McCafé was McDonald’s first coffeehouse-style brand, launched in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993.
The concept was created to offer espresso-based coffee and a more café-oriented atmosphere within or beside McDonald’s restaurants. Its launch reflected changing consumer interest in specialty coffee and gave McDonald’s a branded way to compete in a category associated with cafés rather than traditional fast food.
McCafé expanded beyond Australia over time and became a recognizable sub-brand in many international markets. Menus and store layouts have varied by country, but the name has consistently linked McDonald’s with coffee-focused products and presentation.
McCafé is not the name of McDonald’s original restaurant system or a historical mascot. It is a branded coffee concept. The 1993 Melbourne launch is commonly cited as the beginning of the McCafé chain, making Australia central to this part of McDonald’s branding history.