Pumpkin Spice Latte: Overrated or Not?

Pumpkin Spice Latte Hot and Iced: Available at Starbucks
Via: Starbucks

Pumpkin Spice Latte Hot and Iced: Available at Starbucks Via: Starbucks

With fall now in full force, the reintroduction of the famous pumpkin spice latte has brought a frenzy amongst coffee drinkers as one of the most popular seasonal drinks to ever come about in the coffee world. Many people associate this drink with thoughts of a cozy, warm fall evening. In contrast, others cannot stand the idea of this sugary cinnamon-spiced drink becoming prevalent once again. This beverage first came about because the Starbucks team, working on developing new recipes for drinks, was looking for fall beverages to add to the menu. They brought forth the idea of a pumpkin-inspired drink and began to test which types of coffee worked best with pumpkin pie. Finally, in 2003, they sent out the drink and received exciting feedback from customers nationwide. The most popular places to get this drink are typically Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. While some of the ingredients differ depending on where it is made, the overall idea of the drink is the same. It is all about bringing out the fall aesthetic to please customers. At Starbucks, the pumpkin spice latte contains milk, pumpkin spice sauce, brewed espresso, whipped cream, pumpkin spice topping, nutmeg, and cloves. Contrastingly, at Dunkin’ Donuts, the drink contains a smooth blend of pumpkin flavor swirl and vanilla flavor topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar. The idea behind the addition of the vanilla is that it brings out sweetness, which helps enhance the pumpkin enjoyment.
It’s evident that the continuous production of this drink is a result of the fanbase it has developed over the years. In fact, from August 2017 to August 2018, this one drink brought in $488.7 million at Starbucks, and over 350 million pumpkin spice lattes have been sold since 2003 when it first came to the stores.
Ansley Applestone (12) says it is “definitely worth the hype. Lots of warm flavors to make you feel exactly like the word fall. It has an excellent spice to milk to espresso ratio, making it a wappalicious out of 10.” Meanwhile, Sanjitha Joseph (12) compared the Starbucks drink versus the Dunkin’ Donuts version and said, “I like the Dunkin’ [version] more; the power of the pumpkin spice and vanilla fits my tastes more.” She also claims that “the PSL is a little bit overhyped like the taste isn’t really as amazing as they claim it to be, but it’s not bad.” On the other hand, Aaron Ward (12) claims that the drink “does not live up to the “hype,” but it is a classic.” Zoe Shepard (12) also follows the same mindset saying that “they are a bit overrated,” and she “doesn’t think it always lives up to the hype, but it is a classic.” Makayla Mitchler (12), who is not a big caffeine fan, says that “the drink is overrated because people make such a big deal out of the drink, but it honestly isn’t THAT good.” It is evident that a majority of the people accept the drink, but it is not their ultimate go-to.
It seems that around the Wheeler community, there are mixed reviews about the pumpkin spice latte. Some students have definite opinions about the drink, while others have other beverage options when going to a coffee shop. However, most of the community agrees that this is a classic fall drink, and it has continued to be for an extended period of time. Regardless of whether or not students at Wheeler have an affinity for the drink, it is clear that the coffee-addicted customers will continue to enjoy the pumpkin spice latte for years to come. The warmth it brings, along with the feeling of the arrival of fall, is something many people look forward to and hope it will never change.

Pumpkin Spice Latte at Dunkin’ Donuts
Via: Dunkin’ Donuts