Influence of drinking cups of different materials on emotional and acceptance responses, and perception of sensory attributes of soft drinks

The aim of this study was to investigate whether drinking cups made of different materials (white polystyrene, crystal-clear polystyrene, paper, Styrofoam, and glass) can influence the response to soft drinks in terms of emotions, acceptance and perception in younger adult consumers. Experiments were conducted with three different groups of university students who (1) participated in the survey on expectations of disposable cups, (2) performed sensory tests on emotional and hedonic responses and (3) evaluated selected sensory characteristics of soft drinks served in the test cups. The characteristics of the cups influenced the overall acceptability of the soft drink, while the flavor acceptability and the perception of flavor intensity were not affected. Compared to the heavier cups, the soft drink served in lighter cups was perceived as more viscous. The soft drink was rated most acceptable when consumed from the glass and least acceptable when tasted from the Styrofoam. The Styrofoam, paper and white polystyrene had an impact on reducing the overall acceptability of the soft drink. The emotional map identified in the study for the consumption of soft drinks from different cups could be related to the sensory characteristics of the cups. Glass can be considered a more acceptable vessel for soft drink consumption compared to disposable cups, while crystal–clear polystyrene is more acceptable than paper, Styrofoam and white/opaque polystyrene. When selecting materials for disposable cups, preference should be given to materials that have similar properties to glass, such as higher weight, low flexibility, low surface graininess and high translucency.