a terminal:

claude mcp add --transport http cafetally https://cafetally.com/mcp

Open Claude Code, enter /mcp, select CafeTally, and complete the browser sign-in. Claude Code stores and refreshes the resulting OAuth credentials through its normal MCP authentication flow.

Copy a prompt and try the connection

Start with a read-only request so you can confirm the correct CafeTally store before changing anything.

Show my CafeTally stores and tell me which one is connected to Square.

Find inventory items related to milk and show which ones are missing cost data.

Find my 12-ounce latte, calculate its recipe cost, and explain the biggest cost drivers.

Review my recent CafeTally expenses and identify ingredients without receipt coverage. Do not change anything.

Find unmapped supplier expense lines, show me the best existing inventory matches, and then show which product recipe ingredients could use each match. Ask before changing either relationship.

Review my last completed month of sales and cash-basis finances, explain whether my POS and bank activity directionally line up, and identify the evidence I should audit before taking action. Do not change anything.

For a write workflow, state the store and requested change clearly:

In my Downtown Cafe store, create an inventory item for oat milk. Show me the proposed values before saving it.

What the CafeTally MCP connector can do

Cafe inventory management

Search inventory, identify missing cost information, and create or update inventory items when your role allows it.

Product and recipe costing

Find menu products, inspect recipes, calculate cost of goods sold, audit missing ingredients, and maintain recipe links.

Receipts and expenses

Review expenses, match receipt line items to inventory, save approved receipts, and find gaps in supplier coverage. For saved expenses, the connector reads exact expense-line references before mapping them to an inventory item and keeps one keyed receipt price record per mapped line. Repeat calls reuse existing evidence and repair it when a prior write was incomplete.

Connect expenses to product recipes

The connector keeps the two relationships separate so each change can be reviewed and verified independently.

1. list_expense_items finds saved lines and their current inventory status.
2. get_inventory_items resolves the inventory item that represents the purchase.
3. map_expense_items_to_inventory links confirmed expense lines to that item.
4. list_product_recipe_ingredients finds exact recipe slots and their current versions.
5. map_product_recipe_ingredient updates one confirmed recipe slot without replacing the rest of the recipe.

Both mapping tools are idempotent for an existing identical link. Recipe mapping rejects stale versions and incompatible units instead of silently overwriting newer recipe work.

Owner financial review workflow

The connector gathers an owner review through focused read-only calls so the assistant can inspect each source before forming a conclusion.

• get_owner_cash_pnl returns posted cash-basis bank performance, targets, cost drivers, and bank data-quality warnings.
• get_owner_pos_sales returns completed Square line-item sales, units, discounts, top variations, and sales coverage warnings.
• compare_owner_pos_to_bank returns only the readiness, source metadata, warnings, and directional cross-source comparison.

The assistant should use the same date range for each relevant call and then inspect expenses, recipes, or product costs to verify operational hypotheses. Current Square syncs include uncatalogued and open-price line items, retain currency, and must cover the full period before sales are treated as available. The comparison is directional and does not perform exact payment-to-deposit or accounting reconciliation. Cash COGS, receipt expenses, and current theoretical recipe COGS remain separate evidence sources and should not be presented as interchangeable accounting totals.

Square catalog workflows

Identify stores connected to Square and import supported Square catalog records into CafeTally. The connector does not transfer money or initiate financial transactions.

Modifiers and ingredient aliases

Search and maintain modifier groups, modifier links, and ingredient aliases used by recipes and receipt matching.

Permissions and safety

Every tool checks your CafeTally team membership, store role, feature access, and billing status when it runs. Finance review also requires finance access and current Finance MFA verification because it can include bank-derived information. Read-only tools do not create hidden records. Write tools are labeled for the AI client, and destructive product, recipe, or modifier deletion requires an explicit confirmation value. Review the proposed action and the selected store before approving a write or deletion.

Troubleshooting MCP setup

The OAuth sign-in does not open

Confirm that the server URL is exactly https://cafetally.com/mcp, including the /mcp path. Remove the connection and add it again if the client saved an incomplete URL.

The connector is installed but not used

Enable CafeTally for the current conversation from the client's tools, plugins, or connectors menu. Start a new conversation after changing the connection or refreshing its tool metadata.

No CafeTally stores appear

Sign in to CafeTally directly and confirm that the same account belongs to an active store team. Ask a CafeTally owner to check your membership and role if the store is missing.

A write action is denied

The selected store may require an owner, manager, or administrator role for that action. Read the returned permission message and ask the store owner to adjust your role only if the access is appropriate.

Finance review requires verification

Open Finance in CafeTally and complete its verification step, then reconnect CafeTally in your AI client. Finance access is time-limited and still depends on your live store role and owner-granted permission. If the review reports missing Square coverage or currency metadata, resync Square sales for the requested daily period before comparing POS and bank activity.

Tools look outdated

Refresh the connection in ChatGPT or reconnect CafeTally in Claude. For Codex or Claude Code, remove and re-add the server if the client does not refresh its advertised tools.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CafeTally MCP server?

The CafeTally MCP server is a secure remote endpoint that gives supported AI assistants structured tools for CafeTally business reviews, inventory, expenses, products, recipes, modifiers, and Square catalog workflows.

Does CafeTally MCP work with both ChatGPT and Claude?

Yes. The same remote MCP endpoint works with ChatGPT, Codex, Claude, and Claude Code through each client's supported Streamable HTTP and OAuth setup flow.

Can an AI assistant change my CafeTally data?

Only when you request a write operation, your CafeTally role permits it, and the AI client approves or confirms the applicable tool call. You can begin with read-only prompts and explicitly tell the assistant not to change anything.

Do I need a CafeTally API key?

No. CafeTally uses an OAuth authorization flow that keeps passwords and access tokens out of your prompt and client configuration.

Can I disconnect CafeTally later?

Yes. Remove or disconnect CafeTally from the client's MCP, plugin, or connector settings to stop future access from that connection.

Related CafeTally guides

• Connect CafeTally to Claude
• Set up products, recipes, and costing
• Work with receipts and price drift
• Configure Square integrations
• Review team roles and security

For help, visit CafeTally Support or email support@cafetally.com.