Soup Paper Cups

Soup Needs a Different Cup Than Coffee

Soup is heavier than coffee, often hotter when it leaves the kitchen, and full of chunks that need a spoon. It gets eaten slowly, usually at a desk or in a car, and it often travels in a delivery bag first. A soup cup has to handle all of that: a wider mouth for a spoon, a lining that stands up to broth and oil, a wall that keeps hands comfortable, and a lid that seals without trapping so much steam that it pops off.

Delis, soup and salad shops, ramen and pho counters, bagel shops with a soup of the day, hospital cafeterias, chili cook-offs and food trucks in the winter all order these cups. Grocery stores use them for hot soup bars and for pre-filled cold soups in the deli case. Caterers use small ones for soup shooters at receptions.

Sizes, From Shooters to Quarts

In the US, soup is usually sold by the cup, the bowl, the pint and the quart. Our standard sizes are 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 24 oz and 32 oz, with custom sizes on request.

For soup shooters at weddings and receptions, a very small cup in the 2 to 4 oz range works. Those tasting portions sit better in our 4 oz paper cups, which have a narrow, upright shape suited to sipping.

Wall type is the main choice after size. Double wall cups in 280 to 350 gsm board keep hot soup comfortable to hold for the length of a lunch break. They also keep soup warmer during delivery. Single wall cups are fine for cold soups like gazpacho and for soup eaten on the spot in a cafeteria. Every cup has a double PE or water-based lining inside so broth and oil do not soak into the board.

Lids, Handles and Getting Soup Home Hot

A soup lid has to balance seal and steam. A tight-seal lid is best for delivery, where cups get tipped and bumped. A vented lid lets steam out, which stops pressure from building and pushing the lid up, and keeps soup from turning crackers or bread soggy in the same bag. Many delis use vented lids for dine-in and short walks, and tight-seal lids for delivery.

Some customers search for soup cups with handles. A handle makes a hot cup easier to hold without a sleeve, and suits sit-down events and senior dining. If that is what you need, look at our paper cups with handles, which come in soup-friendly sizes.

Think about how soup is held on the line, too. Many delis fill cups to order from a soup well, while busier spots pre-fill a few cups and keep them in a hot holding cabinet during the lunch peak. Pre-filled cups need lids on to hold heat, and a vented lid is the safer choice in a cabinet, because a sealed lid can bulge as the soup stays hot. Label each pre-filled cup with the flavor so staff grab the right one without lifting lids.

For delivery, pack soup cups upright in a flat-bottomed bag, separate from cold items, and add a spoon and napkin. Fill to about half an inch below the rim to leave room for the lid to seal, and wipe any drips off the rim first.

Printing a Soup Cup

Soup cups are often stacked in a warmer or lined up on a pass, so they get seen in groups. A few points to keep in mind when you design:

• Leave a blank panel or a check-box list for the soup name, so staff can mark the flavor with a pen.
• Print a nutrition or allergen line if your area or customers ask for it.
• Keep the logo large and simple. Soup cups are often stacked, so the top band shows most.
• Use colors that look warm and appetizing. Deep red, orange and green work well on white board.
• Kraft board looks hearty and hides small drips around the rim.

CMYK and PMS printing are both available, with gloss, matte or spot UV finishes. Gloss wipes clean more easily if soup spills on the outside during packing.

Ordering Soup Cups

1. Decide on your menu sizes: cup, bowl, pint and quart are the usual set.
2. Choose single or double wall, and vented or tight-seal lids.
3. Send your logo and any text, such as a flavor checklist. Our designers can help at no cost.
4. Review the proof, and ask for free samples to test lids with your hottest soup.
5. Production runs 4 to 6 business days after approval. Shipping is free to the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.

The minimum order is 100 units per design, with volume discounts on larger runs. Multi-location operators can order one design across all sizes. If you also serve noodles and rice dishes, wider bowl paper cups are a good match for the same artwork.