As consumers of coffee, tea, and other beverages at cafes and vending machines, we rarely think about the paper cups that we drink them from. They are like the ubiquitous objects that barely get our attention (unless they are striking to look at!).

But paper cups, their quality, and thickness definitely need attention, if you are planning to pick them for your coffee shop, restaurant, or office.

Apart from the design, size, colors, one of the points that you will need to decide upon is whether you should pick single-walled or double-walled paper cups.

Want to know what these terms mean? And which one should you pick? Read on!

Single-Walled Paper Cups:

Single-walled paper cups have a single layer or wall of paperboard (the thickness can vary from 180 gsm to 210 gsm). These cups are typically made with high-quality food-grade paper board.

They are particularly suited for cold beverages. They can be used for hot drinks, especially the ones with milk, where there is no boiling content (below 80℃), and when the customer will drink it on location.

However, these cups are not suitable for freshly-brewed coffee or tea- the outside of the cup will get uncomfortably hot due to a lack of insulation. In some establishments, they simply ask or serve customers hot beverages by cupping two single-walled cups.

Also, if the customer is on the go and keeping the drink warm is your concern, the hot beverage will become cold soon, due to lack of insulation in a single-walled cup.

When to pick single-walled paper cups?

• You are serving cold, chilled, room temperature, or slightly warm beverages

• You want good looking, but economical paper cups for your brand

• Your beverage will be consumed within 10 minutes of being served

Single-walled paper cups are also the more common, more economical, and eco-friendly option.  They consume less paper and less energy in production. Being lighter than other types of cups, more can be transported at a time, reducing transport-related emissions.

Double-walled Paper Cups

As the term suggests, double-walled paper cups have two layers of paperboard (of around 210 gsm and up). These cups provide an insulating effect to the beverages, due to the air pocket between the two layers of paperboard.

Double-walled paper cups keep your beverages warmer for a longer period of time. They are comfortable to hold and protect your customer from the heat emitted from the hot beverage. They offer more stability while serving and moving the drinks around. It is cheaper than cupping two single-walled cups together to serve hot drinks.

When to pick double-walled paper cups?

• You are serving hot beverages

• You want good looking and comfortable-to-hold-and-carry paper cups for your brand

• Your consumers are likely to consume their drinks over long periods of time or are likely to be on the move and carrying their beverages with them. Double-walled cups are well-insulated and can hold hot and cold beverages 20-30 minutes

Double-walled paper cups are more expensive than single-walled paper cups, due to the quantity of material used. The cups hold beverages well and don’t get soggy over time.

The Best Paper Cup Choice?

In conclusion, there is no single ‘best’ option when it comes to single-walled or double-walled cups. It depends on the usage and your budget.

And is that it? What about Triple Walled Cups?

Triple walled cups have three layers: a food-grade paper board, an inner insulated board, and an external ripple/ corrugated layer that gives it insulating air pockets. These cups are the most durable, offer excelled heat retention, and protection. However, these are the costliest options as compared to single-walled and double-walled cups. If you have the budget and want to leave a solid impression on your customers, triple-walled cups are the way to go.

For most commercial purposes, double-walled cups are a great choice!

Gumtoo’s Double Walled Cups

At Gumtoo, we use food-grade Kraft Paper with PE (polyethylene) coating to make our standard double-walled cups. PE coating makes the cups strong and waterproof.

If you require cups with a PLA coating (plant-based coating that makes cups eco-friendly and compostable), do let us know. These cups are priced at a premium over our standard ones.

We can customize paper cups with your logo and brand colors. The more the number of colors, the higher the cost of your custom double-walled paper cups.