If you’re anything like me, the fall means one thing: it’s time to buy into the Home Goods candles, fluffy blankets, and, of course, all things pumpkin.
Fall flavors have Americans in a chokehold every year, though there is one player that always seems to reign supreme: The pumpkin spice latte.
As an avid coffee lover who also happens to be a sucker for all things aggressively on theme, I decided to go on a little journey to hunt down the best place to fulfill your guilty pleasure fall cravings (come on, we all know you’re pretending to think it’s cringy).
I visited what some may call Delco’s “big three.” I examined factors like taste, accoutrement, and fall-factor. Let’s roll the results!
Dunkin’: 3/10
Starting off not-so-strong, Dunkin’s pumpkin spice latte was lackluster to say the least. This drink sold for $3.99 in a small, and didn’t deliver the spicy goodness that makes a fall-themed beverage great. The coffee itself had a bit of a burnt taste (some people enjoy that, but it’s not for me) and the pumpkin flavor struggled to come through. The top was very foamy, which earned it some points — however, the presentation was lackluster and whipped cream had to be requested. Delco may run on Dunkin’, but certainly not this latte!
Wawa: 7/10
For many Haven students, Wawa serves as a classic location for whatever you may be craving. Their pumpkin spice latte was also enjoyably classic. A 12-oz cup sells for $2.99, and in terms of quality-to-cost ratio, Wawa’s latte takes the cake. The flavor of the coffee was solid, if not a bit too artificial, and it had an adequate pumpkin flavor. The latte was topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle that added a nice sweetness to the first sips. Despite average taste, the thing that pushed this latte up was its customizability. Like most menu items at Wawa, there was lots of choice and variety involved in ordering. One could add different types of drizzles and toppings, exemplifying the fun that should come with a fall-themed beverage!
Starbucks: 8/10
Starbucks is known for its seasonal specials and over-the-top coffees, and the pumpkin spice latte certainly lived up to its reputation. Out of the three lattes I acquired on my journey, this one proved to be the best. A tall, priced at $5.99, came with whipped cream and heaps of cinnamon. Clearly they understood the “spice” assignment, something I can appreciate! The coffee itself tasted the most natural of the three, with a pure, yet not overpowering, pumpkin flavor. What made it so enjoyable was that the bitterness of the coffee remained intact, so it felt like enjoying an everyday coffee with a little pumpkin surprise incorporated. This all being said, the drink was not very foamy, and could have done with a smidge more sweetness. Despite the slightly higher price, the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is most definitely a fall favorite.
