Walk into most coffee shops today and the routine is familiar: paper cup, plastic lid, sleeve, straw. Four separate pieces of disposable waste for a single drink. Nothing — a U.S.-based drinkware company formerly known as SOFi — built both of its cup products around the premise that all four of those pieces can be replaced with one.
The result is a pair of cups, one for hot drinks and one for cold, each designed to fold into its own built-in lid. There are no plastic components, no wax coatings, and no separate lid to stock or hand out. Both cups are designed to decompose in 180 days or less, at home or in a commercial compost facility, without requiring any special conditions.
Here is a factual look at how each cup works, what they are made of, how they differ, and what they cost.
Where the brand comes from
Nothing operates under the tagline “The Future of Compostable Cups & Straws” and markets primarily to cafés, restaurants, coffee shops, and hospitality operations. The company rebranded from its earlier name, SOFi, and currently ships within the United States and Canada. Its products are available directly through nothing.eco or through wholesale distributors including Sysco and WebstaurantStore.
Notable commercial customers include La Colombe Coffee, Pret A Manger, Circle K, Xanterra, and BC Place stadium. The company also sells directly to event operators, food trucks, and independent coffee shops looking to reduce both plastic waste and the operational complexity of managing multiple cup components.
What both cups share
Before getting into the differences between the hot and cold versions, it helps to understand what they have in common, because the shared material and design philosophy is the more significant story.
Both cups are made from 100% virgin kraft paper sourced from responsibly managed forests, certified under PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). The paper is lined with a water-based aqueous dispersion coating — not a plastic liner, not PLA (polylactic acid), not PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), and not wax. Nothing’s own product comparison highlights that most conventional “paper” cups are actually lined with polyethylene (PE) plastic, a detail that makes them neither recyclable nor compostable in most facilities. PLA-lined cups, often sold as eco-friendly alternatives, typically require industrial composting facilities and still contain bioplastics that can fragment.
Nothing’s water-based coating bonds directly into the paper fibers rather than sitting on top of them, which is how the cups remain recyclable and are certified for home composting — not just commercial. That certification comes from TÜV (specifically TÜV Austria for home compostability). Both cups also carry Flustix Plastic-Free certification, are verified PFAS-free by third-party labs, and meet ASTM D-6400, ASTM D-6002, ASTM D-5338, and ISO 20200 standards.
Nothing describes its core promise as “Gone in 180™” — every product the company makes is designed to fully decompose within 180 days, no special conditions required.
The cups are also engineered for durability in use. Nothing states they are designed to hold up for over 6 hours without leaking, and buyers may notice minor softening after that point but not structural failure. The FAQ on the company’s site addresses this plainly: they won’t leak, even if left overnight.
Neither cup can be used with alcoholic beverages, due to the nature of the eco-friendly liner.
The Hot Cup
The Nothing Hot Cup is available in three sizes: 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz, with a 4oz and 20oz version expected to join the lineup. All three current sizes share the same single-wall paper construction and folding mechanism.
The cup arrives at the café unfolded, in its open position. The barista pours the drink in, then folds three flaps at the top to create a sealed lid with an integrated sip spout and vent hole. A locking tab keeps the lid secured. Debossed folding instructions are printed on the cup itself, so staff and customers can figure it out without a manual.
Nothing notes that the hot cup is also functional with cold beverages — making it an all-in-one option for operations that want a single cup for the entire menu.
The hot cup does not currently have a compatible straw (the company has announced a dedicated hot cup straw for December 2026). For operations that need delivery-safe sealing, a separate Lid Stopper accessory is available from $0.084 per unit.
A custom-fit Hot Cup Sleeve, designed specifically for the cup’s triangular folded body, is available separately from $0.068 per unit. It fits all three current sizes.
Gretchen B., a verified buyer and coffee shop owner, described the transition this way: “We recently brought these into our twenty year old coffee shop. Our customers are very excited. We love that they are plastic free, all one piece (no lid, no straw) and degrade quickly. Also that the paper works for hot or cold drinks. It really reduced the amount of things we need to track and order. We have filled these cups and used them ourselves multiple days to make sure they last, and they do!”
Alexandria J., another verified buyer, noted the learning curve from the customer side: “I was a little hesitant because people are so attached to their paper cup, their sleeve and their plastic lid. But…. we are definitely winning our guests over with this new cup. They are mesmerized when we fold it and astonished when they do not dripple when they drink! Great design!”
