Pumpkin Spice Latte: The Ultimate Cultural Phenomenon For Fall

It’s already October, which means the leaves have fallen and you’re likely bombarded with midterms (trust me, I’ve been there). You’ve probably also seen your friends, other students on campus, and even your professors carrying a pumpkin spice latte in hand (or PSL for short). Companies such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ have capitalized off of this iconic drink for decades, where customers often occupy mile-long lines outside their nearest establishment. But what makes this drink so special in the first place?

What even is a pumpkin spice latte?

From the name alone, a pumpkin spice latte just sounds like a regular latte (or a coffee drink that usually contains one part espresso and three parts milk, if you’re a coffee connoisseur) with pumpkin flavoring and a possible dollop of whipped cream. While most drinks contain pumpkin puree, real pumpkin doesn’t appear in pumpkin spice. That’s right, the pumpkin spice that practically defines this fall drink actually consists of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and mace. Most pumpkin spice lattes will include espresso, a choice of milk (ranging whole milk or nondairy milk), pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice (without the pumpkin!), and some kind of sweetener.

Different coffee shops will sell their own take on the pumpkin spice latte, but this drink has a much richer history than you may imagine. 

The Evolution of Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Before the pumpkin spice latte became an Instagrammable moment for all coffee fanatics out there, “pumpkin” spice itself originated among a collection of Indonesian islands called the Maluku Islands (aka Moluccas). Maluku Islands became known as the “spice islands” because these five spices in pumpkin spice came from this island and played a crucial role in the spice trade. The spice route passed through Yemen and Mocha (the birthplace of commercially-grown coffee) while also introducing Europeans to coffee. In fact, ancient coffee drinkers often combined coffee with an assortment of spices.

These origins helped Starbucks popularize the pumpkin spice latte in 2003. Looking for a creative drink that stood out from a standard coffee, employees on the Starbucks research and development team started pouring espresso on pumpkin pies to figure out if this crazy combination would work for a drink. Starbucks’s director of espresso Peter Dukes is often credited with inventing this drink.

“Nobody knew it was gonna become what it has become for sure,” Dukes told People Magazine in 2025.

On Oct. 10, 2003, the pumpkin spice latte was tested at 100 Starbucks locations in Vancouver, B.C. and Washington, D.C. before spreading across other cities in Canada and the U.S. In 2014, the drink finally catapulted to widespread recognition. It even has its own accounts on Twitter and Instagram!

Of course, Starbucks isn’t the only coffee chain selling pumpkin spice lattes. Dunkin’ launched their own pumpkin spice latte in 2020, complete with coordinating pumpkin donuts and adoring fans. If you’re taking a stroll through the Orange Circle, Urth Cafe offers a seasonal Pumpkin Chai Latte (met with unanimous rave reviews!) while Blk Dot Coffee sells hot and iced versions of the drink.

So… is the pumpkin spice latte worth the hype?

Whether the pumpkin spice latte lives up to the hype depends entirely on personal taste. While the pumpkin spice latte has practically become synonymous with fall, some call the drink “overrated” and specifically dislike its sweetness. This year, banana bread lattes and protein coffee drinks have also become especially popular among coffee fanatics. These new drinks show coffee shops’ attempts to create unique concoctions for customers. 

Whether you love all things pumpkin spice, strongly prefer other drinks instead, or have no strong opinions on the drink, the pumpkin spice latte is still here to stay.