If the leaves changing color isn’t enough of a sign that fall is here, then take Starbucks’ word for it. We gathered a three-person panel to put their seasonal lineup to the test. Below you’ll find their preferences for drinks, follow along with the person you resonate with the most, or read all the reviews to get a greater understanding of what people think!
The balanced bean: Maddy is all about balance. She loves a good flavored coffee, but nothing so sweet that it tastes like dessert. Cold brew and espresso drinks are her go-to items, bringing a rich coffee flavor that can’t be overpowered by a syrup. She is also a fan of chai when she wants something creamy or a refresher when she is craving something sweet.
The coffee hater: Arin does not like the bitter taste of coffee or even coffee in general. She tends to reach for drinks on the sweeter side, but as long as it is not bitter, she will drink it. Chais or refreshers are usually her go-to items at Starbucks.
Sweet Tooth: Sophia loves sweet drinks. Whether it’s a coffee or a refresher, the more sugar, the better. She doesn’t like bitter items such as espressos or cold brews. Her go-to is something sweet and milky with lots of flavor.
.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is the fall drink of all fall drinks. The blend of pumpkin and spice pairs wonderfully with Starbucks’ signature espresso, creating a drink that has been a favorite for years. The smooth, creamy texture and whipped cream on top will make you want to get cozy.
Maddy (3/5)
The whipped cream on top of the latte was perfectly swirled, with a generous dusting of pumpkin spice that made it look as inviting as it tasted. The coffee itself had a warm orange hue, perfect for anyone wanting their drink to match their fall outfit. However, the flavor didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The pumpkin spice syrup packed a little too much of a punch, making the drink overly sweet and slightly overwhelming. It’s definitely not a bad choice for fall, but in my eyes, it’s a bit overrated.
Arin (2.7/5)
The appearance of the pumpkin spice latte has a nice, subtle light orange shade. The latte had a sweet pumpkin scent. The drink itself seemed appealing with a good amount of whipped cream and spice sprinkled on top. The pumpkin spice latte had a perfect pumpkin flavor, which got ruined by the coffee. However, the whipped cream is smart, since it makes the drink sweeter, but you still get left with a bitter aftertaste from the coffee. Overall, I think this drink could have included more pumpkin flavor, so the coffee didn’t overpower the drink.
Sophia (4/5)
The appearance of the pumpkin spice latte is highly recognizable by many people as it is Starbucks’ most popular fall drink. The orange hue in the coffee, as well as the spices on top of the whipped cream, make the pumpkin spice latte a classic fall beverage. I think that the pumpkin-to-cinnamon ratio is well-balanced and makes a nice fall drink. I found that the pumpkin spice latte, although very sweet, was not too sugary. Additionally, the ice in the latte made the drink creamier and more refreshing. Because of the ice, it was easier to drink and much more enjoyable.
.
Starbucks’ Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso is a refreshing take on fall flavor, blending shots of espresso with the comforting taste of spiced apple and brown sugar. Each sip starts bold, then ends with a light, crisp sweetness, balanced with the creaminess of the oat milk. This drink feels like a cool breeze in autumn, energizing and crisp, balanced with sweetness.
Maddy (4.5/5)
This is easily my favorite fall drink, especially when topped with sweet cream cold foam. It has a very dark espresso color at the bottom, but the oat milk creates a beautiful light brown gradient. In my opinion, this drink has the perfect amount of fall flavor. You can distinctly taste the apple in the drink, without it being overpowering or too sweet. If you are a pumpkin spice hater, or even if you just like apple flavor more, this could be the drink for you. I also like the fact that it contains espresso, which has a richer taste than a drip coffee.
Arin (0.5/5)
To start, it smelled super bitter. However, the coffee itself was a pleasant shade of brown. But as soon as I took a sip of the drink, I got a mouthful of coffee rushing through my taste buds. The coffee was too bitter, and the hint of apple was too faint. If the apple taste was more prominent, maybe I would have liked this.
Sophia (3/5)
The coffee was very dark with little cream, milk or sweetener. It seemed to be very bitter with a hint of apple flavoring. There were also no toppings or spices. I thought that the drink wasn’t very sweet, although the coffee tasted good. It was a little bit bitter, but I can see lots of espresso lovers enjoying this. Additionally, the texture is nice and not too creamy. It is a refreshing coffee and a nice fall alternative for non-pumpkin lovers.
.
Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte is a classic fall drink. It is on the newer side, compared to the other drinks. It includes pumpkin syrup and is topped off with pumpkin chai and cinnamon.
