What is the name of the small containers of half & half, etc.?

Solution 1:

The industry appears to refer to them as both tubs and cups, often combined with the adjectival phrase portion control. Examples:

http://www.cw-usa.com/coffee-international-delight-hazelnut-creamer-cup.html
http://www.roundeyesupply.com/Nestle-Coffee-Mate-Regular-Liquid-Creamer-Portion-p/de356761.htm

enter image description here

Solution 2:

I have heard these things called creamers, probably in reference to the non-disposable variety.

A creamer is a small pitcher or jug designed for holding cream or milk to be served with tea or coffee in the Western tradition. Creamers can be earthenware or porcelain, but also made of silver or other metals; a creamer is an obligatory part of a coffee or tea set, whether in silver or ceramics. -- from Wikipedia

Solution 3:

At least one maker calls them singles – short for single-serving, I presume.

That said, in that case, I'd say single refers to the name of the product, not the container. However, I might call it a single-sized creamer, or a disposable creamer.

As for a generic name of the container itself, I'm not sure if there's a formal name for a cup that small. In the case where they are filled with cream, flavored cream, or half-and-half, creamer cup could work. Typing that term into Google images returns several variants:

enter image description here

However, if a company were to put, say, soy sauce in the same container, I don't think creamer cup would be apt for that.

Solution 4:

Seems it seems as if you are looking for a word that would have people understand what you mean, regardless of whether there is actually a technical word for it, I will say that I have heard them called mini-tubs or just miniature tubs. Since cup seems to me generally to imply a handle, tub is better in my mind.

miniature tubs of [creamer]

would therefore be my vote.

Like you, I think of the contents and not the container when I heard creamer.

Solution 5:

Great question.

In most fast food places, such as McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King, they are called creams in casual talk:

How many creams do you want?
Can I have three creams, please?

In a coffee shop or café you would ask for cream to go. Most coffee and donut places will have both the cream to go and a large quart of half-and-half. If they run out, just ask for half-and-half or cream to go.

The small container is mainly a cup of cream for travelers.