Café Cup Buyer's Guide
Choosing stock takeaway cups for your café
Cup construction, linings, sizes, lids and how much to hold, explained in plain language so the first order is the right one. Stock cups are held in Ireland and priced by the case.
For cafés, takeaway counters, and foodservice operators in Ireland
Common takeaway formats
8 oz (240ml), 12 oz (360ml), and 16 oz (480ml) are the most common sizes across Irish cafés.
In this guide
Step 1 · Cup constructions
Single wall and double wall options
Choose based on drink temperature, whether you want to avoid sleeves, and how important print/branding is. Below is the practical view we give new cafés in Ireland.
One layer of paper (PE/PLA/aqueous lined). Perfect for cold drinks and lower-temp service. For hotter drinks (55°C and up) you’ll usually need a sleeve.
When to use
- •50%+ cold/iced drinks
- •Lowest per-unit cost
- •Okay with sleeves
Once you’ve decided between single and double wall, the next choice is which lining or coating actually makes sense for your waste streams. That’s where Step 2 comes in.
Step 2 · Coating & materials
PE, PLA or Aqueous? What’s actually practical?
Every cup needs a moisture barrier. The sensible choice is the one that matches your waste contractor, the sustainability story you want to tell, and your cup budget, in that order.
Most common
PE lined (polyethylene)
A thin PE film bonded to the paper. This is what most Irish cafés use today: proven, good heat resistance and the lowest unit price.
Best for
General waste collections and operators who just want stock to land every week.
Key point: recycling normally needs specialist processing, so plan for general waste.
Industrial Compostable
PLA lined (plant-based)
Bio-based lining that can break down in industrial composters (55 to 60°C). The catch is that not every Irish site has that stream available.
Best for
Cafés, corporates or campuses already paying for compostable waste collection.
Key point: typically 10 to 20% above PE. If it still goes to general waste, the benefit is mostly communication.
Home Compostable
Aqueous coating
Uses a water-based dispersion instead of a plastic film. That makes the end-of-life conversation simpler, especially when the cup carries recognised certifications.
Best for
Cafés that want a cleaner “plastic-free lining” message. Does not require EU Single Use Plastic label.
Key point: Can carry DIN Home Compostable, Flustix Recyclable or PAP 21 certifications.
How to decide quickly
Ask your waste provider what they actually accept. If it's general waste, use PE. If they support compostable, PLA is fine. If they support paper/cardboard with certified cups, aqueous gives you the cleanest story. We can quote all three.
Step 3 · Cup sizes
Understanding cup sizes for your café
Most Irish cafés rely on three core sizes: 8, 12, and 16 oz. We can also supply 4, 10 and 20 oz, but we flag them as lower-volume so you don’t tie up storage.
8
8 oz (240ml)
Small size
Cortados, flat whites, small Americanos, espresso-forward drinks. Good if your menu has a specialty tilt.
Typical usage
10 to 25% of volume
Most common
12
12 oz (360ml)
Standard size
Lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos: this is the cup most Irish cafés run through fastest. Anchor your ordering here.
Typical usage
50 to 60% of volume
16
16 oz (480ml)
Large size
Large lattes, iced drinks, smoothies, loaded hot chocolate. Demand goes up in summer.
Typical usage
20 to 30% of volume (seasonal)
Prestopak view: anchor, then flex
Lead with 12 oz, support with 8 and 16 oz, and only surface specialty sizes when the menu justifies it. That keeps storage tidy, cash in the business, and ordering simple.
Checkpoint · Avoid these pitfalls
Common mistakes when buying cups
These show up again and again with new cafés and operators changing supplier. If you avoid these, your cup programme will feel a lot calmer.
Ordering custom print too early
You don’t know your real size mix until you’ve traded 2 to 3 months. A big printed run before that can leave you overstocked on 8 oz and short on 12 oz. Start on stock, track, then customise.
Choosing coating based on marketing only
PLA or “compostable” sounds better, but if your waste still goes to general, you’ve just paid more for the same outcome. Match coating to the waste route first.
