CosMc’s Review—Here’s What It’s Like and What I Ordered

McDonald’s is a fast-food icon. The chain has been servin’ up burgers, fries and Chicken McNuggets to hungry people for decades. McD’s mostly sticks to perfecting classics, like its Big Mac and ridiculously good fries. Over at McDonald’s spinoff CosMc’s, though, things are wildly different.

CosMc’s is all about hot takes on coffee, cold drinks and bite-sized snacks. Having been a barista for almost half of my working life, I knew I had to do a CosMc’s review! I took a trip out to the CosMc’s cosmos, and now I’m back with all the details.

What is CosMc’s?

Melany Love for Taste Recipes

Inspired by McDonald’s mascot CosMC from the ’80s, this coffee-based concept restaurant launched in December 2023. The idea was to create a restaurant with a smaller footprint to focus on specialty coffee drinks and quick bites. The menu is huge, though: You’ll find over 45 drinks and 18 snacks and treats, including McFlurries and ice cream sundaes.

The purple and gold spin-off store first opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois, with some fans flying in from as far as Europe to sample a taste.

Everything I Ordered at CosMc’s

Melany Love for Taste Recipes

Let’s start with the ordering experience. The CosMc’s in Bolingbrook is a drive-thru-only location with four drive-thru lanes, all equipped with digital menu screens and card readers. When I pulled into the first spot, a CosMc’s worker greeted me through the speaker. I mentioned that I had quite a large order, and he seemed eager to hear it!

After listing off every item, he asked how I would like to pay. Since I used a card, I was able to pay right at the card reader in front of me. I was then told to wait in my lane until the menu screen said my order was ready. After a few minutes, the screen told me to pull up, and I was handed my items at the last of three drive-up windows.

While the CosMc’s menu does include some items from the McDonald’s coffee menu, it’s also in its own world with tons of unique flavor combinations.

French Toast Galaxy Latte

The first drink to catch my eye was the French Toast Galaxy Latte. My first sip was subtle. Honestly, based on the big flavors from the McCafé, I was expecting much more cinnamon and sugar. Being a girl who doesn’t like her coffee too sweet, it hit just the right mark for me!

There wasn’t anything too galactic about it—the color was still a creamy brown all around. The cinnamon was present but not overwhelming, and at no point did I scrunch my nose from the sheer sweetness. On top of all that, it’s the same coffee you remember from McDonald’s. Would I order it again? Definitely. A solid 3/5.

Sea Salted Caramelactic Shaken Espresso

Shaken espressos have popped into the modern coffee culture recently, and I’m loving it. I’m a sucker for all things salted caramel, so I knew this was on my list to try. For how incredible the name was, I was expecting a whole ‘lotta caramel in my first sip. I’m a big fan of the McDonald’s caramel macchiato, and I thought the Caramelactic would be on par. It had a much softer caramel taste, with the salt coming in as an aftertaste rather than a flavor front-runner. Not quite bland, but didn’t pack a punch like I was wishing it would.

Compared to a Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, my favorite of the shaken bunch, the Caramelactic lacked depth. It felt a bit watered down, and the coffee didn’t feel as present. I’d give it a 2/5. I don’t know if I’d try this one again, but I’m willing to give the Pistachio Swirl a try next time.

S’mores Cold Brew

Of all the drinks on the CosMc’s menu, this was the one with which I immediately locked eyes and fell in love. There’s nothing in this world I love more than a s’mores-flavored treat, and I’m on an endless hunt to try every single one.

This was easily the most beautiful of the drinks. However, the S’Mores Cold Brew didn’t have the flavor profile I hoped for. This drink had an artificial aftertaste, and there weren’t enough toffee sprinkles for added texture. Overall, I wasn’t happy with the s’mores syrup either. While the drink was pretty, I didn’t find myself yearning for another sip.

Let’s be clear: I love cold brew. However, the s’mores drink couldn’t measure up to a Starbucks Cold Foam Cold Brew. My heart sadly gives it a 1/5.

Sour Cherry Energy Burst

Besides the coffee collection, CosMc’s also has an array of Galactic Boosts and Stellar Sips. These drinks mimic things like mixed lemonades and Starbucks Refreshers, but with a twist. Some come with popping boba, and you can add extras like energy, vitamin C and preworkout shots for a boost.

The Sour Cherry Energy Burst features a tart cherry slush layered over popping boba. While it looked gorgeous, it honestly tasted like a cold cup of medicine. The popping boba was a charming touch, and it made the drink semi-enjoyable. The energy is no joke, though—it definitely woke me up! This would probably best be enjoyed in the summer and not on a 1°F day in the heart of winter. I’ll give it a 2/5 and try again in a few months.

Sprite Moonsplash

The name was intriguing, the inclusions were bright and Sprite is one of my all-time favorite sodas. I had to give this one a shot, and it was the best of the bunch! The drink is a mix of Sprite, vanilla and citrus with a dried lemon wheel and dried blueberries on top. Sprite was the most forward flavor, with the vanilla adding a smooth finish. I could have chugged that thing in one go, but I held back. The inclusions made it pretty, too. 5/5, would absolutely order again!

Editor’s Tip: If you’re not into lemon and blueberries, don’t worry. You can add dried strawberries or dragonfruit instead. You can even switch the flavor shot from vanilla to cherry or mint.

Savory Hash Brown Bites

If you’re a diehard fan of McDonald’s hash browns like me, you’d probably expect these to be the same. However, think more like Dunkin’s version but smaller, individual hash browns. The Hash Brown Bites were about half the size of my palm but had great spice distribution (I tasted onion, garlic and just the right amount of salt). I found myself wanting more after I’d popped all four bites into my mouth. Not too crispy, not too soft—easily a 4/5. Next time, I might even get two orders.

Mixed Bag McPops

McPops are what I would describe as filled doughnut holes. There are three different types: cookie butter, hazelnut and apple cinnamon. You can either grab a three-piece of an individual flavor or a mixed bag with one of each. My consensus for all three was unanimous—positively delicious. The cookie butter reminded me of Trader Joe’s Speculoos cookie butter in the best way. The hazelnut was more of a Nutella flavor, and the apple cinnamon was like biting into a small apple pie. They were all soft and fluffy with plenty of flavor. 5/5 for me. Now, if only I could grab a whole bucket of ’em.

Strawberry and Cookie McFlurry

The McFlurry is one of the most iconic menu items at McDonald’s. If only the ice cream machines weren’t broken all the time!  CosMc’s has its own exclusive McFlurry flavor, the Strawberry and Cookie McFlurry. Was it delicious? Of course. It’s a fluffy mix of vanilla soft serve, dried strawberries and shortbread cookie crumbles. The strawberry gave it a sweet touch, while the crumbles gave it a dynamic texture. But really, how could you not love a McFlurry? Another 5/5!

Where is CosMc’s?

There are currently five locations up and running in the States. The first CosMc’s opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois (my location), followed by locations in San Antonio, Fort Worth and Dallas. There’s another location being built in Allen, Texas as we speak.

McDonald’s corporate explained that they plan to keep locations small but will continue to experiment with size until they find the perfect fit. If CosMc’s popularity continues, I expect to see more locations across the U.S.!