Pumpkin spice treats are found in every supermarket and coffee shop these days, but choosing the bad from the good takes time and dedication (and a big chunk of your daily sugar intake). That's why I decided to do the hard work for you. I'm going to give you the lowdown on similar pumpkin spice treats in a supermarket vs. coffee shop battle.
The treats were judged on three things: aesthetics (1 = Pinterest fail, 5 = Insta-worthy), basic level (7 = neutral, 14 = alkaline and PSL-approved) and taste (1 = bleh, 5 = YAS).
Supermarket Brand vs. Tim Horton's Pumpkin Spice Muffin
![chocolate, cupcake](/images/spacer-1x1.gif)
Supermarket
Aesthetics: 3/5 (look at that luscious frosting)
Basic level: 10 (pumpkin/carrot cake hybrid)
Taste: 3/5 (good but only for one bite—the frosting gave me trust issues)
Coffee Shop
Aesthetics: 3/5 (got that homemade look going on)
Basic level: 8 (a bran muffin with a hint of nutmeg and the ghost of pumpkin spices past)
Taste: 2/5 (meh)
Supermarket Brand Pumpkin Spice Cookie vs. Tim Horton's Pumpkin Spice Doughnut
![chocolate, pumpkin](/images/spacer-1x1.gif)
Supermarket
Aesthetics: 2/5 (just an unassuming cookie with big hopes and dreams)
Basic Level: 13 (clearly it's the inside that counts)
Taste: 4/5 (every spice that you associate with fall is brought together to have a party in your mouth)
Coffee Shop
Aesthetics: 3 (classic, vintage, retro, and old school)
Basic Level: 11 (has the pumpkin spice flavor down to a P)
Taste: 2/5 (the pumpkin spice tastes like it was made in a first-year chemistry class)
Supermarket Brand vs. Starbucks Pumpkin Art Cookie
![cake, pumpkin](/images/spacer-1x1.gif)
Supermarket
Aesthetic: 0/5 (i'm bitter because it broke)
Basic Level: 8 (if there wasn't a pumpkin on it, we would only see a sad little sugar cookie)
Taste: 1/5 (tastes like something a mom would buy their 3-year-old once Halloween is over because it was on sale)
Coffee Shop
Aesthetic: 4/5 (I like that it doesn't try so hard to look fall-esque)
Basic Level: 13 (bonus points for coming from Starbucks)
Taste: 5/5 (cookie tastes like the crust of a Portuguese custard tart and the frosting is thick white chocolate; highly recommend)
Supermarket Brand Pumpkin Spice Cupcake vs. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Scone
![chocolate, cupcake, cream, buttercream, caramel, butter](/images/spacer-1x1.gif)
Supermarket
Aesthetic: 5/5 (all cupcakes are cute AF but this one looks almost gourmet)
Basic Level: 10 (would be a nice accent in a fall picture, but it's missing that pumpkin spice goodness)
Taste: 5/5 (quality cream cheese icing is a gift from the dessert heavens)
Coffee Shop
Aesthetic: 4/5 (it was probably so satisfying to frost)
Basic Level: 12 (it has that yellow leaf-colored frosting to boost its rating, and it's from Starbucks)
Taste: 4/5 (the scone itself was perfectly spiced and almost cake-like, and who doesn't like cake?)
The Verdict
![pumpkin, chocolate](/images/spacer-1x1.gif)
At the end of the day, coffee shops have better pumpkin spice treats than the grocery store. Why? Generally, they're less revolting, more Insta-worthy and entice you to get a good ol' cup of joe to go with them.
Hopefully, this review will help with the most basic decision a pumpkin spice lover can make.