Underestimating storage needs
A proper printed run is bulky, often 10 cases per size. If space is tight, plan split deliveries by stocking with us or stay on standard cups until you have space.
Buying on unit price alone
A cheaper cup that leaks at the lid or needs a sleeve costs more by the end of the week. Compare cup, lid and sleeve as a set, not the cup on its own.
Ignoring lid compatibility
Rims vary slightly by manufacturer. Your 80mm lids may not fit your new 10oz cup. Test with your legacy lids before placing the big order.
Ordering all three sizes equally
Most cafés run 12 oz hardest, with 8 and 16 oz supporting. Order that way to avoid dusty cartons.
Step 4 · Printed cups
Branded cups are quoted, not listed
Printed cups are quoted on request. Send us the sizes, the lining, the quantity per size and your artwork, and we come back with a price and a delivery date for the run. Most cafés start on stock cups, learn their size mix over a few months, then move to print once the volume justifies it. Until then, printed sleeves or stickers on a stock cup carry the brand without the commitment.
Step 5 · Planning & ordering
Volume planning & ordering patterns
Once you know your construction, coating and sizes, the last piece is volume and timing. Order cadence and storage space decide how often you buy and how much you hold.
Calculate monthly usage
Take a normal week’s hot drink count, multiply by trading days per month, then add a 15 to 20% buffer for peaks.
Worked example
Avg. daily drinks140
Trading days / month26
Base usage3,640 cups
+ 20% buffer≈ 4,370 cups / month
Prices and delivery
Every stock cup and lid shows its case price in the store, ex VAT. Multi-case rates apply when you take more of a line, and bulk rates are on the same page, so you can cost the cup and lid together before you order.
Stock cups
- •Dispatched within 3 business days
- •Delivered the next business day after dispatch
- •Printed cups carry their own date, confirmed with the quote
Small storage (1 to 2 shelves)
- Order stock cups monthly or bi-weekly
- Keep 1 to 2 cases per size on hand
- Suits cafés doing 60 to 120 cups a day
Larger storage (dry store / back room)
- Order printed cups in 3 to 6 month quantities
- Expect 5 to 10 cases per size on a printed run
- Suits cafés doing 150+ cups a day
Rule of thumb: anchor on 12 oz, support with 8 & 16 oz, and step up volume as storage and cadence allow. Stock cups come from the store; printed cups come as a quote.
Explore cup optionsQuestions & Answers
Common questions
Should I start with stock or custom print?
Start with stock unless you're opening with existing volume data from another location or you're part of a franchise with established patterns. Stock gives you flexibility to adjust sizes and suppliers as you learn your usage. Move to custom print after 3 to 6 months.
Can I mix coatings (PE for some sizes, PLA for others)?
Technically yes, but it complicates waste sorting for customers and staff. If you're going to promote a specific coating or recyclability story, keep it consistent across all sizes.
What if my volume is too low for a printed run?
Use stock cups and add branding through printed sleeves, stamping, or stickers. Many Irish cafés do this successfully. It keeps supply simple and doesn't lock you into large orders.
How do I see cup prices?
Every stock cup and lid shows its case price in the store, ex VAT, with multi-case and bulk rates on the product page. Printed cups are quoted once we know the sizes, the lining and the quantity per size. Browse the hot cup range.
Do I need to buy lids from the same supplier as cups?
Not necessarily, but it's simpler. If you source separately, verify fit with samples before ordering in bulk. Lid/cup mismatch causes leaks and complaints.
How quickly do stock cups arrive?
Dispatched within 3 business days. Delivered the next business day after dispatch. Printed cups carry their own date, which we confirm with the quote.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major payment methods for your convenience and security:
All payments are processed through secure, encrypted channels. We also accept bank transfers for larger orders.
Send us your list
Send us what you buy now. We will send back what it should cost.
Drop in your last supplier invoice, a spreadsheet or a photo of the shelf. We price every line, cups, lids and the rest of the counter, against our stock and come back within 2 working days.