Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Culture

Are the Fall Starbucks Drinks Worth the Hype?

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TCNJ chapter.

It’s that time of year again! With summer finally coming to an end, Starbucks has once again brought back its variety of fall drinks. I took it upon myself to try a few of them and report the best and worst drinks of the fall season.

Iced Pumpkin Spiced Latte: This is usually my go-to for the beginning of fall, but this tends to be a major hit or miss. If made correctly, this is a fun and tasty coffee to get. However, if too much cinnamon is poured into the drink (or directly on top of the ice), you might get a sip of straight cinnamon. When made correctly, I would give this coffee an 8/10, but when it isn’t, I will rate this a 3/10. Also, I would recommend not getting whipped cream with this drink. 

Pumpkin Spiced Latte: This is the perfect drink for when it starts to get cold outside, the leaves are changing, and Halloween is right around the corner. The cinnamon and whipped cream go much better with this version. It’s sweet but not overpowering, and it’s an amazing drink to get you in the fall mood. It’s no wonder that people tend to go crazy for this drink every fall, myself included. If you love all things pumpkin flavored, I would recommend giving this coffee a try (if you’ve somehow gone this long without trying it); it’s a perfect 10/10!

Iced Chai with Pumpkin Cold Foam: This is considered a “secret menu item” that a friend told me about, and while I’m usually not very much of a tea person, I was pleasantly surprised with this drink. The foam was a great touch to this pretty delicious drink. Be warned if you don’t like delightful beverages, and, like the iced PSL, you might take a sip of cinnamon if the barista adds too much. Otherwise, I would say this is a solid drink choice that I would rate a 7/10. 

Apple Crisp Macchiato: This is Starbucks ’ newest fall drink. I was nervous about trying this, but it was decent, although I didn’t love it. This drink wasn’t mixed very well, as I took a sip and only tasted the caramelized apple syrup, but after mixing it myself, the drink began to taste much better. The brown sugar and apple flavor mixed nicely with the coffee, and it wasn’t that sweet. I got the drink hot, but there is an option to get this coffee iced. I would give this drink a 6.5/10, only because I’m not a massive fan of apple-flavored things, but if you like the taste of apple pie, then I would suggest getting this.

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: This is a trendy drink choice for this fall season, and it’s very easy to see why. The foam that comes with this coffee is a great choice, and there is a slight but not overpowering pumpkin flavor from the pumpkin cream on top, but rather a stronger taste of the vanilla syrup. If you prefer less milk and a stronger taste of coffee, I will get this drink. This is an easy 10/10. 

Overall, Starbucks has a pretty good lineup this year, judging from what I’ve tried. Head over to your local Starbucks for a great way to kick off your fall season!

Kaitlin is a freshman at TCNJ and a journalism major. She loves to write and go on coffee runs with her friends. Kaitlin is so excited to be a part of HerCampus!