The pumpkin spice craze during the fall season is completely unavoidable. Stores carry pumpkin spice Cheerios, candles, marshmallows, cookies, Oreos, almonds, bacon, and even dog food. Coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin' have advertisements of their latest pumpkin spice concoctions are everywhere, and popular chains such as Einstein's Bagels even partake in this trend by bringing out their limited edition Pumpkin Shmear every year with the changing leaves. However, the original pumpkin spice creation that started all the hype is the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. People go crazy over the famous PSL because it is a sign of fall which automatically means comfy sweaters, bonfires, football games, and all of the great things that come with the season. So, what if you want to participate in this trend, but don't like the taste of the PSL? Well, you've come to the right place, because I've tested out the best pumpkin spice drinks from Starbucks that put the original Pumpkin Spice Latte to shame.
1. Iced Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte
How to order: grande iced nonfat chai tea latte with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice
This is by far my all time favorite pumpkin spice drink EVER. It’s so good and tasty. As a chai tea lover, I was definitely skeptical to try this variation, but ended up loving it. The pumpkin spice syrup adds a bit of sweetness, the chai tea balances everything out with a bit of spiciness, and the nonfat milk brings all the flavors together to create this amazing drink. A normal grande pumpkin spice chai tea latte has 4 pumps of PS syrup, which is way too sweet for me. I would recommend cutting the pumps of pumpkin spice in half for every size to avoid the ultimate sugar rush and to save a few calories.
2. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
How to order: grande nonfat hot chocolate with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice
This chocolatey drink tastes great and will certainly put anyone in a good fall mood. The almost bitter chocolate taste mixed with the sweet pumpkin spice syrup creates a wonderful blend and tastes even better than a regular Starbucks hot chocolate. I would definitely recommend this drink for a sweet treat that will warm you up in the fall! This is def one of the best pumpkin spice combos out there.
3. Iced Pumpkin Spice Caramel Macchiato
How to order: grande nonfat iced caramel macchiato with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice
This drink was definitely the sweetest out of all the pumpkin spice drinks I've tried, but, hey that's a good thing in my book. The flavors in the drink were really good and the pumpkin spice wasn't too overpowering. In comparison to a normal iced caramel macchiato, I preferred the addition of the pumpkin spice because it toned down the coffee flavor. Another thing I love about this drink is that you never know what you're going to get. One sip you might get more pumpkin flavor, the next a coffee surge, another a swig of gooey caramel, or a perfect blend of all the flavors together. With the delicious mix of caramel, pumpkin spice, and coffee, this drink is a perfect fall treat.
4. Iced Pumpkin Spice Vanilla Latte
How to order: grande nonfat iced vanilla latte with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice
This drink was refreshing, but also sweet. The coffee taste was definitely more prominent than in the pumpkin spice caramel macchiato, but the sweetness of the vanilla mixed with the pumpkin syrup created the perfect balance. The mixture had an almost nutty flavor, which I loved! Normally, I would order an iced vanilla latte with soy, but I opted for nonfat milk instead of soy because otherwise the drink would've been extremely sweet. This drink was very refreshing and tasty and I think it's a perfect fall alternative for any iced coffee lover.
5. Pumpkin Spice Creme
How to order: grande nonfat pumpkin spice cream
This drink somehow tastes like fall. It is even orange!! It is sweet, but not too overpowering and the flavors mixed together create the perfect pumpkin spice taste. The first few sips are undoubtedly the best due to the creaminess of the whipped cream with cinnamon on top and the instant warmth of the milky drink. This drink warms you up on a cool fall day and will definitely put you in a great fall mood.
After all of these best pumpkin spice drinks I've tried, I don't think I will ever order a regular PSL again. These mixed drinks provide great and tasty alternatives that will surely taste like fall.