Are you awaiting the Pumpkin Spice Latte? This year’s is better than ever. Something new has been added to the recipe – that’s actual pumpkin. I have a feeling this will be a banner year for Pumpkin Spice everything at Starbucks.
September 4, 2015 through September 7th, MyStarbucksRewards members get early access. All you have to do is be a part of MyStarbucksRewards – any level is fine. (Welcome, Green, Gold). I always suggest – regardless of which level you’re at – pay and track your rewards and promotions via the smart phone apps. (Android and iPhone apps).
I’ve had a couple of Pumpkin Spice Lattes already. Here in Seattle, the weather has quickly turned fall like. We’ve got some rain and wind, and it feels like it’s time to wear long sleeves, boots, and drink Pumpkins Spice Lattes. This year’s Pumpkin Spice tastes better than ever before. It has a cleaner, better taste, and a much more natural orange color.
I want to remind you that can do more with the Pumpkin Spice syrup than just make a latte:
You can have a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino (sorry, no topping on this photo):
The Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino is fabulous! It’s a perfect sweet, cold fall beverage. I tried the creme based version of the Frappuccino but you could order it as a coffee-based Frappuccino beverage.
You can add the Pumpkin Spice syrup to other drinks. A few partners on Facebook mentioned to me that it’s fabulous in the Cold Brew Coffee:
If you decide to add Pumpkin Spice syrup to a drink that doesn’t normally have it, you’ll be charged an upcharge – here in Seattle, that would be a 60 charge to add Pumpkin Spice to a drink such as the Cold Brew Coffee. It’s possible that there could be some variation in the price of the Pumpkin Spice. (Licensed stores occasionally have their own pricing and there can be some regional variation).
Starbucks first launched the Pumpkin Spice Latte in the fall of 2003. It’s been a popular seasonal drink ever since, usually winding down in December each year.
Cheers! Enjoy Pumpkin Spice … Soon! The official launch date of Pumpkin Spice is September 8th.
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Melody… Might I suggest adding Pumpkin Spice to the Oprah Chia. It is delicious either hot or iced.
@Lisa – I will have to try that! That’s a great suggestion!
I feel like the PSL has gotten much too sweet over the years, so much so that I’ve had to decrease the amount of syrup in my latte dramatically. It really took away from my enjoyment of this yearly treat. I read that the new version has the pumpkin but also vanilla syrup. This seems like sugar overload!
@Barbara – That’s a great comment. I know what you mean by it being too sweet. A lot of the drinks with a thicker sauce – like even just a mocha – are very sweet to me. Somehow I thought this year’s PSL is a little bit less sweet than in past years. I’ll be interested to see how others weigh in on this!
I have had one so far, I thought it was a good balance of sweet. It also tasted pretty much like the PSL we all know, which was good w/ the switch! Can’t wait!
Iced Pumpkin Chai is a huge favorite for all of the partners at my store. Make it with the vanilla soy milk for an even better flavor!
Wow, is it that time of year already?! I’m happy to hear that this year’s PSL has actual pumpkin as an ingredient. Something was off with last year’s batch in my opinion…a little too sweet, not enough pumpkin flavor, and a little too artificial in taste. Surprisingly, I only had one, maybe two last season (that’s how dissatisfied I was with it), but reading your review gives me hope that I’ll be back on the PSL bandwagon again. 🙂
I love this topic. I add raspberry to mine. I’m a little obsessed with Starbucks Raspberry. I can’t wait to try it.;)
Thanks for all you do Melody!!
I’m intrigued by the cleaning up and adding real pumpkin. I’ve never been a fan of the flavor but have always appreciated that it’s following is strong. I look forward to tasting it this year!
We have had them available at my 2 local Starbucks for over a week now- I thought I just must have missed an early release announcement…
With all the coffee I’ve purchased from Starbucks I’ve never had a PSL…I might try one this season! 🙂
Anxious to try the pumpkin spice this year. We like putting it in a mocha latte.
I’m so excited to try this. Pumpkin spice is my all-time favorite thing at Starbucks. Now that they no longet server Valencia Orange Refreshers. Which I’m still upset about. But that’s another topic. It will be interesting to try being made with real pumpkin. I hope the flavore hasn’t changed a whole lot though. From my experience with the bux change is not always pleasant with customers.
