Opening a Cafe or Coffee Shop: Your Packaging Checklist
Opening a cafe or coffee shop? The cups, lids, bags and food packaging you need, how to choose hot cups and how to brand them from day one.
By TradePack3 min read
For a cafe or coffee shop, packaging is mostly about cups. A printed coffee cup is carried down the street, into offices and onto desks, often for longer than the drink lasts. That makes it one of the most effective pieces of branding a new cafe can have.
Here's what to put on your packaging list before you open.
Hot cups
Your hot cups are the centre of your packaging. The main choice is the wall:
- Single wall is the simplest and most economical, fine for drinks held briefly or used with a sleeve.
- Double wall is comfortable to hold without a sleeve and keeps drinks warmer. It's a reliable choice for most cafes.
- Ripple wall gives the best grip and insulation, with a distinctive textured look.
Match the cup sizes to your menu. Most cafes need two or three sizes.
Lids
Every takeaway cup needs a lid that fits exactly. Order cups and lids together so the fit is guaranteed; mismatched lids are one of the most common problems new cafes run into.
Cold cups and straws
If you'll serve iced coffee, smoothies or soft drinks, add cold cups with flat or domed lids, and straws to suit, including wider ones for thick drinks.
Sandwich and dessert boxes
If you sell sandwiches, baguettes, cake slices, brownies or pastries, printed sandwich boxes and dessert boxes make them look like part of your brand. We can add a window in cellophane or PET, in the shape and size you choose, so customers can see what they're buying. Our guide to boxes with a window explains when a window helps.
Bags for food to go
Grab bags are quick to fill for pastries, cookies and sandwiches. Choose a grease-resistant paper for anything buttery or warm. For bigger orders, add a takeaway bag with handles.
Bowls for salads and hot food
If you serve food to go, salad bowls and soup bowls with secure lids cover most menus.
Napkins
Printed napkins are inexpensive and go out with almost every order.
If you only brand one thing on opening day, make it your hot cups.
Your cafe packaging checklist
- Hot cups in your drink sizes
- Matching lids for every cup size
- Cold cups, lids and straws
- Sandwich boxes and dessert boxes, with a window if you want one
- Grab bags for pastries and sandwiches
- Takeaway bags for larger orders
- Salad and soup bowls, if you serve food
- Napkins
Storage, timing and design
Cups take up a lot of space, and new cafes rarely have much of it. We can keep your stock in UK storage so you order the volumes that bring the price per cup down without filling your back room. Production and delivery typically take 30 to 35 days after you approve your sample and artwork, so start around eight weeks before opening. If your logo isn't ready yet, we can design your cups with you at no extra cost.
Summary
Start with printed hot cups and matching lids, add cold cups if you serve iced drinks, and cover food to go with grab bags and bowls. Plan ahead for storage and allow time for your sample before opening.
See the full cafe checklist, or tell us about your cafe and we'll build your packaging list with you.
