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Disposable cups, a type of disposable food packaging supplies, are ideal for companies such as coffee retailers, tea shops and fast food restaurants who sell their products in disposable cups or for take-out solutions.

Also, they are widely used for office refreshments or major events as they can significantly cut down on setup and cleanup time.

Disposable cups are available in a wide selection of materials, styles, sizes and colors - from practical, sustainable to purposeful. How do you select the type of disposable cups that best suit your needs? Today let's start from learning some basics.

Generally speaking, paper cups are suitable for hot beverages while plastic cups are for cold beverages. However, with product innovation, nowadays some types of paper cups are also good for cold beverages and some plastic cups are suitable for hot drinks too.

Paper Cups

Materials:

In terms of materials, traditional white paper, brown kraft paper and some sustainable materials (e.g. compostable paper / paper-lined styles with PLA shells) can be chosen to fit different needs and budgets. Sustainable paper cups give customers added peace of mind when using disposable cups for service.

All the paper cups are manufactured from PE coated paper for added insulation and additional rigidity. Also the lining keeps liquids inside the cups and protects the outside of cup from weakening due to condensation or "sweating." 

Different from wax-coated cups, PE-coated paper cups pose no risk of wax-buildup in cup dispensers.

Common Styles:

Paper cups come in several styles such as: single-wall paper cups, double-wall paper cups, ripple paper cups, etc.

n  Single-wall Paper Cups

Single wall paper cups are manufactured from paper with PE coated on a single inner side or on double sides. These cups are great for serving hot as well as cold beverages. Many of single-wall paper cups feature tightly rolled rims for worry-free, leak-proof drinking. Single-wall paper cups always go with coffee sleeves which keep away from the heat of hot beverages.

n  Double-wall Paper Cups & Ripple Paper Cups

Double-wall and ripple paper cups feature an inner sheet and an outer sheet, separated by a layer of air for added insulating properties. The double layer offers extra protection from the heat emitted from the drink. And this feature eliminates the necessity to use an additional sleeve.

Plastic Cups

Materials:

Plastic cups generally come in PP and PET. Just like paper cups, plastic cups also have eco-friendly material options like PLA. Some plastic cups are made of hard plastic to make them rigid, stylish and able to hold hot beverages.

Common Styles:

n  PET Cups

PET disposable cups are clear, crack-resistant premium plastic cups that feature crystal clarity for an upscale look. PET cups can only be used with cold beverages.

n  PP (Thin Wall) Cups

PP disposable cups are crack-resistant but feature a translucent appearance. With a lower cost in material, PP cups are an more economical option compared with PET cups. PP cups are great for serving cold drinks at a high-volume venue.

Accessories

After you decide on the style and design for cold cups and hot cups, the next step is to choose accessories on hand to complement the disposable cups.

Lids

Lids are absolutely essential to help ensure that the beverages don't spill.

Lid sizes vary by cup size, and there are generally two different lid styles available.

-          Flat lids are perfect for beverages such as water, soda, and juices.

-          Dome lids are perfect for smoothies, milkshakes, and iced lattes since they allow plenty of room for whipped cream!

Sleeves

If you serve hot beverages and you decide to use single-wall paper cups, then cup sleeves are essential to go with the cups. Not only will these cup sleeves help to protect customers' hands from getting burned, but they will also help to make carrying the cups easier! The sleeves can be fully custom printed with your design and logo.