Pumpkin spice season is here: Coffee shops embrace fall with seasonal drinks

Starting Aug. 26, Starbucks has returned to its menus the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte. The drinks — made with real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, according to the company — provide a sign that autumn has unofficially arrived.

More than two decades ago, Starbucks launched the PSL, kicking off a worldwide seasonal craze and quickly becoming the company’s most popular limited-time beverage. Since then, pumpkin spice became the most popular ingredient in drinks for beverage shops that indicates a cozy sweet comfort in the chilling autumn breeze.

Some people consider it the best, most delicious time of the year. For others, not only are the drinks too sweet, they also arrive much too early — it’s still summer!

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One beloved grocery store goes even further. Trader Joe’s in the past has launched a pumpkin spice chardonnay to celebrate the flourishing season.

Starbucks isn’t the only one, however; many other Bay Area coffee shops are rolling out drinks that taste like fall in a cup. From pumpkin pie spice and nutmeg to cinnamon-dusted oat milk and vanilla syrup, these seasonal beverages are turning everyday coffee runs into cozy fall moments.

Here’s what coffee lovers can sip as the temperatures start to drop:

Starbucks:

Pumpkin Spice Latte: pumpkin, Starbucks Signature Espresso, steamed milk, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, finished with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. It’s available hot, iced or blended.
Pecan Oat milk Cortado: pecan flavors, three ristretto shots (short shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast) and steamed oat milk.
Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai: blend of black tea infused with cinnamon, other spices and milk, topped with a pumpkin cream cold foam and pumpkin spice topping.
Pecan Crunch Oat milk Latte: blonde Espresso Roast and oat milk, pecan, topped with vanilla sweet cream cold foam and pecan-flavored sugar. (Check out the full fall season menu here.)

Peet’s Coffee:

Pumpkin Latte: espresso and steamed milk blended with pumpkin pie spices.
Pumpkin Chai Latte: spiced Masala Chai with pumpkin pie flavors. Both drinks are available hot or iced. (Check out the whole seasonal menu here.)

Dutch Bros:

Caramel Pumpkin Brûlée: pumpkin and salted caramel covered with a layer of Soft Top, a foam made with buttermilk, half-and-half, vanilla syrup and sugar. Topped with pumpkin drizzle and raw sugar sprinkles.
Cookie Butter Latte: cookie butter, a swirl of cookie butter drizzle around the cup complete with Soft Top, and more cookie butter drizzle on top. Enjoyed as a Latte, Freeze or chai.
Candied Cherry Rebel: cherry flavor mixed with Dutch Bros’ Rebel energy drink with a cherry float. Served blended, iced or as a Fizz, a sparkling soda with a citrus twist.

McDonald’s: The burger chain kicks off its fall menu on Aug. 29 with:

Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee

Philz Coffee:

Spiced Vanilla Soul: Cold Brew, vanilla sauce, spiced oat milk and cinnamon.
Vanilla Date Delight: date syrup and oat milk. (Check out the fall drinks menu here.)

Dunkin’ Donuts:

Cereal N’ Milk Latte: espresso combined with cereal-flavored milk.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf:

Pumpkin Spice Latte: pumpkin flavor blended with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Pumpkin Layered Latte: pumpkin syrup with oat milk, topped with whipped cold brew coffee and cinnamon. (Check out the full seasonal menu here.)