INTRO:

As the crisp autumn air returns and leaves begin to change into vibrant colors of yellow, orange, and red, it indicates that it is time for the fall menu to return to Starbucks. Whether you’re returning to some of the reappearing favorites, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte; Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew; Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai; or Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, or you’re spicing things up and getting something new, like the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, or giving your drink a twist with the new savory Pecan Cold Foam, make sure to lean into the cozy season of autumn with an aromatic tasty drink from Starbucks before the winter breeze comes along. 

Background:

The fall menu first began in 2003 with the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte, as it is available iced, hot, or blended with real pumpkin flavor. The original recipe of the Pumpkin Spice Latte did not contain actual pumpkin and, instead, had spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove, which came from pumpkin pie. Later on, in 2015, these spices changed to real pumpkin puree. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai was a secret menu drink, but, in 2023, it became so popular that it reached the official menu, returning each year for the fall season. 

About the drinks:

Location used: Starbucks, 8359 W Grand Ave, River Grove, IL 60171

Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai

Cost (prices vary where you live/go):

Tall: $5.45, Grande: $5.95, and Venti: $6.45

What’s included? 

Tall (12fl oz): 340 calories, 50g sugar, 13g fat

Grande (16fl oz): 460 calories, 66 g sugar, 17g fat

Venti (24fl oz): 570 calories,87g sugar, 19g fat

• Milk: 2% milk
• Toppings: Pumpkin Spice Topping
• Cold Foams: Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
• Add-ins: Ice
• Tea: Chai pumps (Pumps of Sauce: Tall= 3 pumps, Grande= 4 pumps, and Venti= 6 pumps)

(You can edit these based on your liking, but this is how it comes.)

Opinions: 

“A coffee-free fall treat. Our Chai Tea Latte layered with real pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice. Limited-time seasonal favorites” (Starbucks)

A few of our Tigers’ opinions:

• “Words cannot explain the absolute euphoria that fills my soul the second I take a sip of that iced pumpkin cream chai”
• “Flavors just compliment each other so well”
• “Really cozy”
• “Creamy and very delicious”
• “So refreshing and gives fall vibes”
• “Nice, thick texture that tastes like fall”
• “Perfect amount of sweet pumpkin from the cold foam and the chai is not too sweet”

My opinion:

In my judgment, this drink gets a 9/10. Before trying the drink, I can say it looks really delicious, and the scent was filled with pumpkin and vanilla. Not only does it look like fall, but it tastes exactly like it: the flavors compliment each other so well without the excessive coffee use that most Starbucks drinks contain. It tastes exactly like a sweet, creamy, fall dessert but in the form of  a drink. The foamy layer of cold foam really adds to the drink as it blends together.

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

Cost: (prices vary where you live/go):

Tall: $5.95, Grande: $6.45, and Venti: $6.95

What’s included?

Tall (12fl oz): 270 calories, 34g sugar, 12g fat  

Grande (16fl oz): 370 calories, 45g sugar, 16g fat

Venti (24fl oz): 480 calories, 65g sugar, 18g fat

• Milk: 2% milk
• Toppings: Whipped Cream + Pumpkin Spice Topping
• Flavors: Pumpkin Sauce (Pumps of Sauce: Tall=3 pumps, Grande=4 pumps, and Venti=6 pumps)
• Add-ins: Ice
• Espresso and shot options: shots of espresso + signature espresso (Shots of espresso: Tall=1 shot, Grande= 2 shots, and Venti=3 shots)

(You can edit these based on your liking, but this is how it comes.)

Opinions: 

“Our iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte on ice. With whipped cream and a real pumpkin-pie spice finish. Limited-time fan favorite” (Starbucks)

A few of our Tigers’ opinions:

• “I even love the scent”
• “I love the smell and taste of cinnamon”
• “Pumpkin Spice is the best flavor 99% of the time”
• “I really love how the flavors taste, like the cinnamon, but I also like the vanilla”
• “It tastes like how fall would taste”

My opinion:

I feel that this drink gets a 7/10. Based on the look of this drink, it looks like the perfect drink for the fall season, providing a refreshing taste on days where the weather is warmer. The smell has a warm scent of cinnamon and pumpkin. Although it has an after taste of coffee, in the moment, it tastes like a combination of sweet, spiced, and creamy flavors really adding to the fall spirit.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Cost (prices vary where you live/go):

Short: $5.65 Tall: $5.75, Grande: $6.25, and Venti: $6.75)

What’s included? 

Short (8fl oz): 210 calories, 25g sugar, 9g fat 

Tall (12fl oz): 300 calories, 38g sugar, 12g fat 

Grande (16fl oz): 390 calories, 50g sugar, 14g fat

Venti (20fl oz): 470 calories, 63g sugar, 16g fat

• Milk: 2% milk + foam + steamed hot
• Toppings: Whipped Cream +  Pumpkin Spice Topping
• Flavors: Pumpkin Sauce (Pumps of sauce: Short= 2 pumps, Tall=3 pumps, Grande= 4 pumps, and Venti= 5 pumps)
• Espresso and shot options: shots of espresso  + signature espresso (Shots of espresso: Short + tall =1 shot, and Grande + Venti= 2 shots)

(You can edit these based on your liking, but this is how it comes.)

Opinions: 

 “Classic fall favorite. Handcrafted with Starbucks® signature espresso. Real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin-pie spices. Enjoy while it’s in season.” (Starbucks)

A few of  our Tigers’ opinions:

• “Doesn’t have a disgusting after taste”
• “I wait for it all year”
• “It’s a fall original”
• “The warmth is good for colder days”

My opinion:

In my opinion, this drink gets a 5/10. This drink has the pumpkin spice flavor with a kick of coffee, including the sweet spices and hints of vanilla. The scent of the drinks gives off a feeling of autumn, comfort, and even nostalgia. In my opinion, this drink has a very strong coffee after taste, and I don’t like strong coffee. Also, hot drinks aren’t my go to. This drink has a subtle pumpkin taste and combines many warm spices together, making the perfect drink, according to many, on a cool autumn day.

Thirsty for autumn? In this video, we will be tasting your guys’ top 3 picks from this year’s Starbucks Fall Menu. We will be sharing our honest reviews on these drinks–come join us!

Conclusion:

After comparing and contrasting the top 3 drinks based on what the Tigers said, I have concluded that, in my opinion, the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai was the best drink out of the three. It tasted exactly like fall and the voting Tigers were right when describing how delicious this drink was. It is perfect for any fall day, and I love the pumpkin and cinnamon taste of the drink, as they compliment each other well. Second place goes to Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte. It tastes exactly like how fall would taste and is perfect for coffee lovers. Personally, I don’t enjoy coffee that much. If you’re like me, I would recommend the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, as I’ve had that one before, and it tastes like the PSL but without the strong coffee flavor. Lastly comes the Pumpkin Spice Latte; this drink is perfect if you like coffee and it’s a cooler fall day. In my opinion, this drink was not good due to the after taste, and I don’t like hot drinks in general. Before the first snow falls, I recommend trying these drinks on the menu. So, snuggle up into the fall season by grabbing some friends, wearing your favorite pajamas, queuing up a favorite seasonal movie or show and sip a tasty warm or iced flavorful drink from Starbucks.