It’s officially Pumpkin Spice Season, whether you like it or not. Businesses are bringing out the limited edition flavor because they know it attracts millions, which means money in their pockets. I have to say that I’m part of that statistic and have become quite a connoisseur of pumpkin spice. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to rank my favorite pumpkin spice beverages and where to find them.
1. Pumpkin Spice Cappucino (Kwik Trip)
Are you surprised that I didn’t have Starbucks or Caribou at the top of the list? Well, you shouldn’t be. This is the best pumpkin spice flavored coffee that I’ve ever had. It doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg either. It has more of a sweet taste that makes you actually want to keep drinking it. It’s probably a good thing that they don’t allow free refills because I would definitely overdo it. So, if you’re in the market to step outside of the usual coffee hotspots, I recommend stopping at Kwik Trip if you can.
2. Pumpkin Spice Shake (Culver’s)
This is going to sound really odd, but I can taste this picture. It’s one of my favorite things from Culver’s and I wish they had it all year long. This has been my go-to since I was a little kid – before “Pumpkin Spice Season” was even trendy. Look at me, being such a little hipster. With the added cinnamon on top, it makes it taste so good and rich. Definitely worth a try!
3. Pumpkin Spice Lattes (Starbucks)
Not going to lie, these are pretty good as well. I didn’t put them further up on the list because I haven’t had them that much due to the price and because I don’t have a Starbucks near me. However, they’re not too bad. They taste a lot more like coffee, unlike the Kwik Trip ones. I’m not bothered by it, but I was a little disappointed because I had been accustomed to the sweet pumpkin explosion in my mouth with the Kwik Trip cappucinos. But look at that photo – it just looks appetizing.
4. Draft Pumpkin Pie Latte (Caribou Coffee)
This was something that I just recently tried this year. It’s a new thing – at least, to me it is because I don’t go to Caribou that often. It’s a creamier version of a latte. In my opinion, it’s good the first few sips – no taste of coffee or anything. However, it’s very rich so it gets really overwhelming really fast. That might just be the pumpkin pie flavoring, but I don’t get anything above than a small and I definitely don’t see myself becoming a frequent buyer of this either. But it’s not bad every so often.
5. Pumpkin Cold Brew (Starbucks)
This is something I’ve only had a few sips of, but it’s not bad either. It’s definitely something different for Starbucks and allows them to put it into places like Walmart and gas stations so you can get it elsewhere; which I appreciate. It’s something different than the regular old cold brews that are already released, which is nice. It has a good flavor, but I wouldn’t drink it every day.
I will admit that I’m a basic white girl when it comes to this time of year. Pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors – pie, coffee, ice cream, etc. I love trying pumpkin spice flavored drinks from other places if it sounds appetizing. I encourage those who are fans of it like myself to branch out and try new places, and see what you like better. Who knows, your favorite could end up being a $1 cup from a gas station!