McDonald's used the name McCafé for its restaurant café concept launched in Australia in 1993.
The first McCafé opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993. It was created to give McDonald's restaurants a more café-like identity, especially around espresso-based drinks and a wider coffee experience. The concept later expanded internationally and became a major part of the company's beverage branding.
The name combines “Mc,” a long-established McDonald's naming prefix, with “café.” This made the concept visibly connected to the parent brand while signaling a different atmosphere and product emphasis. It was not simply a generic coffee counter name.
McCafé is sometimes dated to the period when it expanded globally, but its origin is specifically tied to Australia in 1993. The concept helped McDonald's compete in markets where café culture and specialty coffee were especially important.