“Live Más” means “Live More” in Spanish, and Taco Bell introduced the slogan in 2012 to promote food as an experience. The chain built on the idea by opening Live Más Cafés, which feature specialty drinks made by employees it calls “Bellristas.”
Taco Bell recently opened three Live Más Café locations in the Inland Empire, in Corona, Rancho Cucamonga and Riverside. The company remodeled existing Taco Bell restaurants into the café concept.
The cafés focused on beverages and offered more than 25 handcrafted drinks, from Signature Chillers to Agua Refrescas. They still served Taco Bell’s classic menu items.
The interior looked different from a standard Taco Bell. The café used a lighter shade of purple throughout the restaurant along with the brand’s signature purple.
The space included multiple kiosks, varied seating and a counter where customers could watch “Bellristas” make drinks. The Riverside location opened Nov. 5 and displayed balloons in the brand’s colors.
Taco Bell had long served as a convenient option for many college students because of its proximity, variety and 24/7 hours. The Live Más Café concept combined that convenience with specialty drinks, so I visited the new café with friends.
We tried the Caramel Apple Empanada Chiller, the Mexican Chocolate Churro Chiller, the Cinnabon Caramel Latte Chiller and the Mexican Mocha Iced Coffee, along with food to pair with the drinks. Each drink cost no more than $5.50 for a small.
Some drinks stood out more than others. The Mexican Mocha Iced Coffee tasted watered down and ranked last for me. The Caramel Apple Empanada Chiller and the Cinnabon Caramel Latte Chiller tasted similar with small differences. The Mexican Chocolate Churro Chiller had the strongest flavor. The Cinnabon Caramel Latte Chiller became my favorite because it reminded me of Taco Bell’s Cinnabon Delights.
The café offered a wide range of options, and the menu included something for most tastes. I planned to return to try more specialty drinks. The concept fit well with existing locations and gave customers another treat to add to a meal
