McDonald's is the latest fast food chain to offer fancier drinks - WSB-TV
Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings
www.wsbtv.comMcDonald’s has rolled out six new specialty drinks in the U.S. in 2026, including three refreshers and three crafted sodas with cold foam, debuting nationwide on May 6 after a prior test phase in hundreds of locations. The lineup features flavors like Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher, Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper, with some drinks featuring toppings such as popping boba or dragon fruit and vanilla foam.[3][4][5][6][9]
Key points to know
- Scope: Initial nationwide rollout of six drinks, following earlier regional testing and equipment updates in stores.[4][5]
- Flavor profile: Fruity refreshers built on lemonade base, plus soda-based specialty drinks, all designed for visual appeal and self-expression through color and foam.[5][4]
- Availability: Debuted in May 2026 across U.S. restaurants; ongoing expansion and additional drinks teased for later in 2026 per coverage from multiple outlets.[3][4]
Illustrative example
- Strawberry Watermelon Refresher: strawberry and watermelon flavors with lemonade and freeze-dried strawberries, part of the refreshers lineup.[3]
- Dirty Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper with vanilla flavor and cold foam, part of the crafted sodas lineup.[3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official menu page and summarize any new additions or regional availability near Prague, or compare these drinks to previous McCafé beverage launches.