Coffee Van Supplies Checklist: What to Stock Before You Open

A coffee van needs cups in two or three sizes, matching lids, stirrers, sugar, napkins, cup carriers, card machine rolls and basic cleaning supplies. Most vans start with 8oz and 12oz cups, and add 16oz if customers ask for it. Double wall cups save on sleeves. The rest of the list is small but easy to forget, and running out of lids mid-morning is a bad day.

Here is the full checklist, with notes on what to order first.

In this guide

• Which cup sizes should a coffee van stock?
• Single wall or double wall for a van?
• Which lids do I need?
• What is the full coffee van checklist?
• How much stock should I start with?
• FAQ

Which cup sizes should a coffee van stock?

Size	Typical drinks	Lid size
4oz	Espresso, macchiato, samples	Check the cup range
8oz	Flat white, cortado, small latte	Usually 80mm
12oz	Regular latte, cappuccino, americano	Usually 90mm
16oz	Large drinks, iced coffee	Usually 90mm

Two sizes keep the menu simple and the van tidy. Many vans run 8oz and 12oz and only add 16oz later. See our coffee cup sizes guide for more.

Single wall or double wall for a van?

Double wall cups are comfortable to hold without a sleeve, so there is one less thing to stock and store. Single wall cups cost less per cup, but you will usually need sleeves for hot drinks.

In a small van, storage space matters as much as price. Fewer lines, stacked neatly, make service faster. The full comparison is in single vs double wall coffee cups.

Which lids do I need?

Lids are sized to the rim of the cup, not the ounces, and they are matched to a cup range. Always check the lid is listed for your cups.

• 8oz cups: usually an 80mm lid.
• 12oz and 16oz cups: usually a 90mm lid.

Order a test sleeve of cups and lids together before you buy in bulk. More detail in our hot cup lid sizes guide.

What is the full coffee van checklist?

Cups and drinks

• Hot cups in your chosen sizes, plus matching lids
• Cup sleeves if you use single wall cups
• 4 cup carriers for group orders
• Bamboo stirrers
• White and brown sugar sticks

Counter and payments

• Napkins
• Card machine rolls. Most handheld terminals take 57x40mm rolls. Check yours in what roll does my card machine take.

Cleaning and hygiene

• Blue centrefeed roll for spills and wiping down
• Cleaning cloths
• Food safe surface wipes
• Disposable gloves for food handling
• Bin bags

How much stock should I start with?

It depends on your pitch, but a simple method works. Estimate cups per day, multiply by the days until your next order, then add a buffer of a few days.

For example, a van selling 150 drinks a day, ordering every two weeks, uses around 2,100 cups in that time. With a small buffer, that is five cases of 500, split across your sizes by what sells. Order lids to match, one for one.

Card rolls, sugar and stirrers go further than you think, so a box or case of each lasts a good while. If you also serve food, see the cafe opening supplies checklist and the festival and event disposables checklist. Keep an eye on the rules around single-use cups too, in our latte levy guide.

Frequently asked questions

What size cups does a coffee van need?

Most vans start with 8oz and 12oz. Add 16oz if customers want large drinks or iced coffee.

Do I need sleeves with double wall cups?

Usually not. Double wall cups are designed to be held without a sleeve.

What lid fits an 8oz coffee cup?

Usually an 80mm lid. 12oz and 16oz cups usually take 90mm. Always check the lid is made for your cup range.

What roll does a card machine at a coffee van take?

Most handheld card terminals take 57x40mm thermal rolls. Check your model to be sure.

How many cups should a new coffee van order?

Estimate daily drinks, multiply by the days between orders, and add a few days of buffer.