Denise I., also a verified buyer, highlighted a practical operational advantage: “The Hot Cup not only looks great, it’s super functional. Having a built-in lid solves the frustration of trying to get separate lids on during a busy, fast-paced line-up situation. Also saves on the expense of having to purchase separate lids. As they also fit easily into a cup carrier tray, they are easily transportable.”
The hot cup is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 43 verified reviews, with 100% of reviewers saying they would recommend the product.
Hot Cup dimensions by size:
- 8oz: Height 6-1/16″, folded height 4-13/16″ — 1,000 cups/case, shipping weight 24.96 lbs
- 12oz: Height 7-1/4″, folded height 5-7/8″ — 1,000 cups/case, shipping weight 28.75 lbs
- 16oz: Height 7-11/16″, folded height 6-1/4″ — 1,000 cups/case, shipping weight 36.49 lbs
The Cold Cup
The Cold Cup follows the same material and compostability specs as the hot version, but uses a different folding mechanism better suited to cold drinks and straws.
Where the Hot Cup folds three flaps, the Cold Cup folds four to create its built-in lid. The straw hole on top doubles as a spout, so it can be used directly as a drink opening without a straw. The hole is sized to accommodate standard straws and fits boba-size straws up to 0.472 inches (12mm) in diameter — a practical consideration for shops serving bubble tea, smoothies, or oversized iced drinks.
The Cold Cup is available in four sizes: 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, and 20oz, with a 24oz size in development. Unlike the Hot Cup, it cannot replace a straw entirely for cold drinks in the way the Hot Cup replaces a lid — straws remain optional but are a common pairing.
For delivery or takeout applications, Nothing offers a Tamper Evident Sticker accessory specifically for the Cold Cup’s folded top.
The cups are stacked and packaged like conventional cups but wrapped in paper sleeves rather than plastic shrink wrap.
Alex R., a verified buyer, summarized the operational impact simply: “We were tired of juggling cups and lids. This changed everything. It’s cleaner, easier, and customers notice the difference.”
Lena F., also a verified buyer, commented: “Finally, cups that actually do their job! They hold up well with hot drinks and don’t get soggy. Our team also appreciates how sustainable they are.”
Cold Cup dimensions for key sizes:
- 8oz: Unfolded height 5-1/4″, folded height 3-3/4″, top diameter 2-5/8″, bottom diameter 2-3/8″ — 1,000 cups/case
- 20oz: Unfolded height 8-1/4″, folded height 6-3/8″, top diameter 3-1/8″, bottom diameter 2-5/8″ — 600 cups/case
Custom branding
Both the Hot Cup and Cold Cup are available with custom branding. Nothing offers logo and design printing on cups and sleeves, making them usable as branded packaging for businesses that want to put their identity on the cup rather than using the default white finish. The company does not offer unbranded all-white custom orders; all custom cups include a brand design. Pricing and minimums for custom orders are handled through a separate quote process on the website.
A note on the “nothing” in Nothing
The company’s self-described pitch — that the cup contains “nothing” harmful and leaves behind “nothing” after composting — runs throughout its branding. Nothing’s website puts it directly: “Hot cup lids haven’t changed since the 1960s. We kept what worked – the spout – and cut everything else, especially the plastic.” Whether that framing resonates will depend on the audience, but the underlying specs and third-party certifications give it some grounding beyond marketing language.
Pricing
All prices on the Nothing website are listed as wholesale prices. Pallet pricing is available on request.
Hot Cup pricing varies by size, with each case including 1,000 cups:
- 8oz case: $149.99 — $0.149 per cup
- 12oz case: $162.49 — $0.162 per cup
- 16oz case: $187.99 — $0.187 per cup
Bulk discounts apply: 3–5 cases save 5%, 6–8 cases save 7%, 9 cases save 9%, 10 cases save 10% (bringing cost to $134.99/case, or $0.135/cup)
Cold Cup pricing also varies by size:
- 8oz case (1,000 cups): $149.99 — $0.149 per cup
- 12oz case (1,000 cups): $164.49 — $0.164 per cup
- 16oz case (1,000 cups): $189.99 — $0.189 per cup
- 20oz case (600 cups): $149.99 — $0.249 per cup
Bulk discounts apply on a similar tiered scale, up to 10% off at 10+ cases
- Hot Cup Sleeve: from $0.068/unit
- Lid Stopper: from $0.084/unit
Free standard shipping is available on U.S. orders over $199 (continental U.S. only). Most U.S. and Canadian orders are quoted at 5–7 business days for standard delivery. Sample packs are available for businesses that want to try the product before committing to a full case order.
Source: Nothing
