All You Need to Know about Disposable Cups Used by Restaurants

If you own a restaurant, or if you are thinking about opening a restaurant, you will be thinking about the various restaurant supplies you need. Of vital importance is that they are all of excellent quality, but that they are affordable at the same time. One of things you may need to stock up on is disposable cups. These are perfect if you intend to serve people something that they can take away with them, while at the same time keeping the costs low.

Cafes and restaurants all over the world use disposable cups because they are incredibly convenient. They can be used for all types of drinks, including hot, cold, flat and fizzy, but also for a variety of other things. For instance, take out restaurants will often use them for side dishes like coleslaw, or for sauces and salsa. This is why it is also very important to always have a good amount of cups in stock.

The Environmental Impact

One of the complaints people have about disposable cups is that they have a negative environmental impact, because they are, as the name suggests, disposed of after use. However, while it is certainly true that they are simply discarded, many are made of a recyclable material, and some are even made out of recycled materials. Not just that, non-disposable cups also have a significant environmental impact. This includes their production, but also the methods used for cleaning. The usage of water and cleaning materials to keep these cups clean and suitable for usage is significant, and some even suggest worse than simply throwing cups away.

Different Categories of Disposable Cups

There is a great interest in disposable cups and this has led to a number of different models to be developed. Different customers have different needs, and most manufacturers will allow a degree of customization. However, common categories include:

• Portion cups
• Cone cups
• Styrofoam cups
• Plastic tumblers
• Soufflé cups
• Clear plastic cups
• Paper cups

Many restaurants will use cone cups. This is because they come in many different sizes, which is generally measured in fluid ounces. Common measurements are 4, 4.25 and 6 ounces. Cups used for sauces, salsas or side dishes tend to be soufflé cups, usually made from black plastic. Alternatively, there are paper cups, which come in white and color, which are perfect for hot and cold drinks. These types of cups are very well insulated, which means the temperature of the drink contained within it will remain at a constant. Yet, heat doesn’t go through the cup, which means the user will not scold their hands.

Another great benefit about disposable cups is that they can be customized and turned into promotional materials. Many businesses print their name and logo on the cup themselves. When the customer then takes it out of the store, they immediately take the name of the store with them. In so doing, they create tremendous brand exposure. The danger is, however, that if someone doesn’t dispose of the cup properly, it will reflect badly on the business.