Disposable cups are the highest-volume single-use item in most cafés and takeaway venues. The right cup balances cost-per-unit against branding, lid compatibility, compostability certification and stack/dispenser compatibility. Hospitality Connect's disposable cup range is built around Biopak certified compostable cold and hot cups, single-wall and double-wall options, and matching lids — covering 90ml ice cream through to 700ml smoothies.
Range overview
- Cold paper BioCups: 280ml (8oz) through 700ml (24oz) — for cold beverages, smoothies, juice and iced coffee.
- Clear PLA tumblers: 150ml to 700ml — when product visibility matters (smoothies, layered drinks).
- Single wall hot cups: Plain and PHA-coated — short black, flat white, espresso and standard takeaway coffee.
- BioBowls and ice cream cups: 90ml ice cream through 550ml kraft BioBowl.
- Lids: 80mm and 90mm rim sizes; flat, dome and sipper lids; clear and natural plant fibre.
What to look for
- Lid rim diameter: 80mm and 90mm look similar. Standardise on one size — order one lid SKU instead of three.
- Stack compatibility: Cup dispensers are sized to specific cup geometries. Check before standardising on a new cup.
- Compostability standard: AS4736 commercial compostable is the council-required standard; AS5810 home compostable is a customer-marketing add-on.
- Wall thickness: Single wall holds 95% of cold service; double wall reduces hand-burn on hot drinks.
- Print versus plain: Plain Unbranded BioCups for white-label cafés; printed Art Series BioCups for retail brand visibility.
Use cases
Café takeaway runs primarily on 8oz and 12oz hot cups; smoothie bars need 16oz to 24oz cold cups with dome lids; juice bars want clear PLA tumblers for visibility. Catering and corporate events need 250ml unbranded tumblers in volume — the most cost-effective sizing.
Compliance and sustainability
Most Australian states have phased out single-use plastic cups; Biopak's PHA-coated paper and PLA ranges meet state-by-state regulations. Keep AS4736 certificates on file for council audits — Biopak's spec sheets carry the certification number for direct submission.
Pair disposable cups with
Australian commercial hospitality covers a broad spectrum — quick-service chains, casual dining, fine dining restaurants, function and event centres, pubs and clubs, cafés, bakeries, hotels, aged-care kitchens, hospital food service, school canteens, government catering and the corporate function market. The right specification varies by venue type. We've supplied equipment to all of these, and that experience helps us flag when a piece of equipment is right-sized or when a different model would suit your throughput better.
Round out your front-of-house with disposable plates and trays, the wider disposables range, and stock up on cleaning chemicals for the rest of the venue.