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Summer brings a clear shift in drinks service. Iced coffees, smoothies, milkshakes, juices, soft drinks, beer and sparkling drinks all become more important for cafés, takeaways, pubs, caterers and event teams.
With outdoor dining, beer gardens, festivals, sports screenings and the World Cup 2026 all adding extra demand, it is worth checking your cold cup stock early. The right cup, lid and straw combination can support quicker service and make takeaway drinks easier for customers to carry.
At Diamond Catering Supplies, we stock a practical range of cold cups and lids for foodservice, hospitality and event catering. This guide covers the main points to consider before buying.
Cold cups are available in a range of materials, and the best choice depends on how the drink will be served.
Clear plastic cups are a practical option for drinks where presentation matters, such as juices, iced coffees, frappes, smoothies and milkshakes. The clear finish helps show the drink colour, layers or toppings.
RPET cups are made using recycled plastic content and are a popular choice for chilled takeaway drinks. For example, the Dispo 12oz rPET Smoothie Cup is made with 30% recycled content and is suitable for smoothies, iced coffee, frappes, juices and milkshakes.
Polypropylene cups and glasses such as the 20oz Twoinone Flexy Bio - Pint To Brim work well for outdoor drinks service. They are commonly used for beer gardens, mobile bars, outdoor venues and events where glass may not be suitable.
PLA compostable cups offer another option for venues looking for compostable cold drink packaging. The Dispo 7oz PLA Compostable clear Water Cooler Cups can be useful for water coolers, volume catering and general cold drink service where compostable disposables are preferred.
Cup size affects portion control, presentation and customer value. It also helps staff serve consistently during busy periods.
Smaller 7oz cups are useful for water coolers, sampling, workplace refreshment stations, schools, clubs and volume catering.
A 12oz cold cup is a good everyday size for iced coffees, juices, smoothies and milkshakes. It gives enough room for a chilled drink without feeling oversized.
Larger 16oz and 20oz cups are useful for bigger smoothies, iced drinks, soft drinks, beer and event service. A 20oz pint glass is a practical choice for outdoor bars, sports events and summer drinks trade.
For licensed drinks, check whether CE marking or other relevant measures are required for your setting. For example, this 1 Pint Disposable Flexi Glass is a 20oz plastic glass suited to outdoor venues, events and mobile bars.
Takeaway cold drinks need more than the cup. Lids can make a big difference to transport, customer convenience and service speed.
Flat straw slot lids are commonly used for iced coffees, juices and smoothies. They allow customers to drink on the move and help reduce splashes compared with an open cup.
Domed lids are useful for drinks with cream, foam, fruit toppings or thicker smoothie blends. They give extra space above the drink and help with presentation.
Always check lid compatibility before ordering. Check the cup diameter as well as the capacity. Two cups may both be 12oz but require different lids, especially across smoothie cups, PLA cold cups and rPET ranges. Our straw slot lids are designed to fit selected 12oz, 16oz and 20oz smoothie rPET cups, making them a useful add-on for takeaway drink service.
Straws are another important consideration for cold drink service. Smoothies, milkshakes, frappes and iced drinks are often easier to enjoy with the right straw, particularly for customers on the move.
When choosing straws, consider the drink type and consistency, as thicker drinks may require a wider bore straw than standard soft drinks or juices. We stock a range of straws, including wider bore options in 8mm, 10mm and 12mm sizes that are ideal for smoothies, milkshakes and other thicker blended drinks. Pairing suitable straws with compatible cups and lids helps create a complete takeaway drinks solution and makes ordering simpler for busy operators.
For busy cafés, milkshake bars and food-to-go operators, it is worth buying cups, lids and straws together. This helps avoid stock mismatches during peak summer trade.
Summer events can change drink demand quickly. Sunny weekends, local events, pub gardens and sports screenings can all increase the need for disposable cold drinkware. For event catering, allow extra stock for repeat drinks, spillages and last-minute footfall changes. It is also worth checking storage space, as cold cups and lids are often ordered in bulk packs.
The World Cup 2026 is well underway and offers a major summer trading opportunity for pubs, bars, sports clubs, outdoor venues and event caterers. Venues showing matches may need extra stock for beer, soft drinks and celebratory drinks.
Disposable pint and half pint glasses are a sensible choice for beer gardens, fan zones and mobile bars where breakable glassware is unsuitable. The 1 Pint Plastic Disposable Flexi Glass offers a recyclable, stackable option for soft drinks and alcoholic drinks in outdoor service.
For fizz and welcome drinks, disposable champagne flutes can be useful for outdoor hospitality, weddings, events and summer functions. Our eGreen Disposable Champagne Flutes have a 135ml capacity and clear polypropylene construction, giving a glass-style look without using traditional glass.
When comparing cold cups, it is important to think about how they will be disposed of after use.
RPET cups are made using recycled plastic content. For example, some products in our range are manufactured with a percentage of recycled PET material. These cups may be recyclable where suitable collection and recycling facilities exist, but recycling arrangements vary by location and waste contractor.
PLA cups are commonly described as compostable, but they generally require appropriate industrial composting facilities to be processed effectively. They should only be selected where a suitable collection and disposal route is available.
For events, venues and takeaway operations, it is worth checking waste arrangements before choosing a cup material. Different sites may have different recycling and waste management systems, and not all materials are accepted in every collection stream.
As a practical buying tip, choose a cup that suits both your drinks service requirements and the waste management options available at your site.
Before placing an order, check:
Cold cups are a small item, but they can have a big impact on summer drinks service. Choosing the right size, material and lid helps keep queues moving, supports takeaway sales and gives customers a better experience whether they are ordering iced coffee, smoothies, beer, water or celebratory drinks.
Diamond Catering Supplies stocks cold cups and lids for cafés, takeaways, pubs, caterers, mobile bars and outdoor events. From 12oz rPET smoothie cups and compatible straw slot lids to 20oz flexi glasses, champagne flutes and compostable water cooler cups, there are options for a wide range of summer service needs.
