McDonald's introduced the McCafé brand in 1993.
The first McCafé opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993. It was developed as a café-style extension of the McDonald's restaurant experience, emphasizing espresso drinks and a more coffee-focused environment.
The concept helped McDonald's compete in markets where café culture and specialty coffee were important parts of everyday life. McCafé branding could be added to existing restaurants instead of requiring a completely separate chain of locations.
McCafé later expanded internationally and became a recognizable sub-brand. It is distinct from the core Golden Arches identity, but its name uses the same “Mc” naming convention associated with many McDonald's products and services.