Taco Bell, long known for its innovative menu items and playful approach to fast food, has once again captured fans’ attention with a bold new announcement. Over the past few weeks, the Mexican-inspired chain has introduced a string of exciting offerings, ranging from Cantina Fajitas to the return of the Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito, often drawing inspiration from other popular drive-thru favorites.
This pattern of competitive creativity has been evident for some time. When McDonald’s reintroduced the Snack Wrap after nearly a decade, Taco Bell countered with its Crispy Chicken Taco. Similarly, KFC’s collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey inspired Taco Bell’s own Hot Honey Diablo and tortilla chip-crusted chicken nuggets. Now, Taco Bell is taking aim at the coffee world, signaling that its recent tests with a beverage-only concept were just the beginning.
Live Más Café: Taco Bell’s Drink-Forward Vision
While Taco Bell is widely recognized for items like tacos, Crunchwraps, and Mountain Dew Baja Blast, the chain has been quietly expanding its beverage lineup. Over the past two years, Taco Bell has tested coffee-forward drinks, Agua Frescas, and other innovative beverages. This experimentation culminated in 2024 with the launch of Live Más Café, the chain’s first-ever beverage-only concept.
Live Más Café offers a range of drinks, including Cream Soda Freezes, specialty coffees, and the brand’s signature Dirty Baja Blast. Unlike typical Taco Bell locations, the café focuses entirely on beverages, providing fans an alternative to Starbucks lattes or Dunkin’ refreshers. The first location, opened in Chula Vista, California, was an immediate success. According to Taco Bell representatives, the café sold nearly 1,000 drinks per day since its September debut. Following the success of five additional California locations, Taco Bell is now expanding beyond the West Coast.
Texas Launch and Future Plans
Taco Bell recently announced that Live Más Café will arrive in Texas with two new locations. The Dallas café is set to open on November 6, followed by Houston on November 20. Beyond Texas, the chain plans to open 30 additional locations across Southern California and the Lone Star State by fall 2025…