Fall season is here, along with all its delicious fall flavors. The Starbucks fall menu consists of many pumpkin, traditional coffee, and pecan options that will enrich your palate. What better way to start the season than with an iced Pumpkin Cream Chai in one hand, a warm pumpkin cream cheese muffin in the other, and the embrace of California’s fall weather?
Gabrielino High School is fortunate to have access to one of Starbucks’ more than 40,000 stores across the globe, located on Valley Boulevard, where both students and staff can stop by and grab a pumpkin chai latte or a raccoon cake pop—whether they choose to sit and enjoy their snacks in the café or take them to go—especially now that the weather is getting colder.
Once the fall menu dropped—after the unusually long summer this year—the anticipation had built my craving for anything pumpkin-flavored to an all-time high. So when the day came—the first day of the Starbucks fall menu release—I was dressed and ready to try the pumpkin cold foam blended with different drinks and flavors. I was prepared for the orange hues around the store and the smell of roasted coffee.
I decided to try the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. It did not disappoint. Of course, this is subjective—everyone’s palate is different. Still, I could not help but notice the ubiquitous influence fall flavors have on our society simply because they have been labeled “fall flavors.”
This strategic commercial trope has become enjoyable to many, including myself. Curious about what other Gabrielino students thought of the fall menu drinks, I decided to ask around.
When I asked senior Jean Paul Madi what he had tried, he said, “The Pumpkin Spice Latte,” but described it as “bitter” and “coffee tasting”—unfortunately, not his preference. Madi agreed, however, that the seasonal menu adds appeal and “gives it the vibe.”
Senior Tran Tran Nguyen also noticed the strong coffee essence in some of the drinks. She said she would get it again and is interested in trying other drinks from the fall menu. Even though the flavors did not stand out to the students, both Madi and Nguyen agreed that the seasonal aspect adds to the menu’s charm and “gives it the vibe” with its “iconic flavors.”
The new Iced Pecan Crunch is one of my favorite drinks. Contrary to the usual expectations of bold fall flavors, it is actually soft, creamy, and sweet. It adds to the menu’s variety of coffee flavors without being overwhelming.
I would recommend it to anyone who loves coffee, sweets, and warm fall vibes. The Starbucks fall menu is perfect for you. Take some time when you are free and treat yourself to a cozy, picturesque drink—before the season ends!
