Help Center: How to Use Menu AI
Overview
The Menu AI tool streamlines the process of digitizing partner menus by converting PDFs, images, or CSV files into a structured menu file that can be uploaded directly into the Joe system.
Follow the steps below for best practices when creating a menu using Menu AI.
Step 1: Collect the Menu File
Begin by gathering the partner’s menu. The Menu AI tool accepts the following file formats:
CSV (preferred for digital menus)
PDF
Image files: PNG, JPG, or JPEG
💡 Tip: Whenever possible, request the cleanest version of the menu (no handwriting, shadows, or skewed angles). This helps the AI better recognize and structure the data.
Step 2: Access Menu AI
Navigate to: https://manage.joe.coffee/menu/ai
Go to the Menu AI tab in the Merchant Manager.
Click Upload Menu and select your file.
Step 3: Set the Data Source
When prompted to select a Data Source, remember:
The more menus we process, the smarter the Menu AI becomes over time.
For this first version, PDF and photo uploads work best.
Select POS Transition or other
📘 This step helps reinforce the AI model by teaching it common menu patterns and structures.
Step 4: Generate the AI Menu File
Once processed, the tool will automatically generate a downloadable XLSX (Excel) file containing the parsed menu items.
Best Practices:
Review the generated file carefully — verify that all items and categories are correctly identified.
If an item didn’t populate correctly, you can manually edit the XLSX file.
For easier collaboration, upload the file to Google Sheets for bulk editing and review.
After edits, save your file locally to prepare for re-import.
Step 5: Re-Import the Final File
When your review and edits are complete:
Return to the Menu AI page.
Upload your updated file.
Click Finish to finalize the import.
Your newly generated menu will now appear inside the Menu tab.
Step 6: Locate Your Imported Menu
After completion, your imported menu will appear in your dropdown list using the following naming format:
Company Name – Imported Menu – [Date]
This structure helps easily identify when and where each menu originated.
Example
For reference, see the Menu AI PDF generation flow example here: