Remember when a fast-food drink meant a cup of soda with ice and a lid? McDonald’s is changing that idea in a big way this spring.
Starting May 6, the chain is adding six new permanent beverages to its McCafé menu. These aren’t simple fountain drinks. They come layered with real fruit, flavored syrups, and toppings, and they’re meant to be sipped slowly and enjoyed.
The Crafted Sodas
The first three are what McDonald’s calls crafted sodas. One of them (the Orange Dream) blends Hi-C Orange Lavaburst with a hint of vanilla. The chain says it drinks like a creamsicle. If you grew up loving those orange-and-vanilla ice cream bars on a stick, this one might bring back a memory or two.
The Dirty Dr. Pepper layers the classic Dr. Pepper flavor with vanilla syrup. And the Sprite Berry Blast, which has made appearances before, infuses Sprite with sweet blue raspberry syrup.
All three are topped with a cold foam that McDonald’s describes as light and marshmallowy. They also come with a new straw-free lid called the “siplet,” designed so that the foam reaches your lips first with every sip, rather than being pushed aside by a straw.
The Caffeinated Refreshers
The other three drinks give you a little caffeine boost, between 45 and 75 milligrams, depending on the size. All three use lemonade as their base and add real fruit and textures that make each one feel distinct.
The Strawberry Watermelon Refresher combines strawberry and watermelon flavors, topped with freeze-dried strawberries. The Mango Pineapple Refresher goes tropical, with mango, pineapple, and strawberry-popping boba, which McDonald’s says is the first time popping boba has appeared on its permanent menu. The Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher pairs bold berry and passion fruit with freeze-dried dragon fruit for color and a touch of sweetness against the tart lemonade.
Jennifer Del Vecchio, who leads McDonald’s U.S. beverage strategy, says the goal is to compete with specialty drink shops.
“From a quality perspective, we’re competing with those beverage specialists, but delivering at scale, at speed, at convenience, with the accessibility that is unmatched beyond McDonald’s,” Del Vecchio said.
All six drinks are permanent additions to the menu, not limited-time offers. They’ll be available in-store starting May 6, just as warmer weather settles in and a cold, interesting drink starts sounding pretty good.
Here’s the Full Lineup
- Crafted Sodas: Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr. Pepper
- Caffeinated Refreshers: Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Pineapple, Blackberry Passion Fruit