Custom Paper Juice Cups for Juice and Smoothie Bars

Who buys printed juice cups

Juice and smoothie bars are the core buyers. Their cups travel down the street in customers' hands, so a well printed one works like a small advert.

Breakfast cafés and hotel buffets buy smaller juice cups for orange and apple juice with a morning meal. Gyms and leisure centres sell protein smoothies and fresh blends after a class.

Market traders squeezing oranges to order also use them. A printed cup lifts a simple stall and makes the price feel fair. It also helps regulars spot your stall again on the next market day.

• Juice and smoothie bars
• Breakfast cafés and brunch spots
• Gym and leisure centre cafés
• Hotel breakfast buffets
• Market stalls pressing juice to order

Planning sizes for a juice menu

Juice menus work best with two or three clear sizes. A small 8oz cup suits a breakfast orange juice or a shot-style green blend.

Smoothies are thicker and more filling, so 12oz and 16oz are the usual sizes. A 20oz cup covers large meal-replacement smoothies sold at gyms.

For a closer look at the most common middle size, see our 12oz paper cups. Juice in other volumes can be quoted on request.

Letting the print show the flavour

With a clear cup the drink shows itself, but a paper cup hides it. That means the print has to tell people what is inside.

Many juice bars use one layout and change the colour for each blend. Green for spinach and apple, orange for carrot and ginger, and pink for berry is simple for staff and customers.

Another approach is one neutral cup with a small printed panel where staff tick or write the flavour. It keeps stock simple if your menu changes often.

Whichever route you choose, print the flavour colour where staff can see it from above. That is the view they have when lining cups up on a busy counter.

• One colour per blend on the same layout
• Fruit illustrations matching the menu
• Tick box panel for the flavour
• Neutral cup with a bold logo

Single or double wall for juice

Fresh juice is usually drunk quickly, so a single wall cup is the normal choice. It is light and keeps the cost down.

Icy smoothies are different, because they are thick and stay cold for a long time. A double wall cup keeps the outside drier and stops hands getting numb on a cold morning.

Some bars use single wall for juice and double wall for smoothies. It is a practical split that keeps both drinks comfortable to hold. Both can carry the same artwork, so the range still looks like one family.

Lids and straws for juice

Most takeaway juice needs a lid, especially if it is carried to work. A flat lid with a straw slot is the standard choice for thin juices.

Smoothies topped with seeds, fruit or granola may need a dome lid. It leaves space above the drink so toppings are not crushed.

Lids have to match the rim of your cup exactly, so we fit them to the cup size you order. Our guide on choosing lids, sleeves and carriers covers the options.

Artwork that suits juice

Bright, fresh colours suit juice cups well. White board makes oranges, greens and pinks look clean and vivid.

Keep the design simple enough to read at arm's length across a counter. A strong logo, a flavour colour and a short line of text is usually enough.

If this is your first printed cup, our guide on how to design a printed cup explains safe areas and file setup.

1. Pick your sizes and lids
2. Send a logo in AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG or JPG
3. Tell us the colour for each blend
4. Check the free proof for every version
5. Approve and we start production

Juice cups for gyms and events

Gym cafés often sell a smoothie straight after a class, when people want something quick to carry. A lidded 16oz or 20oz cup with the gym's logo fits that moment well.

Events and festivals serving fresh juice need cups that stack well and carry easily. A printed sleeve or carrier helps when customers buy for a group.

Seasonal blends give you a reason to print a limited cup. A spring Easter blend in pastel colours is a simple way to promote a new recipe.

Gyms often add a short line such as a class name or opening hours. It turns a smoothie cup into a reminder to book the next session.

Common mistakes with juice cups

The biggest one is using the same plain cup for every blend. Staff then mix up orders at busy times, and customers get the wrong drink.

Another is choosing a flat lid for a smoothie piled with toppings. The lid squashes the topping and can pop off.

Juice bars also sometimes order only one size. Offering a small and a large usually suits both breakfast and lunchtime customers. Finally, avoid pale yellow text on white board, as it almost disappears under shop lighting.

Branding beyond the counter

Juice cups are often carried into offices and gyms, so your brand is seen well beyond your shop. A web address or social handle printed on the cup can bring new customers back.

If you want more ideas for full brand artwork, browse our fully printed paper cups. Many juice bars use the same look across hot and cold cups.

Printed sleeves can also add a second message to a plain cup. That works well if you change offers often.

Price, proof and delivery

Printed juice cups start from £0.25 per cup, confirmed in a written quote. The final price depends on size, wall and the number of flavour versions.

Proofs and design help are free, and we revise until you approve. Production then takes 4 to 6 working days, with tracked delivery in a further 2 to 3 working days, free anywhere in the UK.

To price your menu, get a quote for juice cups with your sizes and number of blends.

Food contact, recycling and returns

Juice bars usually ask for food-contact board, and it is available on request for every size. Recyclable lining options can be added on request too.

For a wider view of greener cup choices, see our eco paper cup collection. Recycling rules vary between UK councils, so check locally.

If juice cups arrive misprinted or damaged, report it with photos within 10 days. Those cups are then reprinted or refunded in full.