What Size Compostable Coffee Cups Should Your Café Stock?

Choosing the right coffee cup sizes for your café isn’t just about preference, it’s about efficiency, cost control, storage space, and customer expectations.

Stock too many sizes and you increase complexity. Stock too few and you risk frustrating customers or limiting your menu. It’s also important not to confuse compostable with biodegradable, they’re not the same thing.

If you’re using compostable coffee cups, there’s also the added consideration of sleeves, disposal guidance, and communicating your sustainability choices clearly.

This guide breaks down the four most common compostable coffee cup sizes; 6oz, 8oz, 12oz and 16oz, and helps you decide what’s right for your café, takeaway service, or event.

The Standard Coffee Cup Sizes Explained

Most UK independent cafés operate within a predictable size range. The key is matching cup size to your drink menu and customer behaviour.

6oz – For Espresso-Based Drinks & Smaller Servings

6oz cups are typically used for:

• Flat whites

• Cortados

• Small cappuccinos

• Premium espresso-based drinks

If your café leans towards specialty coffee or smaller milk ratios, 6oz can be an important size. It’s also useful in venues where customers are dining in but may still want a takeaway option.

Not every café needs 6oz cups, but if flat whites are a core seller, it’s worth considering.

8oz – The Independent Café Staple

For many UK cafés, 8oz is the workhorse size.

It’s commonly used for:

• Standard cappuccinos

• Regular lattes

• Americanos

• Everyday takeaway orders

If you’re trying to simplify stock while still covering most drink orders, 8oz is often the safest foundation size.

Many smaller cafés operate successfully with 8oz as their primary cup, supported by either 6oz or 12oz depending on demand.

12oz – The Popular Takeaway Choice

12oz cups are often the most popular size for takeaway-heavy cafés.

They’re typically used for:

• Large lattes

• Larger cappuccinos

• Customers who prefer a bigger drink for commuting or longer stays

If your café is in a high-footfall area near offices, transport links or shopping centres, 12oz may quickly become your best-selling size.

For many operators, an 8oz + 12oz combination covers the vast majority of orders without overcomplicating stock management.

16oz – For Large Hot Drinks, Iced Beverages & High-Volume Locations

16oz cups are suited to:

• Extra-large lattes and cappuccinos

• Large Americanos

• Customers who prefer bigger takeaway drinks

• Iced coffees (where clear cold cups aren’t being used)

• High-footfall commuter locations

While many cafés use clear compostable cold cups for iced drinks, a 16oz paper cup still works well for iced coffees in certain service models, particularly when simplicity and stock control are priorities.

If your café serves commuters, students, or customers who expect a generous portion size, 16oz can support upselling and reduce the need for refills.

Not every independent café needs this size, but in busy urban settings, it can quickly justify its place.

How Many Cup Sizes Does a Small Café Really Need?

One of the most common mistakes new cafés make is stocking too many variations.

More sizes mean:

• More storage space required

• Larger minimum order quantities

• Slower-moving stock sitting unused

• Increased ordering complexity

In practice, many independent cafés operate efficiently with just two or three sizes.

For example:

• 8oz + 12oz

• 6oz + 8oz + 12oz

• 8oz + 12oz + 16oz (in higher-traffic areas)

Your ideal range depends on:

• Your drink menu

• Whether takeaway is your main revenue stream

• Storage capacity

• Customer expectations in your location

If space is limited, simplifying your range can reduce waste and improve operational flow behind the counter.

Single Wall Cups, Sleeves & Customer Comfort

Most compostable paper coffee cups use a PLA lining (a plant-based bioplastic) to provide liquid resistance while remaining suitable for industrial composting. If you’d like a deeper explanation of how PLA-lined packaging works, you can read our detailed guide to PLA-lined compostable packaging.

Compostable cups are available in both single wall and double wall constructions. Single wall cups are typically paired with sleeves for heat protection, while double wall designs incorporate an additional insulating layer.

At present, our range focuses on single wall compostable cups supplied with sleeves, offering a practical balance between heat comfort, storage efficiency and cost control for independent cafés.

Compostability & UK Disposal Considerations

If you’re choosing compostable coffee cups, it’s worth understanding how they’re disposed of.

Most compostable paper cups use a PLA lining and are certified to EN13432 standards. This means they are designed to break down in industrial composting conditions.

However, disposal routes vary by local authority.

To maximise the environmental benefit of compostable cups:

• Clearly communicate disposal guidance to customers

• Understand your local waste collection system

• Consider signage near bins explaining compostable packaging

Being transparent about how your cups are handled after use strengthens your sustainability messaging and builds trust with environmentally conscious customers.

Coffee Cup Size Guide for UK Cafés

Below is a practical breakdown of common café drinks and the cup sizes that typically suit them.

Drink	Regular Size	Larger Option
Double Espresso	6oz	—
Flat White	6oz	8oz
Cortado	6oz	—
Cappuccino	8oz	12oz
Latte	8oz	12oz
Americano	8oz	12oz or 16oz
Mocha	8oz	12oz
Hot Chocolate	8oz	12oz or 16oz
Chai Latte	8oz	12oz
Iced Latte	12oz	16oz
Iced Americano	12oz	16oz

Final Checklist Before You Order

If you’re reviewing your takeaway packaging, our UK guide to switching to compostable packaging walks through what to consider.

Before placing your next order, ask:

• Which drinks sell most consistently?

• Is takeaway your primary revenue stream?

• Do customers regularly request larger sizes?

• How much storage space do you have?

• Are you stocking sleeves alongside your cups?

• Are you communicating compostable disposal clearly?

Choosing the right compostable coffee cup sizes isn’t about offering every option, it’s about stocking what suits your menu, your space, and your customers.

Ready to choose the right cup for your business? Explore our full range of available sizes and colours.