McDonald's Coffee Bar Concept Starts Brewing

CHICAGO -- Americans soon will be able to order a latte with their side of fries at McDonald's restaurants, as the fast-food chain is initiating coffee bar buildouts at most of its sites around the country, New Mexico Business Weekly reported.

A spokeswoman for McDonald's Southwest region said select restaurants will get McCafe coffee shops prior to the national rollout, which is expected in the first half of 2009. The first McCafes in New Mexico could be phased in before the end of the year.

McDonald's restaurants in the Louisville, Ky., area were among the first to test market the McCafe Specialty Coffee line. Several Louisville-area McDonald's owner-operators are now planning renovations to add coffee bars, which will serve cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and baked foods, according to the report.

About 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. Every location that is able to will phase in a McCafe, the spokeswoman said. Consumers can keep checking www.mymccafe.com and entering their zip codes to keep an eye on McCafe locations opening near them.
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