Dunkin’: Pumpkin Spice Latte: $6.54: A homecoming tradition turned regular, Dunkin’ became a staple in my morning routines after going the morning of my junior year Teresian. The rewards program, flavors, and bang-for-your-buck is what kept me driving past two different Starbucks locations to go there. So when the fall flavors arrived, I was elated to put aside my usual iced vanilla latte. On a chilly Saturday morning, I made my way over to Dunkin’ and ordered the “Signature Pumpkin Spice Latte.” Disappointment is an understatement. Personally, I got no hints of pumpkin or fall feels, and the vanilla plus the pumpkin syrup was way too sweet. If you are looking for a headache and an upset stomach, this Dunkin’ drink is for you.
Dutch Bros: Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Breve: $6.41: With new fall flavors at every corner, I decided to take the road less traveled and try Dutch Bros instead of my usual Starbucks. In the two times I’ve tried, Dutch Bros has yet to fail me, so naturally I had high hopes for their fall line. The “Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Breve” stuck out to me the most; however, what’s a breve, you may ask? Not sure, but to me it just tasted like a normal latte. It featured a delectable soft top (their version of cold foam) and raw sugar sprinkles that added a surprising yet delightful crunch. The latte was wonderfully flavored with tastes of sweet caramel, however, not as much pumpkin. While the latte was perfectly sweet and comforting, and I would order again, I had to desperately search for even the slightest hint of pumpkin. Overall, I recommend this drink if you prefer caramel vibes instead of pumpkin.
At Home: $4.26/12 fl oz. Ahh…the comfort of at-home coffee. I am no stranger to this process as I am a fan of buying iced premade coffee in stores and having the ease of Starbucks in my kitchen. I figured Target would be the best for this mission, and there I found all it took to create the perfect pumpkin spice latte: Stok Pumpkin Cold Brew Coffee, Delight Pumpkin Cold Foam Creamer and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Creamer. All together the total was around $17, and the Stok cold brew equates to four 12 fl oz servings. However, the creamer and the cold foam have over 40 servings, resulting in two months worth of at-home lattes. The latte was very quick to come together, and all three products couldn’t have been more perfect together. This latte, perfectly customized to my kind of sweetness, made the perfect pumpkin spice latte. The Stok cold brew was perfectly pumpkin and the creamer and cold foam practically made me want to jump into a bushel of red and orange leaves. In conclusion, there’s no place like at-home latte
