In McDonald's branding history, McCafé began at a Melbourne restaurant in 1993.
McCafé was created as a coffeehouse-style brand within McDonald's. The first McCafé opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993, giving customers espresso-based drinks and a more café-oriented experience alongside the traditional fast-food menu.
The concept responded to changing coffee habits and helped McDonald's compete in markets where café culture was especially strong. Rather than replacing the core restaurant identity, McCafé added a distinct sub-brand focused on coffee, pastries, and a more relaxed beverage occasion.
McCafé later expanded internationally, although its menu, store design, and degree of separation from the main restaurant vary by country. The name is sometimes treated as a generic McDonald's coffee label, but its branding history begins with the dedicated Melbourne concept. Its launch also preceded the large-scale global growth of specialty coffee chains in many markets.