Maddy (4/5)
The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai is newer to Starbucks’ menu, having been released in 2023, but in my eyes it’s the definition of a fall drink. The chai is a beautiful light beige color with a thick layer of pumpkin cream cold foam on top, which is a nice pastel orange color. Sprinkled on top of the chai is pumpkin spice. The best part is getting to lick the lid with the cold foam at the end because of the spices on top. The flavor of the pumpkin comes through the cold foam, and is very subtle and refreshing. The creaminess of the drink makes this good for a once-in-a-while treat instead of an everyday drink.
Arin (4.5/5)
I have gotten this drink two years in a row: It’s my personal favorite. It smells sweeter than it tastes, and it has a magnificent pumpkin aroma. The pumpkin cold foam has a beautifully amazing shade of light orange with a nice amount of spice sprinkled on top. To enjoy this drink, you should be in the mood for something creamy. The drink is pretty sweet compared to coffee, but the sweetness isn’t too overpowering to the point that it makes you feel sick. The drink itself has a smooth texture, and I would say the pumpkin increases the sweetness of the chai. The cold foam gives a nice airy, meringue-like texture, which contrasts the smoothness of chai.
Sophia (4/5)
I like the addition of cold foam and spice to the drink, but I wish there was more cold foam. I thought the drink was very sweet, but I could still taste the cinnamon and pumpkin, which was nice. The drink was very creamy, and the cold foam, as well as spices on top, made the drink taste much better.
.
The apple croissant is made with a flaky croissant dough and apple filling added in the center. It was introduced as a fall menu item, but stayed permanent in 2024 due to the high demand.
Maddy (3.5/5)
The apple croissant looked like it had the texture of a typical croissant, but was shaped almost like a muffin cup. In the center of the top, there were soft and gooey apples, which became softer when warmed. The smell reminded me of apple pie. When I bit in, the texture was very flaky, and tasted very buttery, which mixed well with the spices and the flavor of the apple.
Arin (3.5/5)
The croissant smelled very buttery and savory. It seemed appealing, especially the apple filling. The texture was very flaky, and the apple filling inside was a nice touch. The apple filling was sweet, contrasting with the buttery croissant.
Sophia (3.5/5)
The croissant looked very unique with its muffin-like shape. I thought that the apple filling in the middle looked very appetizing and the croissant very buttery. Additionally, the apple filling was the perfect amount of sweetness. I also enjoyed the cinnamon flavor.
.
The pumpkin cream cheese muffin is a moist, pumpkin-flavored muffin topped with pumpkin seeds and cream cheese. This is a new item first introduced in this year’s fall menu.
Maddy (3.5/5)
The muffin was orange, and you could tell it was pumpkin just by looking at the seeds covering the outside. It had a visual appeal because of the cream cheese frosting in the middle, and looked full and delicious. I felt the muffin needed more cream cheese filling, but maybe I was expecting more of a dessert than it was meant to be. This would make a yummy seasonal breakfast.
Arin (3.8/5)
The muffin looked very put together with the seeds on the side and the cream cheese filling in the middle. You could smell the pumpkin in the muffin, but the muffin was not too sweet. There was a nice, fluffy texture, and it didn’t break apart too much. The seeds on the side gave the muffin a hint of saltiness, but there was a good amount of pumpkin taste. In my opinion, the muffin would have been better without the seeds.
Sophia (3/5)
The muffin reminded me of fall and was very unique with the seeds and cream cheese on top. I thought it smelled very good with the pumpkin and cinnamon aroma. The pumpkin muffin itself tasted very good. I also liked the seeds within the dessert; it made it more than just a basic muffin. I don’t personally like cream cheese, so I thought that the muffin didn’t need it.
.
The raccoon cakepop is a vanilla cakepop with white chocolate coating. Its raccoon shape and design are what make it so unique and perfect for fall.
Maddy (2.5/5)
The raccoon shape of this cake pop reminded me of the woods and woodland creatures. It was very cute and looked appealing overall. The inside was very moist, but I wished the raccoon was pumpkin or apple flavored instead of vanilla flavored; something I could get any other day of the year. It was good, but I wanted something with more of a cozy autumn feel.
Arin (3/5)
The aroma of the cakepop smelled sweet, and the raccoon was cute. The texture was soft, and the cake pop itself was pretty sweet. It tasted like vanilla, so there was nothing really special about it.
Sophia (4/5)
The cakepop had a nice design and was very detailed. It looked very sweet and was a nice fall-themed alternative to the regular cake pops. It was very soft and I liked the white chocolate on the outside. I liked the sweetness; it tasted very similar to the birthday cake pop.
..
We really enjoyed the offerings in Starbucks’ fall menu, as there is something to enjoy for everyone! In the end, our highest-rated items were the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, which received a score of 12.5/15, and the apple croissant, which got a 10.5/15. We’re already looking forward to seeing what seasonal items Starbucks has up next!
