A review by Erasmus Baxter
Fall. Autumn. That time of year when things start to get cold and dark, but when the real cold and dark days of winter are still yet to come. This season has many names. However, one element has remained constant through the ages: Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
Coming in at $4.25 for 12 ounces, the infamous pumpkin spice latte, or PSL, from Starbucks is $1.30 more expensive than a regular Starbucks latte, and close to the price of a footlong sandwich at Subway. A favorite of gentrifiers everywhere, it is undoubtedly a cultural icon, but is it worth it?
At first glance, this polarizing drink looks no different than any other beverage ensconced in a white and green Starbucks cup. Removing the lid reveals a swirl of whip cream dusted with the essential pumpkin spice sitting in a halo of frothed milk. The rich smell of pumpkin pie caresses your nostrils.
The first layer of light, frothy bubbles condenses in your mouth leaving a sweet aftertaste. As you slip through this layer you enter the core of the drink. A sweet, full-bodied coffee taste with edges of spice awaits you.
As you venture deeper, the pumpkin taste becomes more central, interspersed with notes of dairy. It is as if someone stuffed pumpkin pie and whipped cream in a blender, and in the process the blender caught on fire, warming it up to a pleasant temperature.
My companion described it as: “Pumpkin. Sugar. Hot. In a cup.”
Overall, the drink strikes a delightful balance between pureed pumpkin pie and sweet, milky coffee. The two tastes circle and complement each other on the tongue, like two puppies chasing each other’s tails.
After finishing the drink, I was left with a bittersweet aftertaste in my mouth that had me craving more sugary coffee drinks, and a feeling of caffeinated energy.
It’s worth noting that a pumpkin spice latte has less than a third of the caffeine of a cup of drip coffee from Starbucks. So, if you’re looking for something to get you going in the morning stick to the cheap and easy option, but if you want a sweet, seasonal treat and have the cash to splash, a PSL may be the way to go. Just be sure to bring your Uggs!
