News Summary
Taco Bell announces the opening of two new Live Más Café locations this summer, one in Orange and another in Irvine, California. The cafes focus on a variety of refreshing beverages, including specialized drinks like Churro Chillers and Refrescas. Part of a larger strategy, Taco Bell plans to open over 30 Live Más Café sites this year, amidst a drive to capture a share of the beverage market and adapt to consumer demands for diverse drink options. Unlike Taco Bell Cantinas, these cafes will only offer non-alcoholic beverages.
Orange, California – Taco Bell is set to expand its innovative Live Más Café concept with two new locations this summer, one in Orange and another in Irvine. The Orange café will be the first to open, situated at 468 S Main St., near Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s main campus. While the Irvine location will be close to Taco Bell’s corporate headquarters, its exact address has yet to be disclosed.
The Live Más Café, which debuted in Chula Vista, California, last December, focuses on a variety of refreshing beverages alongside popular menu items. Customers can expect to find several Churro Chillers and Refrescas—Taco Bell’s take on traditional aguas frescas—available at these cafés.
As part of Taco Bell’s growth strategy, the company aims to expand the Live Más Café concept to over 30 locations within existing Taco Bells by the end of the year. New sites will be established in various cities throughout San Diego and Los Angeles County, enhancing the chain’s beverage offerings in these regions.
The Live Más Café aims to cater to increasing consumer demand for refreshing drinks and will offer a selection of specialty beverages, including flavored coffees and frappuccino-style drinks. Taco Bell recently introduced six new flavors of Refrescas at its regular restaurants, such as Strawberry Passionfruit and Mango Peach, with prices starting around $3.89. Customers can also opt for drinks enhanced with Rockstar Energy for approximately $4.89.
Unlike Taco Bell Cantinas, which possess liquor licenses and serve alcoholic beverages, the Live Más Cafés will focus solely on non-alcoholic offerings. At present, there are three Taco Bell Cantinas located in Southern California, specifically in Newport Beach, Los Angeles, and Hollywood.
Taco Bell’s decision to roll out the Live Más Café concept is part of a larger strategic plan intended to reach $5 billion in beverage sales by 2030. The new cafés are set to fill a niche in the marketplace, tapping into the growing trend where consumers are increasingly seeking out diverse beverage options alongside their meals.
Additionally, Taco Bell’s ongoing initiatives demonstrate the chain’s commitment to innovation. Recently, Taco Bell customers gained the ability to use Venmo as a payment method through the chain’s app and website, enhancing the overall customer experience and convenience.
While Taco Bell ventures into this café format, it remains aware of its competitors. Notably, McDonald’s attempted to launch a beverage-centric concept named CosMc, which was ultimately abandoned in May. Although McDonald’s plans to test CosMc beverages across selected restaurants, it will be closing its partnership with Krispy Kreme, originally aimed at introducing doughnuts to its menu by the end of 2026.
Taco Bell’s new Live Más Cafés will provide an exciting alternative for those looking for a refreshing drink alongside their meals, while also positioning the brand to compete aggressively in the ever-expanding beverage market. The openings in Orange and Irvine will set a precedent for future expansion and innovation in Taco Bell’s beverage offerings, continuing to adapt to consumer preferences in a rapidly changing dining landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Orange County Register: Taco Bell Live Más Café Expansion
- Orange County Business Journal: Taco Bell Adding Live Más Cafés
- Orange County Business Journal: Taco Bell Sales Growth
- KTLA: Taco Bell Iconic Items Return
- Press-Enterprise: Del Taco Throwback Menu Test
- Wikipedia: Taco Bell
- Google Search: Taco Bell Live Mas Cafe
- Google Scholar: Taco Bell Innovation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Taco Bell
- Google News: Taco Bell Beverage Market
