Story perspectives

McDonald’s Debuts Six Caffeinated Specialty Drinks Nationwide

4/29/2026

Summary

McDonald's Launches Drinks

McDonald’s USA launched six new specialty drinks on May 6, 2026.
The Refreshers are Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Pineapple, and Blackberry Passion Fruit.
The crafted sodas are Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper.
Refreshers contain 45 mg caffeine in a small, 60 mg in a medium, and 75 mg in a large.
Chief marketing officer Alyssa Buetikofer said the drinks will attract visitors, prompting McDonald’s to add a beverage-specialist role for training.

Summary

McDonald's Beverage Push

McDonald’s beverage push targets a $100 billion fast-food drink category growing faster than casual dining, with crafted drinks delivering superior profit margins.
McDonald’s closed eight CosMc’s locations earlier this year because the drink complexity conflicted with regular store operations.
KFC is expanding its Kwench drink menu to 3,000 stores in U.K., Australia and Canada after Manchester, while Taco Bell’s Live Mas Café, launched at the end of 2024, added 30 U.S. locations.

1 of 2

McDonald's Launches Drinks

McDonald’s USA launched six new specialty drinks on May 6, 2026.
The Refreshers are Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Pineapple, and Blackberry Passion Fruit.
The crafted sodas are Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper.
Refreshers contain 45 mg caffeine in a small, 60 mg in a medium, and 75 mg in a large.
Chief marketing officer Alyssa Buetikofer said the drinks will attract visitors, prompting McDonald’s to add a beverage-specialist role for training.

1 / 2