McDonald's Just Made a Big Menu Announcement That Fans Have Been Begging For
"Finally, tasty menu items for the USA!"
In 2023, McDonald's debuted a new spin-off restaurant focused on specialty beverages in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Although customers reported hours-long wait times, bribes, and what seemed like an endless line of cars, that didn't dampen the mood—fans were overall very excited to be at the world's very first CosMc's.
Named after a long-forgotten mascot from McDonaldland, CosMc's opening signaled a new turn for the Golden Arches. With a menu that boasts everything from iced tea to lemonade, coffee drinks, slushies, and frappés, the debut solidified McDonald's position as a worthwhile competitor to beverage big names like Starbucks and Dunkin'. Now, there are four CosMc's across Texas, plus the flagship in Illinois.
And, if you don't live near the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas or Chicago, your chances of trying some of McDonald's most inventive creations are close to nil. But that's all about to change.
McDonald's just had its 2025 Q1 Earnings Call, where its CEO revealed some "interesting learnings" from the launch of CosMc's—one of which will impact the drink offerings at McDonald's as early as this year.
McDonald's Announces Drink Menu Expansion
According to the call, the specialty beverages sector continues to be profitable, and McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that, "We think there’s more that we can be doing to capture our fair share of that."
This might come as a surprise for those who know CosMc's menu by heart. With several first-of-their-kind drinks under its belt, like the Churro Cold Brew Frappé and the fan-favorite Popping Pear Slush, a prickly pear-flavored slushie topped with popping candy, it's hard to believe McDonald's wants to do more.
Another thing McDonald's observed is that whenever its name is attached to a product, customers expect food. That seems like a no-brainer, but it creates a challenge for CosMc's. Even though CosMc's menu includes small bites, the real stars are its drinks, which are being overshadowed by McDonald's reputation. So, what does this mean in practice for the fast food giant? It means they're bringing the creativity behind CosMc's delightful drinks and rolling them out to Mickey D's.
"Later this year, in partnership with our franchisees, we'll be launching a beverage test in the U.S. in some of our existing McDonald's restaurants that will incorporate new menu items inspired by CosMc's," Kempczinski revealed.
While there was no further mention of CosMc's, nor details on how McDonald's plans to overhaul its drink menu, other than a reiteration of its commitment "to going after beverages," that didn't diminish fans' excitement about the news.
"Finally, tasty menu items for the USA!" someone commented on a social post. "I always get so jealous of the other countries' menu items."
"I NEED ALL OF THEM," exclaimed another one.
It's hard to tell whether McDonald's will roll out CosMc's beverages one-to-one in its stores, but the announcement signals a new beginning for the Golden Arches. Here's hoping we'll soon be able to grab otherworldly sips like the Iced French Toast Galaxy Latte alongside the new McCrispy Strips, all from one place.