Steelite Rio Empire Yellow Low Cups 227ml (Pack of 36)

The Steelite Rio range is a practical choice for operations that want to introduce colour into their beverage service without compromising on durability. These Empire low cups carry a hand-applied yellow colour wash over an alumina vitrified ceramic body, giving each piece a slightly individual, informal character that works well in café, bistro, and casual dining settings. The 227ml capacity makes them suitable for standard espresso-based drinks served in a longer format — flat whites, cortados, and similar.

Alumina vitrified ceramic is a well-proven material in commercial foodservice. It offers better resistance to chipping and thermal shock than standard earthenware, which matters in a busy pass or wash-up environment where cups are handled at pace and cycled through commercial dishwashers repeatedly throughout the day. The Lifetime Edge Chip warranty from Steelite reflects confidence in how the glaze holds up under that kind of sustained operational use.

From a practical standpoint, this range suits operations where the look of the tabletop matters but the budget needs to stay sensible. A few things worth considering:

• The hand-applied colour wash means minor tonal variation between pieces — consistent with the style, but worth noting for formal settings
• Colours within the Rio range can be mixed and matched, which gives flexibility for cafés wanting a relaxed, eclectic aesthetic
• The pack quantity of 36 is well suited to opening stock or top-up orders for medium-sized operations

These cups are a good fit for independent cafés, hotel breakfast services, and informal restaurant beverage stations. If your operation runs very high volumes or needs a more uniform, formal finish, it's worth considering whether a different range within the Steelite catalogue might serve you better.

If you're unsure how many packs to order against your projected covers, or whether Rio is the right range for your setting, feel free to get in touch — it's the kind of question we're happy to talk through.