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Takeaway coffee cup measures program

Background

In July 2011, FSANZ undertook a small program to estimate the average volumes for a range of takeaway coffee cup sizes available that were likely to be reported during the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS).  As naming of cups sizes is not standard, FSANZ also collected this data to assist in the interpretation of measures reported in the AHS.

Sampling

Empty coffee cups were collected from a range of cafe, takeaway and chain outlets around Canberra and their size description recorded. A total of 38 takeaway coffee cups were collected from 15 outlets. Each cup was then filled to the brim with water and weighed to determine the capacity of each cup and thus the amount of the beverage that would be theoretically consumed.

Additional takeaway cups were collected for a small number of other beverages which may be reported in takeaway cups during the AHS such as soft drinks, smoothies and milkshakes.

Results

The volume of each coffee cup collected from this program is recorded in Table 1, against the relevant cup descriptor.  

Table 1       Volumes of manually weighed takeaway coffee cups

Outlet

Takeaway cup size (mL)

 

small

medium/regular

large

extra large

Cafe 1

280

367

   

Cafe 2

270

420

   

Cafe 3

278

412

   

Cafe 4

290

368

   

Cafe 5

270

425

   

Cafe 6

290

378

500

 

Cafe 7

280

373

   

Cafe 8

288

380

   

Cafe 9

286

376

   

Donut King

280

411

520

 

Gloria Jean's

280

400

500

 

Jamaica Blue

295

415

485

600

Michel's Patisserie

280

402

510

 

Muffin Break

290

400

495

 

The Coffee Club

290

397

490

 

A range of capacities were observed across all size descriptions, and as such measures were combined in various ways to determine an average volume for each coffee cup descriptor. The results for all small and medium coffee cups were averaged to create a single measure for 'takeaway cup, medium/regular/small'. The measure for 'takeaway cup, large' was an average of all medium and large volumes, while the measure for 'takeaway cup, extra large' was an average of all medium, large and extra large volumes.

Independent cafe or takeaway outlets versus chain stores

A small coffee cup from an independent cafe or takeaway outlet held 281 mL on average compared to 286 mL for chain stores. Similar patterns were seen for average volumes of both medium and large cups. As such, measures for takeaway coffees in the measures database were not differentiated based on the outlet type.

Updates to the measures database

FSANZ used the average volume for each of the cup sizes multiplied by the density of each individual beverage to determine standard weights for beverages reported as a takeaway coffee cup during the AHS.

Manually weighed volumes for other beverage types assessed as part of this program were used to confirm published values.

Conclusion

The results of the takeaway beverage measures program have given FSANZ an improved level of confidence about the measures assigned to takeaway beverages reported during the AHS.

Page last updated 9 January 2024