McDonald’s opened its first McCafé in 1993.
The first McCafé opened in Melbourne, Australia, as a coffee-focused extension of the McDonald’s restaurant experience. The concept gave the company a distinct sub-brand for espresso drinks and café-style service while retaining the parent company’s familiar visual identity.
McCafé later expanded internationally and became especially important in markets where café culture and barista-style beverages were strong. Its branding helped McDonald’s compete in a category different from its traditional hamburger and fries image.
A common mix-up is placing the first McCafé in the United States or dating the concept to its later global expansion. The original McCafé began in Australia in 1993. The brand subsequently appeared in many countries, sometimes as a separate café area and sometimes as a branded counter within a standard McDonald’s restaurant.