As fall is approaching us rapidly, the air is starting to get colder, leaves are starting to change color, and the special fall menus are dropping. Every year, coffee shops such as Dunkin and Starbucks release a lineup of speciality drinks that typically cannot be found year round. Normally, these drinks are based on pumpkin and apple flavors, but the more popular flavor is pumpkin. Sure, apple cider (hot and iced) is delicious and comforting, but pumpkin drinks truly provide the comfort of fall. Just recently, I started getting into drinking coffee, so I thought it was the appropriate time to try both versions of the fall drinks from Dunkin and Starbucks. I never tried any of these drinks beforehand, so this is a fresh, new perspective compared to the people who drink these fall drinks religiously.
To break it down, Dunkin’ has pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin chai latte, pumpkin frozen coffee, almond spice coffee, and pumpkin iced macchiato. In comparison, Starbucks has pumpkin spice lattes, iced pumpkin cream chai, pumpkin cream cold brew, and pecan oatmilk cortado/latte. When comparing both of those menus, most of the coffees contain a pumpkin flavor, with a slight variation of a singular color (pecan or almond). I decided to pick the most popular fall item off of each menu: the pumpkin spice latte.
I first tried the pumpkin spice latte (the iced version) from Dunkin. Firstly, the presentation was relatively nice. There was whipped cream on the top with a coat of cinnamon, which struck my curiosity since I didn’t realize there was some cinnamon and nutty flavor mixed into the latte. Overall, I did enjoy the taste of the drink. I liked the fact that the pumpkin did not overpower the cinnamon or nutty flavor; there was a fine balance between all of them. I wish there was a little more pumpkin however. The whipped cream did melt extremely quickly, which I didn’t mind but it made the drink a little extra creamy. I’d give it a 7 out of 10.
Then, I tried the pumpkin spice latte (the iced version) from Starbucks. The presentation was almost the same as Dunkin, especially with the cinnamon on top. I thought there was more whipped cream on this latte than the Dunkin one, so I was happier with that. I was extremely pleased with the taste. The latte tasted more like a true pumpkin latte rather than having other flavors mixed into it (it was extremely authentic). I also appreciated the fact that the whipped cream did not melt into the latte quickly, so I was able to have the authentic flavor of pumpkin throughout the entire latte. When I talked to Sage, a member of the THS Rumble, she said that the pumpkin cream chai with extra pumpkin cold foam and oat milk is the best fall drink from Starbucks. Although I am not a fan of chai, this is a valid opinion (especially since it’s pumpkin).
At the end of the day, Starbucks takes the cake for the best pumpkin spice latte. Every single drink has their own unique flavor, but Starbucks truly inhibits pumpkin spice and not pumpkin cinnamon nut spice blend. If you’re a fan of pumpkin but not coffee, I’d recommend this drink because of how you can’t really taste the coffee and more the pumpkin! I hope you all enjoy your fall and get your drinks before they’re gone (until next year)!