Does anyone know if they are bringing back Cherry drinks? I was waiting for my drink a few days ago and the baristas were sampling something amongst themselves. I heard comments of “cherry and chocolate” and “like black forrest”, so I was wondering if the Dark Cherry mocha that was around at Christmas 5-6 years ago is returning. I also saw a sign for a cherry streusel bar, and since Starbucks often matches their pastry flavours to their drinks…
I’ve already had a couple this year (barista perk) and so far I’m pleasantly surprised with its taste. I agree that something was just off with last year’s sauce and it wasn’t a great as in previous years.
This time around, the sauce isn’t as thick as in the past and is easier to stir in the cup. Makes for a much more well-rounded cup than usual. I still think it needs a bit more of a kick to it so I might consider asking for one additional pump of pumpkin for those who need a bit more flavor.
Also, be on the lookout for a returning favorite in the pastry case on Friday too!! (wink wink)
It’s so good! Got to try it early. 🙂
I love adding pumpkin spice to cold brew! Amazing!
Diele, thanks for the confirmation that pumpkin goes well with Cold Brew! 🙂 Cold Brew has become my go-to drink this summer, and since it’s still hot as all get-out here, I wasn’t really looking forward to a hot PSL…..but I’m definitely looking forward to some pumpkin-spiced cold brew! 🙂
Excellent news in regard to the PSL now featuring actual pumpkin; I’ll definitely have to try one! Do you know if the early access works in Canada as well?
I’m sitting here in store, sipping my first pumpkin-flavored cold brew of the year, and I love it!! The partners at my store said they THINK they’re going to put the OSL officially on their menu boards today….said they’ve had the syrup for weeks, but I was the first to ask this year! 🙂
I really like the flavor this year — it melds wonderfully with the notes of the cold brew!
I’ve already had my Pumpkin Spice chai!!! So yummy!!!
@Alexa – I’ve had that too! I definitely need to write an article of like ‘9 amazing things you can do with Pumpkin Spice’ and that would be very high on the list.
So my daughter and I are both long time MSR customers. We went on Sunday to a Starbucks in a nearby town and got our PS drinks with no problem. Today we went to the store 5 minutes away that knows us very well. Had a pleasant brief conversation with the barista taking orders. The store was not busy, I was first to order and asked for an iced PSL. I was asked if I knew the special code that went out in emails. I said I had seen it and knew the password but she actually said I had to have the code too, whatever that was. I reminded her about the early access for MSR members and she said we had to have the code too. This went on for a minute or so and she finally gave in and put my order through. I wasn’t arguing with her but just explaining the code wasn’t needed for MSR members. They called my name for my drink at hand off and it was a hot PSL, not iced. No way was I going back to have it corrected. I love the new PS whether it’s hot or iced but now feel uneasy about the whole thing. My daughter (age 21) decided to order something other than PS because she felt bad about the situation. I don’t think these early access or code things ever go well. Starbucks needs to just set a date for release and stop the anxiety all around.
@BeckyE – Or, alternatively, Starbucks could reinforce with their partners that the right answer is usually “yes.” It IS the right answer to like 90% of these kinds of situations.
Earlier this year, I had a face to face conversation with a member of media relations at the SSC about this. I essentially explained that in some number of stores, the Starbucks experience has almost nothing to do with the customer experience. Baristas see it as their job to be “Barista sheriffs” to find way to say “no” to customers to things that they interpret as “Starbucks law.” Just like real police officers, they don’t always get it right.
That face to face conversation I had with media relations didn’t go well. I pretty much got a face of disbelief, like as if I’m making this up. Your comment above: perfect example of what I mean.
The “Barista sheriff” is NOT good for the Starbucks Experience.I won’t say it’s the majority of stores. But it’s happening enough that Starbucks should take a look. Starbucks should at least look at this trend.
After my experiences this year inside the SSC, I don’t think anything I say or write makes much of a difference. They’re reading this (well, the articles, I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re reading comments) but I don’t know. I guess I should say it doesn’t *seem* to make a difference. I’m blind to what happens in the SSC like 99.9% of the time, unless I hear from them.
How is there no sugar free pumpkin spice syrup yet???! The flavor really comes from the spice mix and for such a successful annual seasonal beverage they could add on significant additional sales with a sugar free version as well.
@Melody, you are absolutely right. Too many sheriffs and I don’t think the real people in charge are listening. I am not one of those people who scream that the customer is always right because they aren’t. But in some situations the person behind the counter should evaluate what is happening and not argue about a drink and whether they can serve it that day if a special code isn’t given up.