The fall season is here and you know what that means, cold weather is falling down on us! Pun intended. I love celebrating the fall season because I love the weather and the holidays approaching. Because I’m a first year student, I don’t really know much about the eateries at Sacramento State. So, I decided to go on a journey for myself to try a few new drinks. During my adventure, I found the best fall drinks on campus! These fall drinks are an exceptional choice for students, who don’t want to leave campus to grab an inexpensive fall drink. Below, are my top three choices for fall drinks and I hope you like it as much as I do!
1. Ecogrounds’ Great Pumpkin Latte
Photo Courtesy of by Jill Wellington
My first choice is the Great Pumpkin Latte at Ecogrounds, which is located in The University Union. I will warn you because this place is popular on campus, there is usually a line. Although, when I went, I was helped within a few minutes and the staff was really friendly! Usually, I’m not a fan of pumpkin spice because the drink would be either too bitter or flavorless. Ecogrounds exceeded my expectations because I definitely tasted the pumpkin spice flavor, the nuttiness and the sweet smell of the spices. It is strong, but not overpowering so it was a well-balanced drink. Perfect to give that sweet taste of fall. Personally, I’m not a big fan of sweets so I was surprised this drink was surprisingly satisfying for my taste buds.
2. Java City’s Pumpkin Spice Latte
Photo Courtesy of Elliott Chau
First, I’d like to give a shout out to Java City for having fast and friendly service. For a small cup of coffee, it is less than $5. This works out great for us broke college students because we need to save money! If you’re in between classes with only 5-15 minutes left to spare, Java City will most likely be the better option compared to the long lines at Starbucks. If you’re missing out on breakfast, then you’re in luck because there is a variety of food items offered like bagels, muffins, parfaits, fruit, and more!
For my review of Java City’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, it is similar to the review above from Ecogrounds with some minor differences. I found this coffee does not have a strong taste like the Great Pumpkin Latte. Instead, the texture from the Pumpkin Spice Latte is more smooth and fluffy, which made me want to drink more of it. I will mention this drink doesn’t leave a bad aftertaste or any aftertaste, like the Great Pumpkin Latte did. I do think no aftertaste is way better than having a bad aftertaste.
3. Jamba Juice’s Pumpkin Smash Smoothie
Photo Courtesy of Freestocks.org
If you’re not big fan of coffee, there is another awesome alternative! I think coffee is a must-have, but there are times where I just don’t want caffeine. So, if you’re feeling festive for the fall theme, but want something else besides coffee, why not try the Pumpkin Smash smoothie at Jamba Juice? Though, it is on the pricier side for a small size, it is $6.00. On the bright side, this drink tastes just like pumpkin pie. It was the perfect drink to get me feeling festive for the rest of this fall season. The drink is simply sweet, smooth and creamy. It contains a blend of different ingredients from pumpkin, nonfat frozen yogurt, pumpkin spice and milk. There are some health benefits as it is packed with 12g of protein, 40% of calcium, and 50% of Vitamin A. It is on the sugary side, but it’s definitely delicious and worth a try. This is a limited edition drink, so try it out while it’s available!