Article Quick Facts
Step 1: Choose Your Materials
Start by splitting your menu into cold and hot. Cold drinks (iced coffee, fruit tea, smoothies) present best in crystal-clear PET. Hot drinks (lattes, hot milk tea) need PP cups or insulated paper cups that tolerate heat. Most cafes carry both. For a full breakdown of the trade-offs, see our PET vs PP cups comparison.
Quick Decision Table
A shortcut for the most common cafe cup decisions.
| Need | Recommended | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Iced / clear drinks | PET cold cups | PET vs PP guide |
| Hot drinks | PP or paper cups | Hot drink cup guide |
| Right size | 12 / 16 / 22 oz | Bubble tea sizes chart |
| Custom logo | Print from 1,000 pcs | Custom printed cups |
| Small first order | One or two core sizes | Cup MOQ guide |
Step 2: Standardize Sizes and Lids
Pick a small set of core sizes — most cafes do well with 12oz, 16oz and 22oz — and standardize on one caliber (commonly 95mm) so a single lid and sealing film covers your range. This minimizes inventory and simplifies restocking. See the bubble tea cup sizes chart for the full size-to-ml breakdown and caliber notes.
Step 3: Plan MOQ and Branding
Custom-printed cups typically start from around 1,000 pieces per size. If you are just starting, keep the first order lean — limit sizes and consider branding through printed sealing film so one roll covers every cup. See our cup MOQ guide and custom printed cups guide for details, then request a quote with your chosen sizes and materials.
Article FAQs
At minimum: clear PET cups for cold drinks, PP or paper cups for hot drinks, matching lids, and sealing film if you serve boba. Standardize sizes to keep it simple.
Most cafes run three core sizes (12/16/22oz). Fewer sizes on a shared caliber means simpler inventory and lower MOQ commitments.
Custom printing usually starts from about 1,000 pieces per size. Stock (unprinted) cups can often be ordered in smaller quantities.
Print your logo on the sealing film instead of every cup size — one printed roll brands all your cups at once, keeping your first order affordable.