Beverage

Pumpkin Spice Latte returns to Starbucks, along with several of its offspring

Starbucks’ fall menu launched Thursday, celebrating the 20th anniversary of PSL and introducing some new pumpkin specialties.
Starbucks PSL
Pumpkin Spice Latte started it all, but 20 years later, Starbucks has an array of fall beverages—and not all are pumpkin-flavored. | Photo courtesy of Starbucks.

When Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, it started a mighty pumpkin explosion every fall across the restaurant universe that eventually crept into August.

This year, the PSL celebrates its 20th birthday, and Starbucks is commemorating the occasion with a pumpkin-themed fall menu that launches Thursday.

The original Pumpkin Spice Latte was created to follow in the success of Starbucks’ seasonal holiday beverages, like Peppermint Mocha. The autumn-flavored pumpkin coffee drink—crafted with espresso, steamed milk, pumpkin sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove—came out a winner in taste tests.

Now it’s back in both hot, iced and blended versions, but so is the fan-favorite Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, flavored with vanilla and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam. There are also several new pumpkin offspring and other fall items flavoring the new menu.

The new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte was inspired by a popular customer and barista customization, pairing a rich blend of spiced chai notes with pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice. On the food side, Starbucks is offering a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and a Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf.  There’s also a scary Owl Cake Pop for kids—and grown-ups who love Halloween—and a new Baked Apple Croissant.

But the Seattle-based coffee giant is also going in a (gasp!) non-pumpkin direction, introducing some other flavors into the fall menu. The new Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Expresso combines milder blonde espresso with notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, all shaken together and topped with oatmilk. Returning for its third autumn appearance is the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato.

And for the first time, there are some boozy additions to the pumpkin lineup. Guests at Starbucks Reserve locations in Seattle, Chicago and New York City can order up a Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini. And for connoisseurs, these outposts offer the Starbucks Reserve Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Whiskey Barrel-Aged Iced Latte.

The Princi bakeries at the Reserve stores are joining in with bakery items, including a Pumpkin Spice Cake and Pumpkin Maritozzo. The latter is a Roman-style whipped cream-filled bun.

Starbucks is offering more ways and more places to indulge in pumpkin spice beverages and foods in 2023 than ever before. Happy birthday PSL!

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