Types of Cups: A Guide to Disposable Cups for Cafes and Restaurants
By the Avco Boxes team · Updated
The main types of disposable cups in food service are single wall paper hot cups, double wall paper hot cups, paper cold cups, clear plastic cold cups and small espresso cups. Hot cups are made for coffee and tea, cold cups for iced drinks and sodas, and each type takes its own lid. The right cup depends on the drink and how customers carry it.
The main cup types at a glance
Most cafes, restaurants and drink shops get by with two or three of the cup types below. The split that matters most is hot versus cold: hot cups are paper and built to be held with a hot drink inside, while cold cups come in paper or clear plastic and are sized larger to make room for ice.
| Cup type | Typical use | Hot or cold | Insulation | Avco sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single wall paper hot cup | Drip coffee, tea, hot chocolate, quick counter service | Hot | One paper layer; often paired with a sleeve | 4–20 oz |
| Double wall paper hot cup | Lattes and takeaway coffee carried any distance | Hot | Second paper layer, comfortable to hold without a sleeve | 8–20 oz |
| Paper cold cup | Fountain soda, iced tea, lemonade, iced coffee | Cold | None needed; opaque, so the drink is hidden | 12–22 oz |
| Clear plastic cold cup | Iced coffee, cold brew, smoothies, bubble tea, layered drinks | Cold only | None needed; the drink is on display | 12–32 oz |
| Espresso cup | Espresso shots, macchiatos, tasting samples | Hot | Single wall; small and finished quickly | 4 oz |
Hot cups: single wall vs double wall
A single wall hot cup is one layer of paper. It is the lightest and lowest-cost option, which makes it the everyday choice for drip coffee, tea and drinks that are handed over and finished nearby. Because there is only one layer between the drink and the customer's hand, many shops add a cardboard sleeve or double-cup for very hot drinks.
A double wall hot cup adds a second paper layer around the inner cup. That outer wall makes the cup more comfortable to hold, so it can go straight from the machine to the customer without a sleeve. It also gives you one continuous print surface instead of a design partly hidden behind a band. Double wall cups suit lattes, specialty drinks and takeaway coffee that will be carried to a car or office.
When comparing the two, look at total cost per drink rather than cup price alone. If you buy a sleeve for most hot drinks, a double wall cup without a sleeve can be the simpler option at the counter.
Cold cups: paper vs clear plastic
Paper cold cups are opaque and made for cold drinks. They are a natural fit for fountain soda, iced tea and lemonade, where nobody needs to see the drink, and they give you a solid white surface for printed branding.
Clear plastic cold cups show off what is inside, which is why they are the standard for iced coffee, cold brew, smoothies, bubble tea and layered drinks. They are for cold drinks only and should not be used for hot coffee or tea. Printing on clear cups works best with bold shapes and solid colors, because the drink behind the artwork affects how it reads.
Cold cups usually run bigger than hot cups because ice takes up part of the volume. Clear cups commonly go up to 32 oz for large iced teas and sodas. See the coffee cup sizes guide for how hot and cold sizes line up.
Espresso cups and lids
Espresso cups are small hot cups, usually 4 oz, sized for a single or double shot with a little room to spare. Cafes also use them for macchiatos, tasting samples and small portions. A disposable espresso cup is typically single wall, since the drink is small and finished quickly.
Lids are their own category, and they are sized to the cup's rim rather than its volume. A lid that fits one cup type will not necessarily fit another, so it pays to buy cups and lids as a matched set. The common lid types are:
- Dome lids for hot cups, which leave room above the rim for foam.
- Lock-back flat lids for hot cups, with a tab that folds back to open a drinking hole.
- Small espresso lids sized for 4 oz cups.
- Cold cup lids for paper and clear cold cups, used with a straw or sipped from directly depending on style.
How to choose cup types for your menu
Start from the drinks you sell, not from the cup catalog. A few practical questions narrow it down quickly:
- Do you serve hot drinks that customers carry away? Double wall cups make the trip easier; single wall works well for quick counter service.
- Is the look of the drink part of the sale? Iced coffee, smoothies and bubble tea usually belong in clear cups.
- Do you pour fountain drinks or iced tea in volume? Paper cold cups handle that work and print cleanly.
- Do you sell espresso on its own? Add a 4 oz cup so shots are not lost in a large cup.
- How many lids do you want to stock? Choosing cup sizes that share a lid keeps storage simple.
Most coffee shops end up with one hot cup type in three sizes, a 4 oz espresso cup and one cold cup type in two or three sizes. A restaurant with a soda fountain might need only paper cold cups.
Custom printed cups from Avco
Avco prints all five cup types in the USA. Single wall hot cups run 4–20 oz at 700 per case with a 3-case minimum, and double wall hot cups run 8–20 oz at 260 per case with a 5-case minimum; both are in the hot cups collection. Paper cold cups run 12–22 oz at 700 per case with a 3-case minimum, and custom clear cold cups come in 12, 16, 20, 24 and 32 oz at 240–300 per case with a 5-case minimum.
Lids are sold separately: hot cup lids include dome lids for 8 oz and for 12/16/20 oz cups, lock-back flat lids and white 4 oz espresso lids, alongside cold cup lids. Every order includes a free digital proof, a one-time $75 artwork setup and 7–10 business days of production after you approve the proof. Browse everything in custom cups.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between single wall and double wall cups?
- A single wall cup is one layer of paper, so it is lighter and costs less but often needs a sleeve for very hot drinks. A double wall cup adds a second paper layer around the cup, which makes it more comfortable to hold without a sleeve.
- Can you put hot drinks in a clear plastic cup?
- No. Clear plastic cups are made for cold drinks such as iced coffee, cold brew, smoothies and soda. Use a paper hot cup for coffee, tea and other hot drinks.
- What type of cup is used for espresso?
- Takeaway espresso is usually served in a 4 oz single wall paper cup. It fits a single or double shot with room to spare and takes its own small lid.
- Do lids fit every type of cup?
- No. Lids are sized to a cup's rim, and hot and cold cups use different lids. Some sizes within a range share a lid, so check the lid listing against your cup sizes before ordering.