It's that time of the year again! The Iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks! So, what is this "PSL" that everybody is raving about?
The PSL is a perfectly handcrafted signature espresso beverage infused with pumpkin, creamy steamed milk, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove. The beverage is finished with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice. Available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino® blended beverage.
The PSL is a perfectly handcrafted signature espresso beverage infused with pumpkin, creamy steamed milk, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove. The beverage is finished with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice. Available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino® blended beverage.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Nutrition Facts
As if anybody actually even cares about this kind of stuff...
Each and every year, the PSL craze sweeps the nation as loyal Starbucks addicts line up, eager to get their hands on the, oh so missed, fall beverage.
This year, we want to treat all you Pumpkin Lovers with some recommendations which came straight from the creative minds of your baristas...so you know they're going to be delicious.
If you missed out last time, check out our post covering Recommendations to try with the Mango Syrup! (Although the Mango Syrup is no longer carried in some Starbucks Locations)
This year, we want to treat all you Pumpkin Lovers with some recommendations which came straight from the creative minds of your baristas...so you know they're going to be delicious.
If you missed out last time, check out our post covering Recommendations to try with the Mango Syrup! (Although the Mango Syrup is no longer carried in some Starbucks Locations)
Without further ado, here are some creative ways to enjoy the Pumpkin Spice before it's gone! Only from Barista Life; your trusted source for everything coffee!
-
Pumpkin Spice with Caramel
@texasdanielle recommends trying Pumpkin Spice with Caramel. This one might come out on the sweeter side, so we recommend going with half the pumps of each. For example, if you're getting a Grande, ask your barista for 2 pumps of Caramel and 2 pumps of Pumpkin Spice.
-
Pumpkin Spice with White Mocha and Cinnamon Dolce a.k.a. "Pumpkin Pie"
DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY SET ASIDE SOLELY FOR STARBUCKS PURCHASES! Because, once you try this, you will have to get another...and another...and another. Recommended by @ruebee__, get equal pumps of Pumpkin, White Mocha, and Cinnamon Dolce. If you got the full pumps of each, you will most likely be sent into a diabetes coma, so we don't recommend that. As an example for a Venti, ask for 2 pumps Pumpkin, 2 Pumps White Mocha, and 2 pumps Cinnamon Dolce, which is still going to be on the sweeter side. You gotta try this one, preferably on a rainy day.
-
Starbucks Cold Brew Iced Coffee with Pumpkin Spice
This particular combination we can totally vouch for. Starbucks recently launched it's new Signature Cold Brew Iced Coffee, which is much smoother than the original Iced Coffee, and we think it has more of a 'kick' to it. Spice it up by adding Pumpkin Spice to it!
-
Shaken Black Iced Tea, No Water, with Pumpkin Spice substituted instead of Classic
This recommendation comes from @october189. Since the weather insists on staying hot, this beverage is for sure going to be a great way to stay cool, Fall-Style. A Venti Black Iced Tea comes with 6 pumps of Classic, standard. So, if you want something less sweet, then get less pumps of Pumpkin! You could also substitute the Soy Milk with Coconut Milk, 2%, Breve, or NonFat! This one is definitely on our list of drinks to try!
-
Pumpkin-Egg Nog Latte
This one is going to have to wait a bit, until the Egg Nog Latte returns. Since Egg Nog is a Winter Offering, you can add this to your future list of drinks to try. Recommended by @yerky2033, he says ask your barista for an Egg Nog Latte, with Pumpkin Spice and don't forget the Spice Whipped Cream (Also a winter offering). Since Egg Nog is fairly thick, sweet, and rich, try half the pumps of Pumpkin! This one will go great sitting next to the fireplace...mmmm
-
Chai Creme Frappuccino with Peppermint and Pumpkin
We couldn't think of anything else to add to this recommendation from @misplaced_alaska, who says it tastes like an "Oregon Spice Pumpkin Chai." Once we read it, we were sold. As you know, Pumpkin has a blend of 'spice' to it (pun intended), as does the Chai. Here's a fun little fact from Starbucks.com, "In India, roadside vendors can be found creating an aromatic concoction of black tea infused with the exotic flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper over a hot stove," a.k.a. Chai. The spice blend of the Pumpkin, mixed with the spicy notes of Chai sounds delicious, add in some Peppermint, and off to Heaven you go!
-
Pumpkin Spice Macchiato
Another hit recommended by @kirstybre, enjoy the delicious blend of Espresso, Pumpkin, and Caramel Sauce. You can't go wrong with this trio. To try this, order a Caramel Macchiato, but instead of the pumps of Vanilla (Yes, a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato gets vanilla syrup with Caramel Drizzle, NOT Caramel Syrup), substitute them with Pumpkin Spice. Caramel Macchiatos get one-less pump of vanilla than the size calls for. For example, a Grande Vanilla Latte has 4 pumps of Vanilla, whereas a Grande Caramel Macchiato would only have 3 pumps because of the Caramel Drizzle Topping.
-
Iced Chai with Pumpkin Spice and Salt Toppings
We told you that Chai pairs perfectly with the Pumpkin Spice, and boy do we have another recommendation for you to add to your list. Iced Chai Tea Latte with Half the pumps Chai, Half Pumpkin and Salt Toppings. Iced Chais are have a bit of a different pump-system. The pumps for Tall, Grande, and Venti Iced Chai's are 3, 4, and 6, respectively. So, when you go to try this one, obviously get a Venti (who wants anything smaller?), and ask for 3 pumps of Pumpkin, 3 pumps Chai, with salt topping. Credit to @beemer527 for this one, we owe him our lives because it's to die for. It's a perfect way to stay cool, get your caffeine buzz on, and to join the #PumpkinSpiceEverything craze that's sweeping the nation.
