Drinkware & Restaurant Cups

Common Questions About Drinkware

How is beverageware used?

Certain types of commercial drinkware have distinct purposes while some can be used for anything. While drinkware such as margarita, highball, and whiskey glasses are designed for mixed drinks or specific types of alcohol, pint glasses are versatile and can be used for beer, soft drinks, and water. Metal cups and mugs are popular for serving cocktails such as Moscow mules and margaritas. Many glasses can be used for various types of drinks and even desserts, while some vessels are known for specific applications.

What are the types of restaurant drinkware?

Drinkware glasses are available in several styles. Shot glasses are made for housing small, strong servings of alcohol, but establishments can also use them for dessert service. Beer mugs and pilsners are great for sit-down restaurants, while rocks glasses are typically found in bars serving high-end liquors. Wine decanters and beer pitchers can be used to dispense beverages, though restaurants following the big drinks trend also use them as vessels themselves, encouraging multiple people to drink from a single large-format cup. Stemware options range from specialty margarita glasses to champagne flutes. Teacups and mugs house hot beverages and tumblers are popular at fast-casual restaurants.

How many ounces can restaurant cups hold?

Wholesale drinkware types vary in how many ounces they hold. Plastic tumblers – popular in many food service operations – have capacities ranging from 4 to 32 ounces. Shot glasses are typically between 0.75 and 5 ounces, while whiskey glasses can hold as much as 20 ounces. Restaurant pitchers can house between 32 and 60 ounces depending on the brand and model, and growlers are commonly 64 ounces.

What are restaurant cups made of?

Achieving a fully integrated tabletop design can be as simple as choosing matching commercial drinkware. Restaurant drinkware comes in five forms:

• Porcelain -- also known as china. While this ceramic material is prone to chipping, it can be stronger than glass.
• Crystal restaurant cups have been used for centuries, but because frequent and thorough washing is recommended to reduce lead leaching, beverages shouldn't be housed in this material for extended periods of time.
• Glass can break easily when dropped or subjected to extreme temperature changes, but its heavier weight feels classier and more expensive to guests.
• Plastic beverageware includes SAN, polycarbonate, and polypropylene cups. These durable cups come in many colors, and most can withstand high dishwasher temperatures. While most options are BPA-free, polypropylene drinkware may contain BPA or be susceptible to damage in high-temperature settings.
• Metal cups are great for temperature-sensitive liquids and are resistant to staining and corrosion.