Iced Coffee Tumblers: Straw Lids, Sizes and No-Sweat Walls
An iced coffee tumbler has to keep ice from melting, stay dry in the hand and take a straw. Double-wall insulation does most of that work; the lid and the size do the rest. Here is what to compare when choosing iced coffee tumblers for a café, brand or gift range.
By Feng, Head of After-Sales Service & Online Marketing Lead
An iced coffee tumbler is an insulated cup, usually 16 to 24 oz, with a straw or sip lid, made to keep ice from melting and the outside dry. A double-wall vacuum tumbler does not sweat, because the vacuum keeps the outer wall close to room temperature, so little or no condensation forms on it. Look for a straw opening wide enough for the drink, a mouth wide enough for ice, and a lid that closes for carrying. BG Drinkware, a drinkware manufacturer in Yongkang, China, makes iced coffee tumblers from a 470 ml tapered cup with a clear sip lid to 510 ml, 600 ml and 700 ml cups with straw or dual-sip lids, wrist straps and silicone base pads. Its stainless steel cups have a 304 inner wall, and a ceramic inner lining is available for coffee programmes, adding 2–3 days to bulk production. Most models start at 500 pieces per colour, and a sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days.
Why don't double-wall tumblers sweat?
Condensation forms when warm, humid air touches a cold surface. In a double-wall vacuum tumbler, the cold drink touches only the inner wall, and the vacuum greatly slows the cold reaching the outer wall. The outside stays close to room temperature, so it stays dry and the ice lasts longer.
A single-wall steel or plastic cup sweats because its only wall is cold. Confirm that the model you choose is vacuum insulated before you print a no-sweat claim. For how the vacuum layer works and how it is made, see how insulated water bottles work and double wall vs single wall.
Which lid works best for iced coffee?
A straw lid is the usual choice for iced coffee, and a dual-sip lid adds a direct-drink opening for hot coffee. A clear sip lid suits cafés that serve in the cup. If the tumbler will be carried in a bag, choose a lid that closes both openings.
| Model | Capacity | Lid and features |
|---|---|---|
| Tapered coffee tumbler | 470 ml | Clear sip lid; 50 pcs per carton |
| Iced coffee tumbler with wrist strap | 510 ml | Dual-sip lid, woven strap, silicone base pad |
| Travel coffee mug with straw | 500 ml | Straw lid with closable straw opening and vent |
| Coffee tumbler with carry strap | 600 ml / 20 oz | Flip-up spout and direct sip |
| Coffee tumbler with lid options | 600 ml / 20 oz | Choice of compatible lids |
| Travel cup with straw | 700 ml | Straw lid, stowable dust cap, silicone grip band |
The product pages do not all state vacuum insulation, so confirm the construction of each model before making a no-sweat claim. For straw materials and lid parts, see tumbler straw materials and tumbler lid, seal and straw checks.
For lids that seal in a bag, see leak proof tumblers.
What size is best for an iced coffee tumbler?
Leave room for ice. A cup that holds a large coffee hot needs more capacity for the same drink over ice, so 16 to 24 oz, about 470 to 700 ml, is the common range. A wide mouth makes it easier to add ice and to clean.
Check whether a size claim is brim-full or to a fill line. For size conversions, see 500 ml in oz and choosing sizes for a product line.
Does a stainless steel tumbler change the taste of coffee?
A clean 304 stainless steel cup should not add a taste. Most off-tastes come from residue in the lid seal or straw, so clean those parts after every use. For coffee programmes that want a ceramic-like feel, BG Drinkware offers a ceramic inner lining, which adds 2–3 days to bulk production.
See ceramic-coated tumblers and how to clean a stainless steel water bottle.
How do you order custom iced coffee tumblers?
Send the model, capacity, lid, colours, logo method, packaging, quantity and terms. Most of BG Drinkware's coffee tumblers start at 500 pieces per colour. A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after the sample is approved.
Every vacuum tumbler is temperature-tested unit by unit before shipping. Logos can be laser engraved, screen printed or UV printed on coated cups. For the range, see coffee mugs and travel cups; for logo position, see tumbler logo placement.
Iced coffee tumbler FAQ
Short answers to the questions buyers ask most about iced coffee tumblers: why they do not sweat, which lid and size to choose, whether they suit hot coffee too and how many to order. Each answer uses the details listed on BG Drinkware's own product pages.
Do insulated tumblers sweat with iced coffee?
A double-wall vacuum tumbler should not, because the vacuum keeps the outer wall close to room temperature. Single-wall and plastic cups sweat because their only wall is cold. If a vacuum tumbler starts to sweat, it has probably lost its vacuum.
Can an iced coffee tumbler hold hot coffee?
A vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler can hold hot or cold drinks. With hot coffee, drink through a sip opening rather than a straw, and choose a dual-sip lid if the cup will be used both ways. Close the lid fully before carrying either drink.
What size iced coffee tumbler should I choose?
Choose 16 to 24 oz, about 470 to 700 ml, so there is room for ice as well as the coffee. BG Drinkware's iced coffee cups range from 470 ml to 700 ml. A wide mouth makes adding ice and cleaning easier.
What is the minimum order for custom iced coffee tumblers?
Most of BG Drinkware's coffee tumblers start at 500 pieces per colour. A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after the sample is approved; a ceramic inner lining adds 2–3 days.
Planning iced coffee tumblers for your brand?
Send the capacity, quantity, model, colour, logo method, packaging, payment terms and trade terms for a quotation.
