Felt a chill in the air: Here are 5 iced pumpkin spice lattes from popular chains

Landen Nguyen, Staff Writer

October 2, 2024

Extra Extras

(Angelina Chung)

Starbucks

Price: (2/5) – At $6.25 for a small, Starbucks is the most expensive option on this list. While it’s not the most affordable, the quality, taste, and accessibility make it worth considering for those willing to pay a little extra for the signature PSL experience.

Presentation: (4/5) – The Starbucks PSL presents a beautiful light brown coffee base, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. While it ranks second in presentation, the whipped cream was a letdown—not even filling half of the dome cap, it gives the drink a sloppy appearance. However, the effort is appreciated, with the hope that on a good day, the whipped cream would be generously filled to the top, completing the classic PSL look.

Taste/Texture: (4.5/5) – The flavor perfectly captures fall in a cup, with a smooth consistency that balanced pumpkin and spice nicely. The taste remained consistent from start to finish, and the milk-to-coffee ratio was ideal, enhancing the creaminess without overpowering the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Vibe: (3.5/5) – The pumpkin vibe score is somewhat low, but that’s based solely on the pumpkin flavor. For those seeking a coffee dominated by pumpkin taste, this option may not be ideal. However, the balance with the spice compliments the coffee nicely and works well for a PSL.

(Landen Nguyen)

Whole Foods Market

Price: (5/5) – Known for being an expensive grocery store, this coffee was surprisingly the cheapest on this list. At $4.75 for a small, it offers the best value considering the taste.

Presentation: (3.5/5) – While it is essentially just coffee in a cup, the gorgeous soft brown gradient and generous amount of cinnamon sugar on top adds a delightful touch. The uniquely shaped lid also sets it apart from the other options. Although whipped cream would enhance the presentation, the cinnamon provides a decent alternative.

Taste/Texture: (4/5) – The taste and texture are smooth, making it the best coffee at first sip. It beautifully captures the essence of fall with perfect sweetness. However, as the generous amount of cinnamon mixed into the drink, the texture became a little grainy and shifted the flavor to more of a cinnamon coffee rather than a PSL. However, it still remains a great choice.

Pumpkin Vibe: (1.5/5) – Little to no distinct pumpkin flavor was present in the drink. The taste was dominated by cinnamon, which wasn’t unpleasant, but the lack of pumpkin makes it difficult to score higher in this category.

(Landen Nguyen)

Dunkin Donuts

Price: (3/5) – At $5.79 for a small, the price is slightly high but not unreasonable. The small size was also more generous than expected.

Presentation: (5/5) – The whipped cream was kindly swirled to the top, with the cup featuring Dunkin’s signature colors. The cinnamon sugar topping added a perfect fall touch, making the drink visually appealing.

Taste/Texture: (2.5/5) – While the pumpkin flavoring was there, the spice didn’t stand out, and the drink was overly sweet—almost like a dessert. The smooth coffee and delicious whipped cream couldn’t balance out the excess creamer and sweetness, making it hard to finish. Considering how impressive the presentation was, the taste was a bit of a letdown.

Pumpkin Vibe: (3/5) – The pumpkin flavor was noticeable, but it tasted a bit artificial. The sweetness was overpowering, masking any other potential elements in the drink.

(Angelina Chung)

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Price: (2/5) – At $5.95 for a small–and it was very small–it was quite expensive. Considering the size and taste, this drink is not worth the cost.

Presentation: (2/5) – The presentation was plain and unremarkable. Just a simple cup with a lid. The color of the coffee had an orange hue, likely from the pumpkin flavoring.

Taste/Texture: (3/5) – The texture stood out with small, sweet chunky bits at the bottom, which was a nice touch. Initially, the drink tasted amazing—it was very pumpkin-forward and spicy. However, after 15 minutes, the pumpkin flavor became overwhelming, and the drink ended up tasting overly flavored and too sweet.

Pumpkin Vibe: (5/5) – This coffee had the strongest pumpkin vibe on this list. Unlike Dunkin’, the pumpkin flavor didn’t taste artificial, though it was a bit excessive. This is a perfect drink for hardcore pumpkin lovers.

(Angelina Chung)

Peet’s Coffee

Price: (3/5) – At $5.50, it’s an average price but not worth it for the quality of this coffee.

Presentation: (2/5) – The presentation was very plain, similar to Coffee Bean. The coffee is just a standard cup with their logo and a lid. The color of their coffee was dark, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Taste/Texture: (2/5) – The pumpkin and spice were barely noticeable, making it taste like regular coffee. Even as plain coffee, it was disappointing—bitter in an unpleasant way.

Pumpkin Vibe: (1/5) – There was extremely little to no pumpkin flavor at all. It just tasted like plain coffee, missing the entire seasonal vibe.

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About the Contributors

Landen Nguyen, Staff Writer

Landen Nguyen is a first-year staff writer for our school newspaper. His interests include traveling, playing video games, eating, swimming, and shopping. Landen was drawn to journalism because of his passion for exploring new stories and uncovering fresh perspectives. Reporting on a variety of topics keeps him engaged, and it also gives him the chance to improve his writing and share meaningful insights with others.

Angelina Chung, Staff Writer

Angelina Chung is a first-year staff member of our school newspaper. Her interests include SoulCycle, traveling, and trying new restaurants with her family. Angelina's passion for journalism stems from her interest in public health and medicine. She aspires to bridge these two fields by writing articles on health communication, which drives her towards a career in health journalism.