Kitchen thermal printer
Epson + DirectOrders
The Epson TM printer on your line is the last step of every order, and it is how DirectOrders reaches your kitchen. Online orders and Voice AI phone orders print on the same thermal tickets as your POS dine-in orders, using Epson's own ePOS-Print technology, with no new hardware and no open firewall ports. This page explains exactly how that works.
From a tap online to a ticket on the line
The print data flow
Online order or Voice AI call
DirectOrders cloud
Builds the ePOS-Print XML ticket
Epson TM printer
Polls the cloud, prints the ticket
The Epson ePOS-Print technology
Two ways to print, and the one we use
Epson documents both methods in the ePOS-Print XML and Server Direct Print references.
ePOS-Print XML
An application sends an XML print document over HTTP to the TM printer's built-in web service. The printer prints and returns a response. No ESC/POS command knowledge required.
Best on a local network where the sender can reach the printer directly.
Server Direct Print
The intelligent TM printer polls a web application ("is there anything to print?"); the app replies with ePOS-Print XML, and the printer prints it.
The printer reaches out, so cloud-to-printer printing works through normal internet with no inbound ports opened. This is how DirectOrders prints to your kitchen.
<epos-print xmlns="http://www.epson-pos.com/schemas/2011/03/epos-print">
<text lang="en">DirectOrders Ticket #1042\n</text>
<text>1x Margherita Pizza\n</text>
<text> + extra basil\n</text>
<feed line="2"/>
<cut type="feed"/>
</epos-print>Why Server Direct Print matters: because the printer reaches out to the cloud rather than the cloud reaching in, DirectOrders prints to your kitchen over the restaurant's normal internet connection. There is nothing to open on your router and no static IP to maintain.
Supported Epson models
Not sure which model you have? Our team confirms compatibility during onboarding.
Why this matters for your kitchen
- Print online orders automatically on your existing Epson kitchen printer
- No new screens or devices for kitchen staff to monitor
- Keep the same ticket-based workflow your kitchen already uses
- Reduce order errors by eliminating manual re-entry of online orders
- Works with popular Epson models including TM-T88 and TM-T20 series
Step by step
Wiring DirectOrders to your Epson
- 1
Keep your Epson on the kitchen network
Your TM-T88 or TM-T20 stays where it is, connected by Ethernet or Wi-Fi. No new hardware.
- 2
Point it at DirectOrders with Server Direct Print
During onboarding we configure the printer to poll the DirectOrders endpoint. No firewall changes or port forwarding.
- 3
Design your ticket layout
Choose what prints: order number, items, modifiers, special instructions, customer name, and order type (pickup, delivery, dine-in).
- 4
Send a test ticket
We place a test order and confirm it prints cleanly on the same thermal paper your kitchen already uses.
- 5
Go live
Online orders and Voice AI phone orders now print automatically, alongside your POS dine-in tickets, in one queue.
A printer is the last step, not the whole system
Your Epson is excellent at what it does, but it does not take orders. Here is what DirectOrders adds around it.
Kitchen printers only print, they do not take orders
Your Epson printer is the last step in the order flow, not the first. DirectOrders provides the customer-facing ordering website and routes orders directly to your printer, closing the gap between online customers and your kitchen.
No online ordering system included with your printer
Epson makes excellent kitchen hardware, but does not provide an ordering platform. DirectOrders gives you a branded ordering website that sends orders straight to your TM-T88 or TM-T20.
No Voice AI connected to your kitchen printer
DirectOrders adds Voice AI phone ordering that takes calls, processes orders, and routes them to your Epson printer automatically. Phone orders print on the same tickets as dine-in orders.
Marketplace orders often require a separate tablet
Orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub typically arrive on a separate tablet, not your kitchen printer. DirectOrders sends direct orders straight to your Epson printer so your kitchen works from one ticket queue.
No customer data from printed tickets
A kitchen ticket tells your cooks what to make, but captures no customer information. DirectOrders builds a customer database with emails, phone numbers, and order history while still printing the same familiar tickets.
No delivery orchestration connected to print
Your Epson printer has no way to dispatch drivers. DirectOrders handles the full flow: customer orders online, the ticket prints in your kitchen, and Uber Direct or DoorDash Drive dispatches a driver for pickup.
Common questions about Epson + DirectOrders
Which Epson printer models are supported?+
DirectOrders supports Epson's most common kitchen printer models, including the TM-T88 and TM-T20 series. Contact our team to confirm compatibility with your specific model.
Do online orders print automatically or do I need to trigger them?+
Online orders can be configured to print automatically as soon as they are placed, so your kitchen can begin preparation immediately without manual steps.
Can I customize what prints on the ticket?+
Yes. You can configure the ticket layout to include order details, special instructions, customer name, and order type so your kitchen has all the information it needs.
Do I need an internet connection for the printer?+
Yes. The Epson printer needs to be on the same network as the device receiving DirectOrders notifications to print online order tickets.
Can I use the same Epson printer for POS orders and DirectOrders online orders?+
Yes. Your Epson kitchen printer can receive tickets from both your POS system and DirectOrders simultaneously. Online orders print alongside dine-in and walk-in tickets so your kitchen handles all channels in one workflow.
Print online orders on the Epson you already own
Book a demo and we will connect your TM printer, design your ticket, and have online and Voice AI orders printing on the line in your go-live window.