McDonald's to expand espresso service across U.S.

By Marcy Nicholson

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 2 (Reuters) - McDonald's USA (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) says it will expand availability of its espresso-based specialty coffees across the United States in the near future, a company official said on Friday.

"I'm very optimistic that we'll have it national in the relatively near future," McDonald's USA Chief Marketing Officer Bill Lamar told Reuters on the sidelines of the National Coffee Association's 96th annual convention.

Lamar was not specific about the nationwide roll-out date.

The fast-food chain began successfully serving a new coffee blend in March 2006.

"Consumer taste preferences in coffee have changed in recent years, largely because of the influence of coffee houses like Starbucks (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Caribou Coffee (CBOU.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)," Lamar said.

"Today's consumers are now more sophisticated and knowledgeable about coffee. They're looking for richer and more flavorful coffees," Lamar told the conference.

McDonald's is currently testing specialty coffees such as espresso and cappuccino in hundreds of U.S. outlets and now looks at large coffee outlets as competitors.