McDonald’s is celebrating 30 years since the first McCafé opened in Melbourne in 1993.
Lancy Huynh, group brand manager for McDonald’s Australia, said “One of the innovations we’re most proud of at McDonald’s Australia is McCafé, a homegrown idea that has turned into a global success.
“McCafé changed McDonald’s approach to coffee across the world – inventing a new way of serving our customers and defining what it means to offer great-quality, barista-made coffee in our restaurants.
“With over 1,000 locations in Australia, McCafé is now one of the largest coffee retailers in the country, representing an impressive one in every four coffees sold in Australia.
“It’s a brand that was created by coffee lovers for coffee lovers, so we are extremely proud to celebrate this milestone with the experts that helped shape it – our customers right here in Australia.”
McCafe after 30 years
The first McCafe launched in Swanston Street, Melbourne in 1993. Since then, McCafé has become an Aussie success story and global phenomenon, with 1,026 McCafé’s across Australia and more than 4,000 in 60 countries across the world.
Today, it serves up more than 630,000 cups of barista-made coffee and hot drinks every day. That’s 230 million cups a year or approximately three billion cups served over the past 30 years.
To keep baristas performing at a high level McDonald’s launched a barista training academy in 2017.
In 2021 the business unveiled a McCafé blend, roasted in Melbourne. It is sourced from 100 per cent Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in Brazil, Honduras, Kenya and Ethiopia.
McDonald’s is kickstarting a series of on-the-road celebrations with the introduction of a limited-time only Birthday Cake flavoured Latte. From 24 May to 6 June, customers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville can grab a free coffee as the McCafé coffee van tours along the eastern seaboard.
Two years ago McDonald’s celebrated its 50th anniversary of operations in Australia.