Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

[Poohjay]

In my quest to replicate the cafe experience at home and for the wifes long drive to work in the morning. Ive been looking into getting some disposable paper cups and plastic lids.

Most places seem to sell it by the 1000 in a carton or 500 at a time. Price per paper cup is around 20 - 30 cents. It starts to add up in the long run but the convenience and not having to wash the coffee stains from the cup, is it really worth it?

Also researching foam disposable cups which would retain heat better than the paper equivalent, if that would be a better option?

Another novelty item is "I am not a paper cup" or "Eco-Cup" by DCI - ecocup.net , looks exactly like a coffee cup but made of porcelain with a silicone lid. Not sure how practical that cup would be, also may be a pain to keep the silicon clean. Anyone seen or own one of these items care to comment??

Currently using a thermo cup with stainess steel inside and a plastic lid with rubber seal. The rubber seal gets smelly if not cleaned properly. Anyone in the same situation with making your coffee portable??? Please enlighten me!

[rival81]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

I actually picked up a thermos on the weekend (sounds the same as yours) so that i can take my coffee in the car with me and drink it on the way to work in the mornings.

At 20 cents a cup disposible isnt really an option in my opinion.

I have a cleaner called Vanilla something or other which is designed to be food safe for cleaning your fridge, and it gets rid of odours really well. We even use it in our bin. Could try that on the rubber seal. Ill let you know the full name of the product tonight. You get it at coles/woolies.

[fatboy_1999]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

I have 2 of the Thermos travel mugs. On special at a homewares store about 6 months ago for $10 each. I think they are actually Thermos brand but I will check tonight.

I like these as they appear to me to be a better quality than some of the other cheapies Ive had in the past. They also cope with going through the dishwasher, where the last 2 I had did not.

I put the used one through the dishwasher each night and have had no issues with either of them so far. Travel lid can be put on as a rightie or a lefty. I agree that they need a proper clean and its part of the reason I bought 2. Just in case the dishwasher didnt have a full load the night before, I have one in reserve. Also, when we are off to the airport, or a drive of any length, its a nice option for making a traveller for both myself and the wife.

I think its a better option than disposable.

Brett.

[redzone121]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

We picked up a couple of sleeves of the cardboard? cups and plastic lids that most cafes use here (even had there logos on). Not impressed, definitely smell and taste issues IMO. I use Oxyclean to clean syphon gear and sometimes do the cups as well including our thermos cups.
If all else fails a quick soak in espresso clean nails any lurkers ;D

Chris

[Poohjay]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

Thermos cups have all sorts of wierd drinking spouts, Havent really found a lid that has a fantastic design for drinking. Most do an OK job if they dont spill everywhere.

havent really used any expresso/coffee cleaning products to be honest, may need to look into that coz the morning fresh is leaving a slightly fresh smell in teh coffee... ;D

[blanyon]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

If you buy a travel mug please dont go for the really tall ones, as someone who has to fill them all the time I have a tall group head on my machine but there are some so tall that I have no choice but to pull the shot into a glass and then transfer it. Anoying and you dont get as good a coffee.

Just a thought.

[Greg41]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

If you buy a travel mug please dont go for the really tall ones, as someone who has to fill them all the time I have a tall group head on my machine but there are some so tall that I have no choice but to pull the shot into a glass and then transfer it. Anoying and you dont get as good a coffee.

Just a thought.  

Your right there moto, they are a right royal pain in the ar%#!

[SlowRain]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

Ive only just discoverd eco cups this month.  The ones I stumbled across were made by an American company from a corn plastic.  I mentioned them to my local coffee shop here, and hes looking to see if there is a distributor here.

As for travel, I just use one of those Starbucks travel cups.  It works okay for short time spans and doesnt seem to have a coffee smell--but I do wash it quite regularly and thoroughly.

Disposable cups seem like the worst possible idea, because of both cost and environmental impact.

[Andy]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

cups and plastic lids that most cafes use here (even had there logos on). Not impressed, definitely smell and taste issues IMO

AGREE!
So many of the cafes by cheap and nasty cups (mostly from china and indo) that have some really nasty tastes n odors. Some of it comes from the wax coatings (plastic-ish), some from the paper (wet cat) and some from is transfered from the ink on the outside of the previous cup in the tube (petrochemical / soap flavours).

If you go down the disposable cup route test them first. Fill with boiling water and take a big whiff. You can find the good ones pretty quickly.

I did this process at a paper product wholesaler last year and while he thought I was a little weird at first after he smelt some of them he agreed not to stock those brands again. Another win for taste!

As for the debate on reuse or dispose... Fatboys idea of a couple of travel mugs in a rotation sounds like a far better choice for the planet.

8-)

[krusty]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

how about this?
http://www.keepcup.com.au/

[fatboy_1999]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

Ive had a look once I got home and mine are indeed Thermos brand cups. I dont mind the height. I always pull a double into a warmed cup and transfer it into the mug anyway. As I drink a big flat white, I just pour some of the milk into the empty cup to pick up any left over coffee. Especially over the last week with the Honduran La Central. YUMMY!
Couldnt really find a picture of my exact mug online. I like the lid on these better than my last mugs. Its got a slider that goes over a fairly small hole, but it does the job for me.

[Poohjay]

Re: Paper, Foam or Eco cup?

how about this?
http://www.keepcup.com.au/

Very interesting Krusty! Nice looking thermo cup and lid is plastic but the plug to make it splash proof is rubber/silicon looking ... lets hope that bit doesnt get smelly.

Design-wise it is appealing, hopefully it doesnt cost more than $30.. then it would be a winner, much nicer looking than "I am not a paper cup"

Andy - Thanks for the advice about the disposable paper cups, I totally cant stand "wet cat" or "wet rag" smell ... it puts me off straight away ... Is it possible to transfer that "wet cat" smell by wiping the steam wand with a smelly rag?