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Life

What Is Going On With Starbucks Pumpkin Drinks

Hanna Brown
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KU chapter.

If there are two things basic white girls love (which I am) it is coffee and fall. So, when you combine the two, it makes the perfect combination. Who else is the reigning queen of fall drinks than Ms. Starbucks themselves?

In Fall 2023, Starbucks featured four signature fall drinks: the iced apple crisp oat milk shaken espresso, the iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte, the pumpkin cream cold brew and the pumpkin spice latte. All sound very interesting and definitely capture the aesthetic of fall. I loved the addition of the iced apple crisp oat milk shaken espresso and the iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte to the menu. I have yet to try the new drinks, but applaud the additions of a non-coffee alternative and an option for those who dislike pumpkin. However, I was disappointed by the returning favorites in the lineup.

starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte
Starbucks

I need to speak my peace. I have not been a fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice latte for a few years. I’m unsure of what changed, but it’s been a letdown recently. It might be the syrup they use, but it tastes like a candle, is very one-dimensional, and is way too sweet for my liking. I’ve even tried it both hot and iced, and neither is good. When compared to the pumpkin spice latte at Dunkin’, it falls short. Dunkin’ pumpkin spice latte balances pumpkin, vanilla and a mix of fall spices that create a cohesive drink.

orange pumpkin on field
Photo by Marius Ciocirlan from Unsplash

Considering my dilemma with the pumpkin spice latte, I was super excited to try the pumpkin cream cold brew this year. Even though it’s returning, I never got around to it last season. My hopes were high with this drink, I felt like it was a great canvas for the perfect pumpkin drink. Having cold brew as the base would help cut some of the excess sweetness and remove the heavy feeling you can get with lattes while maintaining the taste of fall. I was disappointed after getting my hands on the drink. It was still way too sweet but admittedly better than her sister. The pumpkin flavor showed through well and didn’t overwhelm the palette, but it still wasn’t giving. Overall, I was disappointed after hearing such high praise for the drink.

So this is my call out to Starbucks to DO BETTER. I cannot keep spending $6 to $8 for subpar drinks, especially when your competitors offer better alternatives for a better price.

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Photo by Kristin Hardwick from StockSnap
Hanna Brown is the writing director at the Her Campus at KU (University of Kansas) chapter. She oversees the writing team and acts as the publisher, ensuring all articles meet the Her Campus standards of quality and reverence. In addition to her duties as the publisher, Hanna leads weekly writer meetings and builds a safe environment where writers feel empowered to be creative. Beyond Her Campus, Hanna is the marketing/communication assistant for the Engineering Career Center at KU. Last summer, Hanna interned for Burns & McDonnell as a marketing writer/editor. There, she gained experience writing technical blogs centered around engineering, copy for digital marketing and new releases. She also interned for Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline in corporate communications. A senior at KU, Hanna is pursuing a BSJ in digital marketing communications, advertising and public relations with a minor in history. In her free time, Hanna loves to visit local coffee shops and explore her college town. She is obsessed with the Sims 4 and wants to start a podcast. Her motivation in life is to do everything in love. After college, Hanna hopes to move to the city and start a career in public relations, branding, digital marketing or copy/content writing.