Custom Printed Cups for Restaurants: PET, Paper & Double Wall Explained

Of all the packaging items a food business uses, the cup may be the single most visible. It leaves your counter, travels with your customer, sits on their desk, rides in their car, and gets set down on tables at gatherings and events. If there’s one product worth putting your logo on, the cup is it.

But not all cups are created equal. PET plastic cups, single wall paper cups, double wall coffee cups, soup cups, deli containers — each serves a different purpose, performs differently, and suits different menus and service styles. Ordering the wrong cup type for your use case creates real problems: heat loss, condensation, structural failure, and a customer experience that falls flat.

This guide breaks down every cup type available at Takeout Goods, explains when to use each, and covers how custom branding works across all of them — so you can order with confidence.

Why Your Cup Is Your Best Brand Ambassador

Think about the last time you saw someone walking down the street with a coffee cup or a drink from a restaurant. You probably noticed the cup before you noticed the person holding it. That’s the power of a well-branded cup — it commands attention in a way that a bag or a box simply doesn’t.

A cup is held at chest height, often for extended periods. It moves through public spaces — offices, parks, shopping centers, events. It sits on desks and tables in plain view. For a restaurant, food truck, or coffee shop doing volume, a branded cup generates thousands of organic brand impressions every week without spending a single dollar on advertising.

Beyond visibility, a custom printed cup communicates something important: this business cares about its presentation. In a competitive market where customers have choices, that signal of professionalism and intention can be the difference between a one-time order and a loyal regular.

The Six Cup Types at Takeout Goods — And When to Use Each

1. Plastic PET Cups

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) cups are the clear plastic cups you see at virtually every high-volume cold drink operation. They’re crystal-clear, lightweight, and available in a wide range of sizes from small to large. PET is food-safe, widely recyclable, and provides the best visual presentation for cold beverages — every layer of color in a smoothie, every piece of fruit in an agua fresca, every bubble in a boba drink is visible through the cup wall.

• Best for: Cold drinks — agua frescas, horchata, smoothies, boba, iced teas, fountain drinks, lemonades
• Available sizes: 8oz through 32oz
• Key advantage: Crystal-clear visibility, food-safe PET #1 material, excellent for showing off colorful drinks
• Custom branding: Logo printed directly on cup — clean, professional, and highly visible

2. Deli PET Containers

Deli PET containers share the same clear PET material as drinking cups but are designed with a wider mouth and a matching lid for use with solid or semi-solid foods. They’re the go-to choice for delis, meal prep operations, and any food business that needs a transparent, stackable container for grab-and-go items.

• Best for: Deli salads, soups, sauces, meal prep, grab-and-go sides
• Key advantage: See-through presentation, stackable, pairs with matching lids
• Custom branding: Logo on container body or lid

3. Deli PP Containers

PP (polypropylene) deli containers look similar to PET but are made from a different plastic that offers superior temperature resistance. PP is microwave-safe and can handle both hot and cold contents without warping — making it a better choice for hot soups, sauces, and foods that may be reheated by the customer.

• Best for: Hot soups, sauces, reheatable meal prep, hot deli items
• Key advantage: Microwave-safe, handles heat without warping, suitable for hot and cold
• Custom branding: Logo on container body or lid

4. Double Wall Coffee Cups

Double wall paper cups have two layers of paperboard with an air gap between them, creating natural insulation that keeps hot drinks hot longer while keeping the exterior cool enough to hold comfortably without a sleeve. They’re the premium option for coffee shops, cafes, and any operation serving specialty hot beverages.

• Best for: Espresso drinks, lattes, cappuccinos, hot teas, hot chocolate
• Key advantage: Superior insulation, comfortable to hold without sleeve, premium feel
• Custom branding: Full wrap print — the entire outer surface is a branding canvas

5. Single Wall Paper Cups

Single wall paper cups are the high-volume workhorse of food service. One layer of paperboard, no insulation — simple, economical, and effective for cold beverages and fountain drinks. They’re the most cost-effective branded cup option, which makes them the right choice for operations that prioritize volume and budget over premium feel.

• Best for: Fountain drinks, sodas, water, juice, high-volume operations
• Key advantage: Most affordable paper cup option, widely compatible with cup lids
• Custom branding: Full wrap print, excellent cost-per-impression ratio

6. Soup & Dessert Paper Cups

Soup and dessert cups are shorter, wider paper cups designed for thick, spoonable contents rather than drinkable liquids. Their shape makes them stable and easy to eat from directly, and their paperboard construction handles both hot soups and cold desserts without issue. They’re a staple for any business serving ice cream, gelato, puddings, or cup-based dessert items.

