It’s that time of year again: the leaves are changing, people gather around bonfires, sweaters are on, and costumes are being planned. But most importantly, the fall drink menu is in. Gen Z and Millennials fill up the local coffee shop for one thing: the Pumpkin Spice Latte (the PSL).
Starbucks began the seasonal drink trend in April 2003. Over the years, their fall menu expanded to include 7 total drinks: pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin cream cold brew, iced pumpkin cream chai, chai latte, iced apple crisp cream chai, apple crisp oat milk macchiato, apple crisp oat milk shaken espresso, and more recently, pecan flavored drinks. Starbucks held the pedestal of fall flavor royalty for over a decade before Dunkin introduced their fall menu including pumpkin spice, and later when 7 Brew established and began their fall drinks.
Both 7 Brew and Dunkin have noticeably fewer seasonal choices on their established menus. 7 Brew is known for its quick and customizable drinks and service, and they only offer beverages. While primarily known for its coffee and donut options, Dunkin’s popularity amongst the fall drinks is significantly less than that of Starbucks.
Herrin High students responded to a survey on their favorite fall drinks. When initially asked about their participation in the annual fall drinks, 55.7% of students said they participated, and 44.3% said they didn’t.
As previously stated, Starbucks offers 7 total drinks for their fall lineup. Students were asked about their preferences for each drink. Of the students, 21.5% chose the PSL, 16.7% chose the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, 13.2% chose the Iced Pumpkin Cream, 6.5% chose the Chai Latte, 5.7% chose the Iced Apple Crisp Cream Chai, 6.9% chose the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato, 6.2% chose the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. However, 23.2% of students surveyed didn’t like any of the fall selections.
Dunkin only offers three fall seasonal drinks. HHS students chose their preferences for the Dunkin lineup. 26.3% chose the Pumpkin Spice Latte, 13% chose the Iced Dunkalatte, and 6.9% chose the Almond Spiced Iced Latte. However, a staggering 53.8% of students stated they didn’t like Dunkin’s fall drink options. 
Similarly to Dunkin, 7 Brew only offers 3 fall flavors. 26.6% of students chose the Cinnamon Roll Mocha, 13.3% chose the Pumpkin Chai, and 9.6% chose the Golden Pear Red Bull drink. Lastly, similar to Dunkin, 50.6% of students claimed they didn’t drink the fall flavors 7 Brew offers.
Based on the data and demographics, one can rightfully say that the PSL is the favorite fall drink at nearly every location. Students were asked if they had any other seasonal drink options and/or an alternative coffee shop they love. The local Stemm’s Coffee was a frequent mention, as well as the local Moore Than Coffee truck seen around town. Other small mentions were Ziggy’s and Scooters. 
Taking the survey into consideration, I visited each of the locations to review the drinks myself. Starting with Starbucks, I ordered the Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte. A medium-sized PSL costs just a little over $7 after tax. Even though it’s decorated with whipped cream and pumpkin spice, the drink is very potent. The ice hasn’t cooled the bottom half of the drink and you can distinctly taste the roasted espresso. I recommend mixing and stirring the drink before drinking it. It evenly disperses the ingredients and makes a balanced flavor. The pumpkin is identifiable, as well as the standard espresso. I prefer sweeter coffees rather than bitter and dark coffees, so I mixed the whipped cream into the latte to make the espresso less intense. Overall, I feel as though the drink is enjoyable, but it’s not as astronomical as many people believe it to be. I look forward to the flavor every year but it is not always my immediate go-to during its appearing months.
Secondly, at Dunkin, I ordered their signature Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte. Just like Starbucks, I ordered a medium PSL. Dunkin sells it at just above $5, making it cheaper than Starbucks. There is less to say about Dunkin’s PSL — ice distribution is the same, but that is to be expected from a drive-through coffee shop. However, the espresso taste is significantly less prominent. The drink as a whole tastes more milky than what I expected. I have not always been a fan of Dunkin and the opinion still stands. Starbucks may be far more overpriced than Dunkin or any other location. But, I prefer Starbucks over Dunkin any time.
And lastly, going to 7 Brew I ordered the Cinnamon Roll Mocha. To match the previous two, I ordered a medium. It was priced at a little over $5 after tax, surpassing both previous establishments as the cheaper option. 7 Brew had 2 drive-through lanes and multiple employees taking orders. This kept the line flowing quickly and I received my order just a few minutes after ordering. I liked this drink more than either of the two previous drinks. The entire drink was evenly cold. The chocolate wasn’t overpowering the cinnamon roll flavor. While this doesn’t seem to be a prominent fall flavor (not nearly as well known as the PSL in other locations), I feel as though it was better. Not only was it faster and much cheaper, the flavors were better in my opinion.
To wrap up the survey, students were asked about their excitement for the future winter seasonal drinks. 77% were excited, and only 23% of students did not look forward to the next season of coffee. I align myself with the 77%. I look forward to all the peppermint and sugar cookie delights they will offer.
