Abstract: A stackable thin-walled cup is designed to absorb telescoping loads with less risk of jamming and is for use in beverage dispensing machines with an ingredient held in the cup. As shown in FIG. 2 an ingredient is retained in the base 11 of the cup 1 which has an inward projecting annulus 6 with upper and lower surfaces 8 and 7 arranged to cooperate with surfaces 4 and 5 of an outwardly projecting annulus at the base of a second stacked cup. Surfaces 4 and 7 form a seal to prevent loss of ingredient and the two surfaces are held in contact by a force due to abutment between surfaces, 9 and 10 of respective cups. By suitable difference in linear dimension between surface 7 and abutment 10 and surface 4 and abutment 9 a force is produced by tension derived from the cup walls to hold the surfaces 4 and 7 together. Telescopic shock loads produce compression on the abutments 9 and 10 and momentarily separate surfaces 4 and 7 which re-engage on removal of the load.