• Best for: Soups, chilis, ice cream, gelato, puddings, parfaits, oatmeal
• Key advantage: Stable base, wide mouth for easy eating, handles hot and cold
• Custom branding: Logo on cup body

Cup Type Quick Comparison

Cup Type	Hot or Cold	Best Use	Branding Surface
Plastic PET Cup	Cold only	Drinks, smoothies, boba, agua fresca	Printed on cup wall
Deli PET Container	Cold / room temp	Grab-and-go, salads, sauces	Cup body or lid
Deli PP Container	Hot & cold	Soups, reheatable meals	Cup body or lid
Double Wall Coffee Cup	Hot	Lattes, espresso, specialty coffee	Full outer wrap
Single Wall Paper Cup	Cold / room temp	Soda, fountain drinks, water	Full outer wrap
Soup & Dessert Cup	Hot & cold	Soup, ice cream, desserts	Cup body

How Custom Branding Works on Cups

The process of getting your logo on a cup is simpler than most restaurant operators expect. At Takeout Goods, here’s how it works:

Step 1 — Send your logo. Share your logo file and any brand preferences (colors, fonts, layout ideas). Vector files are ideal, but we’ll work with what you have.

Step 2 — We handle the artwork. Our team prepares the print file and fits your design to the cup dimensions. No design experience required on your end.

Step 3 — Confirm size and quantity. Tell us which cup type, what size, and how many you need. MOQs vary by cup type — reach out and we’ll walk you through the options.

Step 4 — Fast local delivery. Free local shipping means you’re not waiting on a slow freight carrier to get your supply.

Not ready for a full custom print run?Start with custom branded stickers applied to plain cups. Same visual impact, lower minimum order, and a great way to test your branding before committing to a full print run.

Choosing the Right Cup for Your Business Type

Different food businesses have different cup priorities. Here’s a quick reference to help narrow down which cup types belong in your operation:

Business Type	Recommended Cups
Mexican restaurant / taqueria	PET cups for agua fresca & horchata, single wall for soda
Coffee shop / cafe	Double wall for hot drinks, PET for iced drinks, soup cups for desserts
Food truck	PET cups for cold drinks, single wall for fountain, deli PP for sides
Catering business	PET cups for events, soup cups for hot apps, deli containers for sides
Boba / tea shop	PET cups (large format) — crystal clarity is essential
Deli / meal prep	Deli PET and PP containers for all grab-and-go items
Ice cream / dessert	Soup & dessert cups, PET cups for shakes and smoothies

Ordering in Bulk: What to Know

Cups are a high-frequency consumable — most food businesses go through hundreds or thousands per week. Bulk ordering is the standard approach, and for good reason: per-unit cost drops significantly at volume, and running out of cups mid-service is an operational headache nobody wants.

• Know your weekly usage. Count how many cups of each type you go through in a typical week and order to cover 4–6 weeks at a time.
• Order by cup type separately. Don’t mix cup types in a single order estimate — track your PET cup usage separately from your paper cup usage to avoid running short on one while overstocking the other.
• Factor in peak seasons. Hot weather drives cold drink volume significantly. Order ahead of your busy season to avoid supply gaps.
• Store correctly. Keep cups in a clean, dry storage area away from heat and moisture. Nested stacking is fine — just avoid crushing the top cups in a stack.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between PET and PP cups?

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is crystal-clear and best for cold drinks. PP (polypropylene) has slightly less clarity but handles heat without warping, making it the right choice for hot foods and microwave-safe applications. For drinking cups, PET is almost always the better choice. For containers holding hot food, PP is preferred.

Can I get lids for PET cups?

Yes. PET cups are designed to pair with matching dome or flat lids. When ordering, make sure your lid size matches your cup diameter — lids are sized by opening diameter, not cup volume. We can help you match the right lid to your cup at the time of order.

Are PET cups recyclable?

Yes — PET #1 plastic is one of the most widely recycled materials in the US. Most curbside recycling programs accept PET cups and containers. Recycling acceptance does vary by municipality, so it’s worth checking the specific guidelines in your area.

What size cups should I order for a restaurant?

It depends on your menu. For cold drinks, 16oz and 24oz are the most common sizes for full-service restaurants. Food trucks and high-volume operations often favor 32oz for value-sized drinks. Coffee shops typically stock 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz for hot drinks. Order a small test quantity of each size before committing to a large custom run.

What file format should I send for my logo?

Vector files — AI, EPS, or PDF — are ideal because they scale without losing quality. High-resolution PNG files (300 dpi or higher) also work well. Send us what you have and we’ll let you know if any adjustments are needed before production.

Ready to Put Your Logo on Every Cup?

Whether you’re stocking PET cups for a food truck, double wall cups for a coffee shop, or deli containers for a meal prep business — Takeout Goods has the cup types, the sizes, and the custom branding capability to make every cup work for your brand.

Browse our full cup selection or reach out to get a quote:

Call or text: ‪(786) 548-2683‬

Website: takeoutgoods.com

Fast local delivery. Free shipping. Your brand on every cup.