DisclaimerYou will most likely be charged for the Pumpkin Spice and/or the salt toppings. If your barista charges you, do not say to him or her, "BU..BU..BUTTTT, The other Starbucks doesn't charge me!" This is Starbucks Policy, and many baristas DO follow it!
-
Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino with a Banana
Wait...this has a banana in it, so it must be healthy, right? Eh, not really, but doesn't mean that it isn't amazingly tasty. Brought to you by @jonkaan_, this one would be perfect to wind down the night since it is a 'Creme-Based' Frappuccino, which does not come with caffeine or coffee. The banana compliments the pumpkin very nicely, and almost tastes like a Cinnamon/Pumpkin/Banana Flavored Shake. This one is also kid-friendly. "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
-
Pumpkin Spice Latte with White Mocha a.k.a "White Tiger" or "The Cinderella"
If you go to your Starbucks and order a 'White Tiger' or a 'Cinderella' your barista will almost surely stare at you with a face similar to that of if an alien just walked into the store. So don't order it that way. However, this is one recommendation that baristas unanimously agree is one of the tastiest. @sonia.rosee and @sweetnae1979 have tried and tested this one and recommend going with half the pumps of each flavor. So, for a Grande, order 2 pumps of Pumpkin and 2 pumps of White Mocha and prepare your taste buds for the ride of their lives!
-
Iced Starbucks Doubleshot with half Pumpkin, half White Mocha
Similar to the last recommendation, this lesser known drink is a favorite among baristas. An Iced Starbucks Doubleshot is a fairly complicated drink to make. Shots are poured over ice, and in this case, Pumpkin and White Mocha would be in the mix (normally Classic Syrup), where the mix is shaken and poured into your cup where it is then topped with milk of your choice. Another fun fact, Starbucks Doubleshots are made standard with more shots of espresso than each size would typically call for. So for Tall, Grande, and Venti Starbucks Doubleshots (Sorry, no Trentas), there would be 2,3 and 5 shots respectively. @ms.amanda.lee recommends this as an alternative to a hot drink, since the weather thinks we are still in the middle of summer. We say this drink would be a perfect way to wake you up when you need to start your workday off on the right foot.
-
Iced Apple Juice with Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon Dolce a.k.a "Harry Potter's Pumpkin Juice"
Here's a fun recommendation from @laurasigrist! Once again, for the sake of your barista's sanity, do not order "Harry Potter's Pumpkin Juice," we are just giving you an idea of what it's going to taste like. Who doesn't like apple juice? We bet you didn't even know Starbucks offered AJ, but they do, and it's amazing with Pumpkin and Cinnamon Dolce. @laurasigrist says she gets a Grande with 3 pumps of Pumpkin and 1 pump of Cinnamon Dolce. Too much and it'll probably be too sweet! Again, prepare to pay extra for the added syrup!
-
Brewed Coffee, Iced Coffee, Cold Brew or Americano with Pumpkin Spice
This one is for the 'Manly-Man' who, deep down, wants to see what the Pumpkin-fuss is all about, but wants to refrain from being 'Basic.' Simply add Pumpkin to your black drip coffee, Iced Coffee, Cold Brew, or Americano. We can vouch that you will be satisfied with your choice. However, adding Pumpkin Spice to any of these beverages will cost an extra $0.80, so be prepared when it costs a bit more than normal.
-
Quad Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with 2 Pumps Toffee Nut, 3 Pumps Pumpkin, Salt and Caramel Toppings
Brought to you by @rodriguezbianca_, who swears this one is, and we quote, "The Best EVER." Before you turn your nose up at this one, just think, this is recommended by a BARISTA. A barista whose job it is to try all Starbucks Products to develop product knowledge. A barista who is consistently surrounded by free Starbucks at 3:00a.m. A barista who has surely tried every combination of syrups imaginable. So we say go try it, the 2 extra shots will, without a doubt, keep you from regretting your decision.
-
Caramel Apple Spice with Pumpkin substituted in place of the Standard Cinnamon Dolce
Similar to the Iced Apple Juice we previously mentioned, @hatinonpeyton opts for the hot version. A Caramel Apple Spice is steamed apple juice, usually with Cinnamon Dolce Syrup, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon dolce toppings. Why not take advantage of Pumpkin while it's around? Ask your barista to substitute out the Cinnamon Dolce for Pumpkin Spice instead. This is a drink that will warm you up from the inside out; perfect for that rainy "Netflix and Chill" type of night. There's no caffeine in this one so grab one for your little one, while you're at it! It's sure to put a smile on their face. For an extra little kick, add in a pump or two of Chai.
-
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
This one is great for the health-conscious Starbucks drinkers. Starbucks offers smoothies (Strawberry, Orange Mango, and Chocolate) which come with 2 scoops of Whey Protein (20g Protein), and a banana. @midnightdreamer95 says he's tried this one, and it's delicious; perfect for after a hard workout! Order a Chocolate Smoothie, but instead of the pumps of Mocha, you would ask your barista for Pumpkin Spice. Stay in shape while satisfying your Pumpkin-Cravings!
Just make sure this doesn't happen when you're making those PSLs!
Well guys, that's it for now! Pumpkin Spice is only available for a limited time, so don't waste a minute! Get out there and check
each one of these recommendations off your list. Remember, these are recommendations curated directly from your barista. They are barista approved, so you know they are going to be delish.