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Two beautifully made hot lattes
Two beautifully made hot lattes
Original photo by Jenna Martello
Cal Poly | Life

Autumn leaves are bringing back fall drinks: a guide for where to find seasonal specialties

Isabella Cefalu Student Contributor, Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal Poly chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

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Fall season in San Luis Obispo means enduring cold mornings and overly warm afternoons. Luckily, the coffee shops in downtown SLO are introducing seasonal fall drinks, offering iced and hot versions of these new beverages to cater toward whatever weather you are trying to survive.

Starbucks Coffee

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a classic yet perfect choice for those who signed up for 8 a.m. classes and are bracing lower temperatures. What makes this drink so tasty is that it is topped off with whipped cream and sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice.

For those wanting something on the colder side, the Iced Pecan Crunch Latte delivers just that. It takes the edge off the irritability you feel coming out of a long lecture with a refreshing feel after your first sip.

Kaffein Coffee

A local favorite, Kaffein, presents three different Fall Specials this season: Apple Pie Matcha, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and a Caramel Maple Latte. This off-campus option has a variety of fall flavors. If you’re a matcha lover, the apple pie version is right up your alley.

Buen Dia Coffee

Loved by many, and my personal favorite coffee shop downtown, Buen Dia dedicates half their menu to fall drinks for this special season. Butter Me Up consists of a delicious brown butter hazelnut latte that can be prepared iced or hot. My first thought when hearing that description was “Sign me up!”

Other fall menu items include:

Matchachata, an horchata matcha latte made sweet or spiced.

Buen Dia, a pumpkin housemade cold foam.

Basic Witch, a pumpkin chai latte that boasts in popularity.

Old SLO BBQ

Okay so maybe you’re not the caffeine type, but you still want a drink that screams fall. This barbecue spot is serving a pumpkin pie milkshake for a limited time! The best part: you can pair it with a meal as opposed to the limitation of a pastry selection from coffee places. 

Check out these hot spots with a friend to find out which seasonal drink will become your staple throughout this fall season.

Isabella Cefalu

Cal Poly '28

Isabella is a third year student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo majoring in Journalism.

She started at Santa Barbara City College where she received an associate’s in Journalism and Communication Studies. During her time at SBCC she became a staff writer for The Channels and founded the Women In Journalism club.

Isabella chose Her Campus due to an interest in curating content that takes on a creative and fun approach. She cites that being part of a community that takes joy in doing the same encouraged her to become an active member.

She currently works on the editorial team for Her Campus and is a news reporter for Mustang News. She plans on utilizing her skills to pursue a career in an investigative-related journalism role while working in commercial and residential real estate. During her free time, she enjoys being at the beach, watching reality tv shows, and spending time with friends.