McDonald's opened its first McCafé in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993.
The McCafé concept was created to give McDonald's a more café-like coffee offer within or beside its restaurants. It began in Melbourne and later expanded internationally, adding espresso-based drinks and a more specialized coffee presentation to the McDonald's brand.
This development broadened McDonald's positioning beyond burgers, fries, and soft drinks. Coffee had long been available at McDonald's, but McCafé gave the category its own name, equipment, menu identity, and visual treatment. That distinction is why the first McCafé date differs from the founding dates of McDonald's itself.
McCafé later became an important international sub-brand. Its design and menu vary by country, so the opening of the first location in Australia should not be confused with the dates when McCafé reached Europe, North America, or other markets.