McDonald's to start selling refreshers and crafted sodas ... - CBS News
McDonald's is expanding its cold beverage menu and also plans to introduce energy drinks later this year.
www.cbsnews.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
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McDonald’s is rolling out six new specialty beverages to its McCafé lineup nationwide, with three Refreshers and three crafted sodas, beginning May 6, 2026. These will be permanent menu additions across U.S. restaurants. [source coverage indicates nationwide rollout and permanent status, as reported by multiple outlets][3][4][5]
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The new drinks feature bold flavors and textures not typical of McDonald’s core beverages, including elements like freeze-dried fruit, popping boba, and cold foam. This aligns with McDonald’s push to position McCafé as a destination for premium beverages.[5][3]
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Specific examples reported include: Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher; Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper as crafted sodas. Each combines lemonade bases, fruity inclusions, and foam or topping elements.[3][5]
Why this matters
- It marks a strategic shift for McCafé, expanding beyond coffee into a broader specialty beverage platform to compete with beverage-led chains and drive foot traffic during afternoons.[5][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact official names, ingredients, and rollout dates from the cited articles and format them in a concise table or create a quick chart showing flavors by category. I can also verify current availability in Poland or nearby markets if you’re curious about international rollout.[4][5]