McDonald's Hopes to Attract New Guests With Free Coffee

NEW YORK – McDonald's Corp. is reaching out to breakfast customers through a new campaign that offers a free 12-ounce cup of coffee, reported CNNMoney. During the campaign, which kicks off March 31, individual McDonald's locations can decide if customers get just one cup or free refills.

This free coffee initiative comes on the heels of Taco Bell's new breakfast menu rollout, a first for the chain and the largest menu expansion in its 50-year history. Taco Bell's breakfast offerings include the Waffle Taco and the A.M. Crunchwrap, and have the potential to take away some of McDonald's breakfast sales, according to the report.

McDonald's officials also recently stated it was considering expanding its traditional breakfast hours.

"We know that breakfast on the weekend cut off at 10:30 [a.m.] doesn't go very well," said Jeff Stratton, president of McDonald's USA LLC. He added that the company is "just beginning" to reconsider how to serve breakfast.

The free coffee is just one way McDonald's plans to surprise customers "in unexpected ways all year long." Starting in April, it will surprise one Twitter follower with free McCafé coffee and other prizes every day for the rest of the year.