How good is the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks?
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Review The pumpkin puree (yes, real pumpkin! It hits that just-right balance of sweet and spice with a creamy, almost silky consistency. It’s pretty much pumpkin pie in a cup. There’s no pumpkin in pumpkin spice. It’s just the spice mixture that goes in pumpkin pie. This used to be true. Years and years ago Starbucks got flack for not having actual pumpkin in their seasonal Pumpkin Spice latte. They changed the recipe to include pumpkin puree.One of the main ingredients in the classic pumpkin spice latte is sugar, which makes it a delicious, but not particularly blood sugar-friendly coffee option.Many of the food and drink items that contain pumpkin spice also tend to have added sugar and are high in calories (we’re looking at you, pumpkin pie jelly beans and pumpkin spice sandwich cookies). For example, a large pumpkin spice latte comes in around 400 calories and has more than 60 grams of sugar. Yikes!High calorie content: the reviewed pumpkin spice lattes contain up to 490 calories per serving, primarily from saturated fats and added sugars. This exceeds the recommended daily discretionary calorie intake of 200–250 kcal for most americans, making it challenging to maintain a balanced diet.
Why is the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte so popular?
Brand Loyalty: Many customers have a strong affinity for the Starbucks brand, which can influence their enjoyment of its products, including the PSL. Overall, the combination of flavor, seasonal marketing, and cultural significance contributes to the enduring popularity of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is an economic force. Nostalgia, limited runs, and the pull of being part of the PSL moment all keep the pumpkin premium going. Each time the Starbucks fall menu 2025 comes out, it shows that pumpkin spice still wins, even when the price is higher.The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Starbucks’ most popular seasonal beverage, with hundreds of millions sold since the espresso drink’s 2003 launch. It’s also produced a host of imitations.While pumpkin spice is beloved for its association with fall, the flavor itself rarely contains actual pumpkin. It’s usually just a blend of spices that reminds us of pumpkin pie. So beware: Some products get their cozy flavor with potentially harmful food chemicals.The spices used in the pumpkin spice latte have strong associations with holiday seasons, and likely some comforting memories, she said. So when you smell those spices, it will immediately activate emotive memories of joy, warmth and happiness.Pumpkin spice plays on what’s known in psychology as reactance theory, which refers to the idea that people will want something more if they are told they cannot have it,” according to Harris. The seasonality of it is really intentional.
Which pumpkin spice latte is the best?
Starbucks Of course, Starbucks ranks high! They are the OG of the PSL and they use real pumpkin to make their famous drink. This one was so good—perfect spices, perfect pumpkin flavor, strong coffee flavor and it was creamy. What more can you ask for? So yes: Starbucks’ current Pumpkin Spice Latte does, in fact, contain real pumpkin. The recipe combines a Pumpkin Pie Sauce that features pumpkin puree, espresso, and steamed milk, and is finished with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. Other chains’ recipes may vary.PSL is made with real pumpkin, Starbucks® Signature Espresso, steamed milk, cinnamon and nutmeg, and is topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices (available hot, iced or blended).Starbucks’ PSL tapped into the huge market for pumpkin products. Its original version fell into the UPF definition and didn’t even contain pumpkin. Today, the PSL does include pumpkin as an ingredient. But it’s also made with some potentially harmful ingredients, including carrageenan, natural flavors and excess sugar.Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Review The pumpkin puree (yes, real pumpkin! It hits that just-right balance of sweet and spice with a creamy, almost silky consistency. It’s pretty much pumpkin pie in a cup.
What is the famous drink of Starbucks in October?
Starbucks Reserve Pumpkin Spice Latte The iconic taste of fall is back—with a Reserve twist. Starbucks Reserve Espresso blends seamlessly with velvety steamed milk and a cozy mix of pumpkin, cinnamon and clove. The beverage is finished with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin-pie spices. For many of us, pumpkin spice evokes feelings of nostalgia. It reminds us of Thanksgiving, sitting around the table, eating Grandma’s pumpkin pie, surrounded by loved ones. The warmth and comfort of these memories make us yearn for all things pumpkin spice as a way to recreate those cherished moments.What Is in Pumpkin Spice? Pumpkin spice, also known as pumpkin pie spice, is a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Some pumpkin spice mixes might leave out a spice or two, but most consist of at least two or three of the spices listed above.The spices used in the pumpkin spice latte have strong associations with holiday seasons, and likely some comforting memories, she said. So when you smell those spices, it will immediately activate emotive memories of joy, warmth and happiness.Pumpkin spice chemicals This class of chemicals includes terpenes and terpenoids like limonene, cinnamal and vanillin, among others. Others may be found as contaminants. Many foods and consumer products are flavored or scented with pumpkin spice.
