Single wall cups have certain applicability for both hot and cold drinks, but each has its own characteristics under different materials:
1、 Plastic single wall cup
Regarding hot drinks
Plastic single-walled cups can hold hot drinks, but there are certain limitations. If it is a single wall cup made of PP (polypropylene) plastic, it can withstand hot drinks at a certain temperature, generally around 100-120 ℃. However, due to its single wall design, its insulation effect is relatively poor. When filled with hot drinks, the heat will quickly transfer to the cup wall, making it feel hot when held in hand. Moreover, if the temperature of the hot drink is too high and it comes into contact with the cup wall for a long time, it may cause the plastic to produce some odors or deform.
For example, in fast food restaurants where plastic single-walled cups are used to hold hot coffee, customers need to use cup covers to prevent scalding.
Regarding cold drinks
Plastic single-walled cups are very suitable for holding cold drinks. It can effectively maintain the low temperature of cold drinks because the thermal conductivity of plastic itself is not particularly high, and the structure of single-walled cups is relatively simple, without the condensation problem that may occur due to the presence of an air layer like double-layer cups (when the external temperature is high, the cold drinks inside the double-layer cup lower the temperature of the outer layer, causing condensation on the outer layer).
For example, using a plastic single-walled cup to hold iced cola can effectively maintain the cool taste of the cola, and there will be no water droplets on the surface of the cup that affect its use.
2、 Paper single wall cup
Regarding hot drinks
Paper single wall cups are more suitable for holding hot drinks. Paper itself has a certain degree of thermal insulation, which can reduce the conduction of heat to a certain extent. When filling hot coffee or tea, the hands will not immediately feel very hot. Moreover, the material characteristics of paper single-walled cups make them less likely to produce odors when holding hot drinks, unlike plastic cups.
For example, coffee shops often use paper single-walled cups to hold hot latte, and customers can comfortably hold the cup to enjoy the drink. However, paper single-walled cups may be damaged if they are exposed to high-temperature hot drinks for a long time due to the paper being soaked, so they are not suitable for hot drinks that are too hot or stored for a long time.
Regarding cold drinks
Paper single-walled cups for cold drinks are also acceptable, but if the external humidity is high, the cup may become soft due to absorbing moisture from the air. Its insulation effect is not as obvious when storing cold drinks as when storing hot drinks, and the temperature of cold drinks is relatively quickly affected by the external temperature.
For example, in humid weather, using a paper single-walled cup to pack smoothies may cause the cup to become relatively soft in a short period of time, affecting the user experience.
