McCafé first launched in Australia in 1993 as a coffee-focused café concept.
The concept began at a McDonald’s restaurant in Melbourne and was designed to add a more café-like environment and espresso-based drinks to the existing fast-food business. Its branding helped McDonald’s compete in markets where café culture and specialty coffee were especially important.
McCafé later expanded internationally, appearing in many McDonald’s restaurants as a dedicated counter, a separate visual area, or a menu line depending on the country. Local drinks and store formats have varied, but the McCafé name has remained consistent.
McCafé is sometimes described as a global brand from its beginning, but its origin was specifically an Australian trial in 1993. Its later international growth made the name familiar far beyond Australia.