While on a #TargetRun a few months ago, to check out the Saalt Cup on Target shelves, I saw another cup that came as a bit of a surprise — the new Cora Cup. We had a hunch that they, a brand of organic tampons and pads, had been working on a cup since Amanda spotted their name while doing some research on the FDA’s list of registered cup brands. I had also seen an article that mentioned they were seeking funding for develpment, but seeing it on store shelves just after discovering they had a cup on the way was quite the shock!

It wasn’t long before our inbox and DMs were filling up with questions and requests to review this new, easy to access cup. We had questions, too! We reached out to Cora for more information, with hopes of snagging cups for a review, as well as details for adding it to our resources for all of you. Unfortunately we didn’t hear back, so we decided to go ahead and purchase the cups for ourselves. We rarely do this because of the substantial investment that it can quickly become, but we knew this was something you all wanted to see. Plus, with its ease of access, we didn’t want to keep you waiting! We hope you find this review helpful, and as always, you can compare it with other cups on our other resources, like our Menstrual Cup Shop & Compare page.

   Related: Find Your Perfect Menstrual Cup- Quiz

Cora Cup Pros

• Available in most Target stores nationwide (instant satisfaction), Cora’s website, and Amazon (near instant with Prime)
• 2 sizes, with enough difference to meet a variety of fit needs
• Narrow base (less chance of bladder pressure and irritation lower in the vaginal canal)
• Firmer rim for easy opening and soft body for a comfortable fit
• Stem is comfortable during wear
• Good shape for most people
• Firm base shape for nudging the cup up

Cora Cup Cons

• Low capacity (the size 1 holds 17 ml, while the size 2 holds 22ml)
• Only available in clear
• No measurements or listed capacity (on their website, listings, or box)

The Size 1 Cora is a nice, petite size and could be a good option for tweens, teens, and other people who need a smaller cup. We like cups that have a firmer rim but a softer body since it can be the “best of both worlds” for those just starting out. A firmer rim should open without too much difficultly, while a soft body (and in this case, a narrow base as well) is less likely to irritate the bladder or a crampy uterus.

The capacity of the Cora Cup is much lower than most other cups in the “average” category. Average cups typically hold around 25 ml for small and 30 ml for large. Both Amanda and I have periods that fall into the “lighter than average” category, especially during the summer, so the capacity is great for us. Even for those with an average cycle, this cup may not stand up to a truly heavy day without needing to be emptied sooner than the 10-12 hours other average cups allow for.

Cora was a very comfortable cup to wear and we were both able to wear it with the stem intact. I did remove mine by the end of it all simply because I don’t like them and it was very near to poking out, but wearing with the stem was possible if I needed or wanted to keep it.

Shape

As we mentioned in the video, the shape of the Cora Cup is a bit reminiscent of the Tampax Cup‘s unique V or “morning glory” shape. It’s quite tapered at the bottom and nearly evenly grows to the rim. While the shape of the Cora Cup is similar, the rims are more inline with most other cups. This gives the Cora Cup a comfortable fit, like the Tampax Cup but with less capacity. The Cora Cup also features a slight indentation or flat spot on one side, which aims to make folds a bit easier.

Who is this cup good for?

The Cora Cup may be a good choice for anyone with an average to light flow and with an average cervical height. With a narrower diameter there could be a small chance it could suction to the cervix if it dips super low into the cup, but this wouldn’t be a common scenario. As for capacity, neither Amanda or I need a large capacity, so the Cora was pretty perfect for us. It won’t, however, be enough for the those with a very heavy first day (or two) and most especially not for anyone who is a heavy bleeder throughout their period.

We do both agree this is an excellent starter cup, which makes it being available at Target a great thing.

You can compare the Cora Cup with other menstrual cups by using our Shop and Compare Menstrual Cups tool as well as our Menstrual Cup Comparison Chart.

The Company?

Working with the Cora company has been a bit of a frustrating experience. Take from this what you will, but we have definitely not had a smooth experience trying to connect with the Cora brand, even for some pretty basic info (like cup measurements!) This may or may not translate to their customer experience, but we felt it was worth noting.

As mentioned, we reached out to Cora as soon as we knew this cup was available. We initially reached out via Instagram and did receive a reply offering us an email address to contact. We emailed for more information in early May and also asked if they could send cups for our chart, photography, and review. (While we are in no way entitled to free cups, a reply would have been appreciated.) We didn’t hear back. At all. As a last ditch effort, 1.5 months later (& before we published this review) we messaged again via Instagram to ask for the measurements of the cups, which are still not listed on their website or packaging. We had a few messages back and forth but, unfortunately, without a clear answer we were left to take our own measurements and proceed without their cooperation — despite being told that that they would update us with it, as well as a reply to our original email, by the end of the day (which we also didn’t receive). While we still don’t have official measurements, we were offered additional cups, should we need them, and we did let them know that we’d appreciate extras to use for demos, so *fingers crossed*!

We might be harping at this point but we really do find it frustrating that cup measurements have been excluded from all listings and packaging. This is standard from all other cup brands and certainly expected by the cup community. We really do feel that capacity, at minimum should be clearly listed for all menstrual cups. And since cups can rarely be seen or touched before purchasing, dimensions come in as a tight second. It’s frustrating for you, as consumers, and it’s frustrating for us as a resource. Having to chase down numbers delayed this review, and while we still haven’t received them, we were at least able to do our own measurements to give you a decent idea of what to expect from the Cora Cup. Should we hear back, we will reflect those changes on our resources.

It is a Good Cup

As frustrating as this has all been, the cup itself is really a wonderful product and we are happy to see it as yet another option accessible on most Target shelves. It’s a great average fit cup and any cup that is likely to work for most who try it is a cup we’re excited to see enter this space — most importantly because it will lead to more satisfied and successful first-time cup users.