McCafé was McDonald's first major international coffeehouse brand, launched in Australia in 1993.
The concept began in Melbourne, where McDonald's developed a café-style extension to attract customers seeking espresso drinks and a more relaxed coffee experience. It was created to compete more directly with established cafés while using McDonald's existing restaurants, locations, and service network.
McCafé outlets and counters later expanded internationally. Their branding commonly used a café-oriented visual identity, with espresso-based drinks, pastries, and other beverages presented as a distinct part of the McDonald's offer. In many restaurants, McCafé became an integrated counter rather than a completely separate business.
The name is sometimes confused with a generic description of McDonald's coffee. McCafé is a specific branded concept. Its Australian origin also predates the major expansion of branded coffee counters in many other McDonald's markets.