As the Fall season approaches and school gets back in full swing, students roam grocery stores and cafes to find the best caffeinated drink to suit their fall cravings. Here are a few in store this autumn season, featuring a mix of lattes filled with pumpkin spice delight.
Nugget Market Cafe – ⅕
A simple trip to get some lunch essentials led me to the cafe in Nugget Market. I was surprised by their assortment of fall drinks and couldn’t wait to try what this local grocery market had in store. Although it was refreshing and the sweetness was not overpowering, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of effort put into this pumpkin spice latte. First off, it did not smell like pumpkin or spice whatsoever; more like any regular latte. Similarly, the taste lacked anything special and was more like milk with some cinnamon added to the bottom, defeating the purpose of what a pumpkin spice latte should be. In addition to these negatives, there was no effort put into the presentation, making the price seem unreasonable, a whopping $5.95 for a small. Therefore, I think I would be better off ordering any other latte.
Peete’s – ⅗
Once I could smell the cinnamon topping and pumpkin flavoring, I knew this drink had captured the feeling of fall. The spice did not overpower it and complimented the latte nicely. Cinnamon was added to the top to enhance the presentation, giving customers a feel for what they will soon indulge in. However, it was hard to ignore the heavy amount of syrup and sugar this latte contained once I took my first sip. I noticed that the sense of pumpkin I could taste was purely because of the amount of syrup. I ordered a small, which ended up being $5.45 and felt a bit too expensive considering the small size of the cup. Peete’s coffee was not a top contender due to its excessive amount of sugar, but it successfully captured the essence of a pumpkin spice latte.
Starbucks – ⅘
Being one of America’s most popular coffee shops, Starbucks promptly released its annual addition of fall delicacies on Aug. 22nd. Starbucks is known for having drinks that include an extra pump of flavor and their pumpkin spice latte is a perfect example of this theme. The drink came with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, adding spice and a fun surprise to this fall drink. However, I would have preferred a stronger pumpkin flavor given the drink’s name, considering the main aspect that draws the customers’ attention to the product is the “pumpkin” spice. The drink costs $6.75 for a grande, which is fairly reasonable since that is equivalent to a medium. Overall, Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte was worth buying for the presentation and cozy pumpkin spice flavor, perfect for the fall season right around the corner.
