Kraft Paper Cups

Kraft as a Material, Not Just a Color

Kraft paper is made from wood pulp that has not been bleached white, which is why it keeps its brown tone and its visible fibers. It is a strong paper by nature, which made it the standard for grocery bags and shipping sacks long before it became a cafe favorite. In cup form, kraft gives you a sturdy wall with a natural look that does not need any printing to feel finished.

Kraft paper cups cover far more than coffee. Farmers market stalls use them for lemonade and kettle corn. Delis serve soup and chili in them. Frozen yogurt shops use them for toppings. Food trucks use small sizes for sauces and sides. Outdoor event caterers like them because the brown hides dust and handling marks at a fair or a field wedding. If your main use is espresso drinks and lattes, our dedicated page on kraft coffee cups for cafes goes deeper into that menu.

Wall Builds and What Each Is For

Searches for corrugated paper cups usually mean ripple wall. The ribs are a separate outer layer glued over the cup, which traps air and keeps hands cool. It also gives kraft a more handmade feel, which suits craft breweries' coffee bars and farm stands.

Can a Kraft Cup Be Plastic-Free?

People often ask for uncoated paper cups or paper cups without plastic. Here is the plain answer. Any cup that holds liquid needs some barrier on the inside, or the paper softens and leaks. Standard cups use a thin plastic film. Some alternatives use plant-based linings or water-based barrier coatings. Unlined kraft cups only make sense for dry foods like popcorn, nuts or candy.

If you want to reduce plastic, tell us the drink or food going in and how long it sits in the cup. That decides which lining fits. Recyclable and biodegradable options are both available, and soy- or vegetable-based inks can be used for the printing.

Printing on Kraft Paper

• Black, white and dark brown inks give the cleanest contrast on natural kraft.
• Bright colors need a white base layer underneath, or they look dull and muddy.
• Stamp-style logos, line drawings and hand-lettering suit the texture of the paper.
• Very fine text can break up on the fiber, so keep small print at a readable weight.
• Bleached kraft is also available if you want the strength of kraft with a white print surface.

Many buyers pair kraft cups with kraft bags for a matching takeaway set. Our custom kraft food bags in matching brown share the same natural look and can carry the same logo.

Lids, Sleeves and Storage

Kraft cups take standard lids for their size, so check the rim diameter when you order lids separately. Dome lids suit iced drinks with toppings, and flat sip lids suit hot drinks. A plain kraft sleeve on a single-wall cup gives extra insulation and a second branding spot for seasonal messages.

Store kraft cups somewhere dry. The outer fibers can pick up moisture from a damp floor or a wet prep table, which softens the base of a stack. Keep cartons sealed until needed, and rotate older stock to the front so the oldest cups get used first.

Kraft Cups for Food, Not Just Drinks

Kraft board works well for food cups because it is stiff and hides oil marks better than white. A 12 oz or 16 oz kraft cup holds soup, chili, mac and cheese or a grain bowl. Smaller 4 oz to 8 oz cups take dips, sauces, fruit, frozen yogurt or a scoop of ice cream. Wide, short shapes are easier to eat from with a spoon than tall drink cups.

For anything greasy, ask for a grease-resistant inner coating. For soups and stews, a double-wall build keeps hands safe. If you are matching cups with other food packaging, our range of custom food paper cups for menus includes sizes designed for spoons and forks rather than straws.

Kraft also suits dry snacks with no lining at all. Popcorn, roasted nuts, trail mix and candy can go into an unlined kraft cup, which keeps the cup simpler and closer to plain paper. That is a good route for fairs and cinemas that serve dry treats only. Ask for a sample to check how your snack sits in the cup before ordering a season of stock.

Steps to Order Custom Kraft Cups

1. Tell us what goes in the cup: hot drink, cold drink, soup or dry snack.
2. Choose sizes, from small 4 oz portion cups up to 24 oz, or ask for a custom size.
3. Pick single, double or ripple wall and the lining type.
4. Send your logo or ask our designers to prepare one for kraft printing at no cost.
5. Approve the proof. Production takes 4–6 business days, and rush is available.

Minimum order is 100 units, with lower pricing as you scale. Free samples are available before you commit, and shipping is free to the USA, Canada, UK and Australia.