Pumpkin spice is practically synonymous with the autumn season. But for those who aren’t a fan of the classic fall flavor, what else is there to drink?
I’m not a pumpkin hater, but I’ve gotten tired of the same flavor coming back every fall. It might be a standard for almost every chain, but it’s been a presence for so long that it’s easy to find it overdone. And because of that, I’ve searched for variety at every coffee shop I’ve been to. From big names like Starbucks and Dunkin to smaller coffee chains, here’s your guide to some of the best non-pumpkin drinks available this fall.
Starbucks Iced Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte
While Starbucks might be the original connoisseur of the pumpkin spice latte, kickstarting the trend themselves in 2003, nothing says fall like the nuttiness of this beverage that takes a classic oat latte and adds in a buttery, roasted flavor to capture the essence of autumn.
Dunkin’ Brown Sugar Hazelnut Oat Iced Latte
It’s admittedly difficult to find a fall drink at Dunkin’ that doesn’t include hints of pumpkin. Even without their pumpkin spice and pumpkin vanilla beverages, drinks like the Almond Spice Iced Coffee are standardly made with pumps of pumpkin syrup. However, the Brown Sugar Hazelnut Oat Iced Latte takes a completely different turn on fall flavor, putting a bold twist on the warmth of the brown sugar and the earthiness of the hazelnut.
7 Brew Cinnamon Roll Mocha
Unlike other chains, which mostly have focused on nuttier fall flavors, 7 Brew released a Cinnamon Roll Mocha that not only feels like fall but is the perfect treat as the weather gets colder. The sweetness of the cinnamon and white chocolate, combined with the darker, more bitter taste of the mocha, creates a less typical fall drink that is still rich in flavor.
Blank Street Carrot Cake Matcha
Blank Street has rolled out three new drinks to celebrate the end of summer, but none have received as many rave reviews as the Carrot Cake Matcha. While matcha lends a slightly summery feel with its grassy taste, the sweetened carrot flavor adds a perfect fall twist that captures the essence of the changing seasons.
Paris Baguette Cookie Butter Macchiato
This classic macchiato is elevated with vanilla syrup and cookie butter sauce on top, adding a softer feel to the espresso-based drink. It’s still a bit early for wintry flavors, but cookie butter provides the perfect segue to the colder months as summer fades away.
Tim Hortons Cinnamon Caramel Apple Oatmilk Latte
There’s hardly a better representation of fall than an apple cider. The crisp, fresh flavor perfectly encapsulates the feeling of falling leaves and 50-degree days. Tim Hortons’ Cinnamon Caramel Apple Oatmilk Latte takes that feel and puts it directly into the drink. It also fills a hole in consumers left by the lack of any Starbucks apple-flavored drinks, which have been confirmed not to return for fall 2025.
Krispy Kreme Brown Butter Toffee Latte
Pumpkin haters, this might be the place for you. Out of all of the chains on this list, Krispy Kreme proves to be the only one that isn’t forcing pumpkin onto its customers. Unlike so many of them, Krispy Kreme has only introduced one pumpkin drink. However, their Brown Butter Toffee Latte combines caramel, cookie crumbles, and, of course, brown butter toffee to provide customers with a fall feel without defaulting to the overdone pumpkin.
Caffé Nero Spiced Pear Latte
Rounding out the list is the Spiced Pear Latte. Caffé Nero introduces a new fruit to the fall flavor lineup, shying away from apples and pumpkin to put their own spin on the classic latte. This fruity drink includes warm spices and a hint of pear to bring an autumnal feel to prepare for the colder months.