McDonald’s is closing all of its CosMc’s beverage-focused restaurants, with shutdowns beginning in late June 2025. The company will also discontinue the CosMc’s app.
This doesn’t mean the end for the unique drinks that made CosMc’s popular. McDonald’s plans to bring “CosMc’s-inspired” beverages to hundreds of its regular U.S. restaurants later this year.
“We’ve learned so much, so quickly from the CosMc’s test,” McDonald’s stated. The company views the closure as completing a successful experiment rather than admitting failure.
When the first CosMc’s opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois last December, it attracted long lines and strong customer interest. Some reports indicated it had twice the traffic of a regular McDonald’s in its first month. The company eventually opened just seven more locations in Texas.
CEO Chris Kempczinski previously expressed concerns that CosMc’s complex drinks might slow down service at regular McDonald’s restaurants. This likely pushed the company toward closing the standalone stores while carefully selecting which beverages to add to its main menu.
The beverage market represents a major growth opportunity. It’s estimated at $100 billion, grows faster than other restaurant segments, and offers better profit margins than many food items.
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“This is a $100 billion category that’s growing faster than the rest of casual dining and with superior margins. And it’s a space that we believe we have the right to win,” Kempczinski said when CosMc’s launched.
Restaurant consultant John Gordon pointed out that McDonald’s has historically been “very quiet” in specialty beverages compared to competitors like Starbucks and Dutch Bros. This move signals a more aggressive approach to this profitable market.
McDonald’s currently holds about 10% of the coffee market share but sees room for substantial growth, including in emerging categories like energy drinks.
CosMc’s offered unique beverages including Churro Frappé, Sour Cherry Energy Burst, Matcha Iced Latte, and a Prickly Pear slushy with popping candy. It also had a small food menu featuring items like Spicy Queso Sandwich and Pretzel Bites.
In March, McDonald’s created a dedicated team for beverages and desserts, showing its commitment to this area. The company also established a “Restaurant Experience Team” to speed up innovation and product launches.
By testing these drinks at CosMc’s before bringing them to regular restaurants, McDonald’s could experiment without disrupting its core business. The integration will potentially reach far more customers through its network of over 14,000 U.S. locations.
McDonald’s hasn’t shared specific financial results from the CosMc’s test stores. For fans of the unique drinks, the good news is that some favorites will soon be available at regular McDonald’s locations, though the company hasn’t specified exactly which ones will make the cut.
