Ultimate Guide to Choosing Clear PET Cups & Lids

Restaurants and coffee shops have an array of products they can use as containers for their clients’ beverages. However, two of the most popular items available are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic cups and lids, since they provide people with a clear view of what others are drinking while offering sturdy walls of protection for the beverages themselves.

Because business owners have many PET products to choose from, they may not know which ones they should buy for their eateries. This ultimate guide to choosing clear PET cups and lids can help narrow down the selection.

Types of PET Cups

Manufacturers produce PET cups in various sizes and features, making it essential for restaurateurs to evaluate these aspects and determine which ones best suit their needs. You can read about each of these below to become better informed when making your final selection.

32- and 24-Ounce Plastic Cups

If your business offers iced tea or coffee in large containers, consider purchasing 32- or 24-ounce PET cups. These containers will satisfy your customers’ appetites for sizable amounts of these beverages, while also staying strong and stable as they carry them while walking. Plus, the PET material is recyclable, so you don’t have to worry about making your business’s carbon footprint any larger by keeping these in stock.

A 32-Ounce Torch Cup

When your customers take their beverages on the go, they don’t always carry them while walking. Instead, they may put them in their vehicle's cupholder as they make their way to work or drive home after their shifts.

This makes the 32-ounce Torch cup a perfect addition to your restaurant’s supplies. The cup features a base and a design resembling a torch, allowing customers to easily slip it into their vehicle’s cup holder. You’ll provide your clients with more convenience as they enjoy their delicious drinks while driving.

20-, 16-, 12-, and 10-Ounce Cups

Some customers may not want large-sized drinks. Fortunately, they can still have the experience of using a PET cup when you stock several sizes that skew toward the medium range, such as 20-, 16-, 12-, and 10-ounce cups. These will provide the same toughness as the 32- and 24-ounce versions, while holding ample amounts of cold beverages, such as smoothies, juice, or even beer.

9-, 8-, and 5-Ounce Cups

If your customers want even smaller sizes than a 10-ounce PET cup, you can offer them 9-, 8-, and 5-ounce cups. All three are suitable for carrying beverages that customers want to take with them.

However, you can also use the 5-ounce version for giving samples or holding treats, such as gelatin desserts. You may find that you have more options to add to your menu with the addition of the 5-ounce container to your supplies.

Types of PET Lids

Many times, people overlook the value of a lid on their beverages. These circular discs help prevent spillage by keeping your cold drink secure, ensuring you don’t experience any accidental loss while carrying it or consuming it. Read on to learn about the various options can choose from when looking at clear PET lids to attach to your cups.

Dome Lids

When people order iced coffees or smoothies, they may want your workers to top them off with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or other additives. A dome PET lid will allow your servers to have a little extra room for these additions after they have filled the cups to the brim. These lids also enable others to see those toppings and give the cup an enhanced visual appearance with their curved shapes.

Although there are dome lids that allow customers to slip a straw through to their beverages, you can also stock up on ones without holes. These can assist customers who want to protect their cold beverages from spills while in transit and plan to enjoy them once they reach their destinations.

If you have consumers who prefer to use a spoon instead of a straw when enjoying smoothies, iced coffees, or milkshakes, consider opting for a dome lid with a wide hole. The bigger opening will provide them with much more room as they slip the spoon in, scoop up a portion of their drink or dessert, and then move it into their mouth to enjoy the flavors.

Flat Lids

If a customer orders a cold beverage that does not require any extra toppings—such as iced tea, juice, or soda—ensure you have flat PET lids on hand. These lids will prevent leakage while also allowing customers to use straws to enjoy their drinks. Hole-free versions are also available for clients who order gelatin treats, parfaits, or cups of delicious fruit as takeout.

Sippy Lids

Your restaurant or coffee shop may also encounter customers who prefer not to drink their iced coffee or other cold beverages with a straw or even enjoy them with a spoon. Instead, they may choose to do things the old-fashioned way by sipping directly from the beverage. Fortunately, you can accommodate them with PET sippy lids.

Like their dome and flat counterparts, these products are also transparent, with a plug that allows the users to temporarily seal up the hole when they are not drinking their beverage. They’ll also keep the beverage sealed in the cup, so customers don’t make a mess when they tip their heads back to take a quick drink.

Tap-Top Beer Lids

One last PET lid product you should know about is the Tap-Top beer lid, which shares similarities with a dome lid. However, instead of providing your employees with additional room to add extra toppings, it enables the beer to have a foamy head.

This allows your customers to enjoy the delightful aromas of the head while avoiding overflows and spills. Your workers will also be able to serve beer more efficiently, without having to pour out beer or foam unnecessarily before handing it to the customer.

After reviewing the various types of PET cups and lids that are available, you can select the ones that best fit your beverage menu. By using these products, you’ll provide clear views of your cold, refreshing beverages to others and enhance their enjoyment of them with high-quality containers and lids.