Pumpkins, flannels, changing leaves, and Halloween. All essentials to this wonderfully chilly season we all know and love. However, we may be forgetting just one essential ingredient though… Did anyone order a pumpkin-spiced latte?

The weather is changing and so are the menus! As students of a Starbucks-loving generation, seasonal menus are always eagerly anticipated. Who doesn’t love an overpriced coffee with a fancy fall name? A hot drink on a cool morning is the most delicious way to start a day. Or maybe even an iced drink, on days when we attempt to ignore the reality of freezing cold Atlanta mornings. 

Let’s talk pumpkin. As the most symbolic figure of fall, everything is pumpkin everywhere. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin candles, pumpkin carving. But the best of all: pumpkin coffee at Starbucks. The renowned pumpkin spiced latte, made with the Starbucks Signature Espresso, steamed milk, a pumpkin spice sauce, and topped with whipped cream, is the perfect sweet treat. If you need an extra kick of caffeinated energy, try the pumpkin cream cold brew, made with cold brew, vanilla, and topped with the beloved pumpkin cream cold foam. They may not be for everyone, but the drinks have definitely gained a crowd of adoring fans. “In my opinion, the drinks are a bit overhyped,” said sophomore Tess Moody. “The pumpkin spiced latte is good though if you’re in the mood for it.”

For those who have the great misfortune of living with a tasteful opposition to the pumpkin flavor, there are always some slightly less delicious alternatives. For apple lovers, there is the apple crisp oat milk macchiato, and for chai lovers, the chai tea latte to add a little “spice” to your day. Junior Taylor Ryan said, “Chai is life. It is the most comforting flavor.”

Although Starbucks has a monopoly on fall deliciousness, this year Chick-fil-A decided to throw its hat in the ring and give it its best shot. A shot that was commendable indeed, but proved to be disappointing to some. Chick-fil-A introduced their Autumn Spice Milkshake this September. Think Cookies & Cream meets ginger snaps. A tasty treat for anyone who doesn’t love the pumpkin craze. “It’s innovative,” said Junior Halle Pray. “There’s not too much spice, just the right amount, and it’s finally a non-pumpkin fall drink.”

Even outside the big names, every coffee shop and store is fully embracing the breeze in the air with the re-emergence of their fall favorites. Thanks to a collective love of all things fall-flavored, we not only get to feel and see the changing of the season, but we also get to taste it too.