Are Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes sweet?
The PSL is no different. Like the first two beverages, Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte is sweet but not overly so, and also like Krispy Kreme’s offering, there is a definite identifiable pumpkin spice flavor. However, what really sets Starbucks’ PSL apart is that distinctive earthy note of the espresso. We hate to burst your bubble, PSL lovers, but the answer to this question is: No, the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte is not “healthy. A grande Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte made with 2% steamed milk foam has 390 calories, 14 grams of fat, 52 carbs, 14 grams of protein and 50 grams of sugar.How much sugar is in a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. All told, the grande PSL has 50 grams of sugar. Some of that sugar occurs naturally in the latte’s milk. But we estimate that roughly 7½ teaspoons (32 grams) are added sugar, from the PSL’s sweet pumpkin sauce and whipped cream.A grande pumpkin spice latte could cost $5. Starbucks location. Other Starbucks offerings this season include the pumpkin cream cold brew, iced pumpkin cream chai, pecan crunch oatmilk latte, the new pecan oatmilk cortado and pecan cold foam.In other words, a classic PSL packs in a meal’s worth of calories and carbs, with more than two days’ worth of added sugar! To put that in perspective, even a Starbucks Cheese Danish is lower in everything, including sugar, with 28 fewer grams than the Pumpkin Spice Latte.What makes Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte so sweet is the syrup that goes into it. And trust us – a lot goes into it! A hot venti PSL gets five pumps of syrup, which adds a whopping 165 calories to the drink on its own, even before milk and whipped cream are added.
What’s the best Starbucks fall drink?
Despite a lifelong loyalty to the Pumpkin Spice Latte, I’m officially declaring it the best seasonal bevvy on menus. It has notes of pecan, indulgent brown butter, and holiday baking spices, and allows the espresso to really shine. While the original recipe didn’t include real pumpkin, Starbucks added pumpkin puree in 2015.Starbucks’ PSL tapped into the huge market for pumpkin products. Its original version fell into the UPF definition and didn’t even contain pumpkin. Today, the PSL does include pumpkin as an ingredient. But it’s also made with some potentially harmful ingredients, including carrageenan, natural flavors and excess sugar.The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Starbucks’ most popular seasonal beverage, with hundreds of millions sold since the espresso drink’s 2003 launch.Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Review The pumpkin puree (yes, real pumpkin! It hits that just-right balance of sweet and spice with a creamy, almost silky consistency. It’s pretty much pumpkin pie in a cup.You can either get a pumpkin spice latte decaf , or you can get a pumpkin spice steamer – a steamer will have no coffee in it whatsoever.
Is pumpkin spice better at Starbucks or Dunkin’?
Pumpkin Spice Latte: If you’re looking for a sugary, less coffee-tasting drink with hints of pumpkin pie and vanilla, then Dunkin is the choice for you. However, if you enjoy the richer, more authentic pumpkin spice flavor accompanied by a strong espresso taste, then Starbucks is the winner. So yes: Starbucks’ current Pumpkin Spice Latte does, in fact, contain real pumpkin. The recipe combines a Pumpkin Pie Sauce that features pumpkin puree, espresso, and steamed milk, and is finished with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. Other chains’ recipes may vary.What does a Pumpkin Spice Latte taste like? Funnily enough, it doesn’t really taste like pumpkin. Instead, your palate will spot notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove – spices ‘inspired by the pumpkin season’.Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Review The pumpkin puree (yes, real pumpkin! It hits that just-right balance of sweet and spice with a creamy, almost silky consistency. It’s pretty much pumpkin pie in a cup.But only about half of the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s 390 calories come from the milk and espresso you’d get in a regular latte (190 calories). The rest comes from pumpkin spice sauce—with more sugar and condensed milk than actual pumpkin purée—and whipped cream.