With fall approaching we have so much to look forward to: temperatures going down, Halloween season right around the corner, sweaters and flannels beginning to come out of our closets, and the perfect time to binge-watch Gilmore Girls once again. Perhaps the most exciting part of this time of year though is Starbucks’ release of their fall menu. From their iconic pumpkin spice latte to their beloved pumpkin cream cold brew, there are several classic and newly released drink options to get you in the fall mood. No matter your taste preferences, there is a drink for you on the Starbucks fall menu.
To determine the best drinks on the menu for Allderdice students, we decided to go to Starbucks and try all of their most popular fall drinks. After much consideration, we have ranked which of six options are the best to invest in at Starbucks.
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Returning for its third year, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato has become a notoriously disliked drink among Starbucks frequenters. Eyoha Teshome, a Starbucks regular, had this to say about the drink: “The drink is too sweet, I don’t like it.” We decided to verify these claims ourselves. At first sip, we were hit with a tsunami of sweetness – so overwhelming that we could feel our arteries being clogged. Even though the word “Apple” is in the name, we got very little apple flavor but were met instead with the robust apple smell. The intense sweetness made it hard to distinguish any other flavors, however, there was a strong aftertaste of Snickerdoodle. This drink was essentially a liquid version of the caramel apple candy lollipops you receive on Halloween. Overall, this is a 3/10, potentially redeemable if you reduce the number of Apple Brown Sugar pumps.
- Pumpkin Spice Creme
The Pumpkin Spice Creme is a slightly more underground fall drink. Even the barista was initially confused when we placed this order. All it is is a Pumpkin Spice Latte but without any coffee. This drink is very sweet with quite a strange pumpkin flavor. The pumpkin taste is somewhat chemically and tastes different in this drink than in many of the other pumpkin-flavored beverages. Overall this is a 5/10 and a good replacement for those who don’t like the taste of coffee but still want to take part in the fall fun. However, we recommend that you reduce the number of pumpkin syrup pumps for a better taste.
- Pumpkin Cream Coldbrew
The Pumpkin Cream Coldbrew is a classic fall Starbucks drink and is beloved by many. The Pumpkin Cream is one of the best seasonal additions that Starbucks has come out with and is the highlight of their cold brews. Cassidy Sluss, another student at Allderdice and avid Starbucks drinker says, “The Pumpkin Cream Coldbrew is probably my favorite drink of all time. I cannot rave about it enough. It’s amazing – the right amount of sweet and bitter.” Overall, we think it is a delicious drink with a nice pumpkin flavor, ranking a solid 7/10, but the Pumpkin Cream to cold-brew ratio is not the best. We recommend ordering this drink with extra Pumpkin Cream as it will otherwise be bitter with an overwhelming coffee taste. If you are a coffee lover looking for a hint of fall this drink will be great for you.
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
Starbucks’s Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a fall staple over the years, resulting in numerous spin-offs such as the Pumpkin Spice Creme and Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, but few know of the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. This drink is for those who want to partake in the “pumpkin-y” vibes of fall, while also having something sweet and cold. It has a very similar taste to the caramel frappuccino but tastier. The pumpkin flavor is not too prominent and is a little overwhelmed by the numerous other spices. It is definitely a 9/10 drink for those with a sweet tooth.
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
The Pumpkin Spice latte has been a classic on the Starbucks fall menu since 2003. Its strong notes of pumpkin and delicious creamy texture make it the perfect drink for the fall season, and an immediate favorite of ours. The latte is not too sweet, having the perfect combination of flavors. The taste of coffee is also prominent in the drink, making it the perfect fall beverage for both coffee and pumpkin lovers. This warm drink transports you to a beautiful fall day with cloudy weather and leaves blowing in the air. This drink received a strong 9/10 from us.
Starbucks’s Pumpkin Spice Latte. | Photo Credit: Starbucks
- Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
This newly released drink has taken the world by storm. The Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte combines the classic Iced Chai Latte and Pumpkin Cream Coldfoam. The flavor of chai is unexpectedly strong and slightly overtakes the lesser pumpkin taste. The drink is very sweet, but with the ice, not too overpowering. Essentially, it’s just an improved version of both the Iced Chai Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. We will be mourning the loss of this drink long after the fall season (10/10).
Overall, there are so many delicious fall drinks offered by Starbucks to get you into the spooky season mood. If you are searching for something to best encompass the autumn vibe, we recommend the Pumpkin Spice Latte, of course, and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte. So what are you doing? Go try them!
