McDonald’s is mining its CosMc’s menu to bring a lineup of new specialty drinks to mainstream U.S. restaurants, launching a test this September 2, 2025 at about 500 locations across Wisconsin, Colorado, and nearby states .
Although CosMc’s—the drink‑and‑snack concept—was closed in May 2025 after under two years in operation, McDonald’ considers it a “learning lab” that provided insights into consumer preferences and beverage innovation .
What’s on the Menu? Specialty Drinks Inspired by CosMc’s
McDonald’s will debut around 10 new beverages that blend flavors like cold brew, craft sodas, and fruity refreshers. The initial lineup includes at least five named drinks:
| Drink Name | Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew | Cold coffee | Smooth vanilla‑flavored iced brew |
| Toasted Vanilla Frappé | Blended coffee | Iced and blended with creamy vanilla |
| Strawberry Watermelon Refresher | Fruity refresher | Bright berry‑melon flavor |
| Popping Tropic Refresher | Fruity refresher | Tropical fruit fusion with bubbles |
| Sprite Lunar Splash | Crafted soda | Citrus soda with flavored syrup twist |
These selections are backed by CosMc’s bestseller concepts and take advantage of learnings from limited customer customizations .
Why McDonald’s Is Betting Big on Beverages
- Gen Z demand: McDonald’s reports that younger consumers increasingly prefer cold, flavored drinks as midday treats .
- Market growth: Beverage sales grew 9.6% in the prior year versus only 1.4% growth in burger sales, positioning drinks as a high-margin opportunity.
- Huge revenue potential: McDonald’s sees beverages as a $100 billion global market across key regions like North America, Europe, and Australia .
- Competitive edge: The shift answers challenges from Starbucks, Dunkin’, Taco Bell Live Más Café, KFC, and Burger King as fast‑food rivals expand drink offerings .
The CosMc’s Experiment: From Spin‑Off to Core Menu
- Launch & reach: CosMc’s debuted December 7, 2023, in Bolingbrook, IL, with plans for up to ten locations; customers in their 20s lined up in droves, with first‑month traffic double that of typical McDonald’s stores .
- Menu highlights: Featured cosmic‑themed drinks like Sea Salted Caramelactic Shaken Espresso, Iced Turmeric Spiced Latte, Sprite Moonsplash, slushes, and snacks unique for McDonald’s .
- Closure & transition: By May 23, 2025, all five CosMc’s locations were set to shut down. The standalone CosMc’s app and rewards program were also discontinued. McDonald’s emphasized that though the brand ended, the menu insights would carry forward .
How the Test Will Work
- Start Date: September 2, 2025
- Scope: ~500 restaurants in Wisconsin, Colorado, and adjacent areas
- Purpose: Validate operations, gather feedback, and refine before scaling across franchises and regions
- Customization strategy: Simpler customization proved more popular than complex builds—reducing friction on mainline menus
McDonald’s bold move to mine the CosMc’s menu for drink innovation reflects a savvy bet on the rapidly growing specialty beverage market.
With early success from the CosMc’s pilot—notably among Gen Z consumers—and strong market data, the chain is launching 10 new drink offerings at 500 test locations starting in September 2025.
This initiative positions McDonald’s to rival Starbucks, Taco Bell, and others in a $100 billion beverage category, with the flexibility to scale quickly based on real customer insights.
