Styrofoam Vs. Paper Coffee Cups
The coffee industry introduced the use of paper coffee cups onto the scene in the early 1990s. Starbucks, being the coffee retail leader, has changed the way people perceive and purchase coffee. Many Seattle-based coffee companies have been using paper coffee cups for a few decades and has helped shape the perception of coffee cups. Typically, a specialty cafe or espresso bar exclusively uses paper coffee cups while more low-end coffee retails use Styrofoam.
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Insulation
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Hands down Styrofoam insulates much better than a paper cup. Many coffee shops that use paper coffee cups have to serve the coffee with a cardboard sleeve to make the cup bearable to hold. Paper also allows the coffee to cool at a very rapid rate, sometimes cooling the coffee faster than desired. Styrofoam, on the other hand, doesn't require additional sleeves to keep the hand cool and they hold the heat from coffee longer than paper.
Eco-Friendliness
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Surprisingly, Styrofoam is more eco-friendly than paper coffee cups. Paper cups aren't as biodegradable as people may think. It will take well more than 20 years for a standard paper coffee cup to break down in a typical landfill. Paper cups also require more raw material, energy and money to produce. Each paper cup uses 12 times the amount of water, 36 times the amount of electricity and are twice as expensive to make compared with a Styrofoam cup. When it comes to being eco-friendly, Styrofoam is the way to go.
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Image
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The perceived image of a Styrofoam versus paper coffee cup is very important. Styrofoam has a very cheap perceived value, which in turn will devalue your coffee product. Paper coffee cups send a more sophisticated and exclusive message. If image is a concern in your marketed endeavors then stick with paper cups for a high-class perception.
Cost
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Paper coffee cups are much more expensive. They cost on average 2.5 more than a Styrofoam cup. Paper cups also require a coffee sleeve, which needs to be factored into the price. Both Styrofoam and paper cups can be customized with a company logo and other information. Even when customized, the Styrofoam is still half the price.
Storage Space
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Paper cups are more condensed, so they store easily. You can fit almost double the amount of paper cups than Styrofoam into the same space. If storage space is an issue for your establishment, you may want to consider going with paper cups. You will have to weigh the difference in price based on how much room you have to store the cups.
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