Brew Buddies - Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2025

Introduction

Brew Buddies ("we", "our", or "us") is a mobile application designed to help friends coordinate coffee orders. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our app.

Information We Collect

We collect the following information to provide our services:

• Username: A display name you choose when using the app. This is used to identify you within coffee run rooms.
• Device Identifier: A unique device identifier to associate your account and orders across sessions.
• Order Information: Details of coffee and snack orders you place within the app, including drink names, sizes, and customizations.
• Push Notification Token: If you opt in to notifications, we store your device's push notification token to send you updates about your coffee runs.
• Menu Photos (Optional): If you choose to scan a coffee shop menu, the photo is uploaded to our servers and processed by a third-party AI service to extract menu items. Photos are not publicly shared and are retained only for the lifetime of your coffee run.
• Payment Links (Optional): If you are a host, you may optionally share a PayPal or Venmo payment link so participants can pay you for their orders. These links are stored with the coffee run and visible only to room participants.

Camera & Photo Library Permission

Our app may request access to your device's camera and photo library. These permissions are used solely to allow you to take or select photos of coffee menus so friends in your coffee run can view the same menu. Photos you upload are processed to extract menu items using AI, then stored with your coffee run. Camera and photo library access are optional and the app functions fully without them.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage coffee run rooms
• Display your orders to other participants in a coffee run
• Send push notifications about coffee run status updates
• Process premium subscription payments through Stripe
• Track your monthly coffee run usage for free tier limits
• Extract menu items from photos using AI, to make ordering faster

AI Processing of Menu Photos

When you upload a photo of a coffee shop menu, the image is sent to OpenAI's GPT-4 Vision API via a secure backend for text extraction. OpenAI processes the image to identify menu items and prices, then returns that data to our app. We do not use your photos to train AI models. For more information, see OpenAI's Privacy Policy.

Payment Processing

Premium subscriptions are processed through Stripe, a third-party payment processor. We do not store your credit card information. Payment data is handled directly by Stripe in accordance with their Privacy Policy. Payment links (PayPal/Venmo) shared by hosts in a coffee run are processed directly between participants and those external services — Brew Buddies does not handle the money.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties, except:

• Within Coffee Runs: Your username, orders, and uploaded menu photos are visible to other participants in the same coffee run room.
• AI Menu Extraction: Menu photos are sent to OpenAI for processing (see above).
• Payment Processing: Stripe processes subscription payments on our behalf.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law.

Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers using MongoDB Atlas with encryption at rest and in transit. We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information.

Data Retention

Coffee run data (including orders, menu photos, and payment links) is retained for as long as the run is active, and for up to 90 days after completion for history purposes. Your account information is retained until you request deletion. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.

Children's Privacy

Our app is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of push notifications at any time via your device settings

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy within the app and updating the "Last updated" date above.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to request data deletion, please contact us through our GitHub repository: github.com/LiteWagon/brew-buddies by opening an issue.