McDonald's first used the McCafé name for a coffeehouse-style coffee product line.
The McCafé concept began in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993. It was created to give McDonald's a more specialized coffee offer, with espresso-based drinks and a café-style presentation. The idea later expanded into other countries and became an important part of McDonald's beverage branding.
McCafé is sometimes described as a separate restaurant chain, but it is generally a branded coffee concept located inside or alongside McDonald's restaurants. Its exact menu and store design vary by market.
The name follows McDonald's long-standing use of the “Mc” prefix in product and brand names. Unlike the original hamburger-focused identity, McCafé helped position the company in the specialty-coffee market while retaining the parent brand.