Which receipt printer should a Jordan restaurant buy?

What makes a thermal printer compatible with Nexara?

The deciding specification is ESC/POS, a printing standard used by many receipt printers. Nexara supports standard ESC/POS thermal printers connected by USB or network. Ask the supplier to identify that support on the exact model's specification sheet, including the interface fitted to the unit you will receive.

Epson, Star and Bixolon are starting points for a shortlist, with compatibility determined by the exact model and interface rather than the brand name. Get the full model number so you can check the unit being offered.

Check the printer you own before replacing it. Nexara works with ordinary compatible hardware and sits beside your till as the order and operations layer. A readable model label and a photo of the ports give you a useful starting point without spending on another printer.

Should you choose a network printer or USB?

Choose around the printer's position and the branch computer. Nexara kitchen printing requires the local Nexara Printing desktop app to be running. Windows is the primary platform, with Linux and macOS builds also available. Confirm the intended computer and printer together during setup.

For a kitchen across the room, a wired network connection is usually the more practical layout. Beside the computer, USB avoids adding a printer network address to manage. Walk the cable route before buying: check where staff move equipment and whether a connector could get pulled during cleaning.

Ask what “wireless” means on the supplier's listing. Get the actual connection specification rather than choosing from the headline. If a separate till application will use the printer too, test that application's receipt separately on the same hardware.

How should you check 80mm paper, cutters and buzzers?

An 80mm roll is a sensible starting point for kitchen tickets because it gives item names and preparation notes more room than a narrower roll. Paper width differs from printable width. Inspect your actual template for wrapping and clipped text, especially around long modifiers.

• Confirm paper width and maximum roll diameter. Rolls with the same width can differ in whether they fit the compartment.
• Buy the thermal paper specified for the printer. Direct thermal printers use heat-sensitive paper rather than an ink ribbon.
• Test the automatic cutter with consecutive tickets. Staff should be able to separate tickets without tearing through the final line.
• For an audible alert, confirm whether the model includes a buzzer or needs an accessory. Have the supplier demonstrate it with the intended setup.

Avoid listings that hide the model number or interface, and reject an unapproved substitute on delivery. Skip a unit with a sticking cutter or an unspecified buzzer accessory if the kitchen needs an audible alert. A lower purchase price is little help when staff cannot collect or notice the ticket.

Keep spare rolls dry and away from heat. Thermal paper darkens with heat, which makes placement near cooking equipment a buying consideration. Check the manufacturer's operating conditions and leave enough room to open the cover and change a roll during service.

Will Arabic print correctly on an ordinary thermal printer?

Nexara prints connected Arabic text on ordinary compatible ESC/POS printers without relying on built-in Arabic fonts. Arabic and English can appear on the same ticket. Use your restaurant's item names and modifiers for the test, so the cook can judge the wording and readability.

An English self-test checks paper feeding and basic printing. Your acceptance test needs to cover the ticket staff will actually receive, including long notes and mixed-language names. Keep the printed sample so you can compare it with the final branch setup.

1. Select your intended Nexara template and an Arabic item with a modifier.
2. Include mixed Arabic and English text, quantities and a long preparation note.
3. Print through the USB or network connection intended for service.
4. Inspect connected letters, text direction and line wrapping with the person who reads kitchen tickets.

A box marked “Arabic supported” cannot show you how your menu will look. The guide to Arabic thermal receipt printing explains what to check when letters print incorrectly.

What happens when the printer or internet connection fails?

Orders keep arriving in Nexara's cloud queue while the branch connection is down, and the printer catches up when it returns; the order board itself needs a connection. Keep a phone hotspot beside the branch computer as a practical backup.

When a printer fails, the order stays on the board and its ticket waits. Staff can re-route that printer's categories from the dashboard, or automatic failover can select a backup printer where one is configured. A ticket can also be reprinted manually.

Nexara protects against duplicate tickets during automatic recovery. Reserve manual reprinting for a ticket staff have checked is needed, and tell the receiving station when you send a replacement so the cook knows how to handle it.

Before service, disconnect the intended connection during a controlled print test, restore it and check the waiting ticket. Test backup category assignments too. Read the kitchen printing engine guide for recovery behaviour and printer category routing for station assignments.

What should you confirm before paying the supplier?

Make the purchase conditional on a test of the exact unit. Standard ESC/POS support over USB or network is the Nexara requirement; your acceptance check should also cover the practical details of reading, cutting and collecting the ticket.

1. Get the full model number, interface specification and ESC/POS support in writing.
2. Agree on a test or return arrangement before paying.
3. Run your Arabic ticket through Nexara on the intended branch computer.
4. Check paper loading, cutter behaviour and any required audible alert.
5. Confirm the warranty process and who handles a failed unit in Jordan.

Confirm printing access separately from the hardware purchase. Nexara has a free plan, then paid plans per branch in Jordanian dinar, with current rates on request. Kitchen printing requires a paid plan with printing included.