Fall has been here for almost two months, but only recently have the temperatures started cooling down. Diehard Starbucks fans may be walking in to the coffee shop wearing shorts, but that doesn’t stop them from ordering a fall classic like the Pumpkin Spice Latte or a new favorite such as an Iced Apple Crisp. Below are our staff writers’ favorite choices for fall drinks–and food–at Starbucks.
Lindsey Crosby ’25: New Baked Apple Croissant (not a drink)
The Baked Apple Croissant is the perfect fall sweet treat that would pair wonderfully with any of the seasonal drinks. This croissant is stuffed with warm apple filling and topped with sugar. As someone whose year-round favorite Starbucks item is the chocolate croissant, the Baked Apple Croissant is my favorite addition to the seasonal menu.
Ashlyn Loving ’26: Iced Pumpkin Spiced Latte
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a staple of the Starbucks fall menu, and I specifically liked the iced version. It’s a welcome addition to the fall drink menu and one of my personal favorites. The drink is a latte filled with the amazing pumpkin spice flavor we all have come to know and love. It’s topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with a dash of pumpkin spice. I ordered mine with no whipped cream and almond milk (I’m lactose intolerant), and I really like it, but it was a little sweet. As someone who prefers iced coffee, though, I definitely recommend this drink. It has such a classic pumpkin flavor, and when it’s mixed with the warmer Atlanta fall air, the iced option seems to be a superior choice.
Marlowe McIntyre ’24: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
My go-to Starbucks order is a cold brew with cold foam, and the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, the quintessential fall drink, is a set up from that. It’s the perfect hint of pumpkin spice and creamy sweetness to balance out the bitter cold brew, and the pumpkin cold foam elevates an already 10/10 drink to a 1000/10. This is the perfect drink for fall, and any coffee lover or purist would die for it.
Katie O’Mara ’24: Hot Pumpkin Spice Latte
Since the release of the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, the drink has embedded itself into pop-culture and the hearts of fall-lovers alike. Earning the affectionate moniker “PSL,” it has become a phenomenon drawing crowds to stores fall after fall. A PSL is a balanced combination of cinnamon and pumpkin flavor, topped with a swirl of fresh whipped cream and a thoughtful sprinkle of nutmeg. However, in recent years, the increasing popularity of iced coffee has successfully ruined the flavor of the drink because the ice melts and waters it down. Also, in cold weather people just want something warm to cling onto, but most importantly, the hot pumpkin spice latté is a classic, and to ice it would be an affront.
Madeline Randa ’25: New Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
As a die-hard shaken espresso lover, I was ecstatic to hear about the brand new Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. This drink is a perfect addition to a warmer fall day when you are a little reminiscent of summer. Although the drink is a bit too sweet for my taste, I still think it is a solid option for a spooky season treat.
Parker Schofield ’25: Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato
One of my favorite drinks is apple juice, and I love the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato. This drink has an acquired taste. However, it is my personal favorite of the fall season because the scent of apples reminds you of a crisp fall spent reading the day away by a fireplace. I personally liked the smell of this drink, but my fellow staff writer Elliott Seng described it as “revolting.” So if you are not a fan of the smell of apples, this one might not be for you. This drink is also made with Oat Milk so for all my fellow lactose intolerant people this is a good one.
Elliott Seng ’25: Iced Chai Pumpkin Latte
As someone who (never) exaggerates, the Iced Chai Pumpkin Latte might be the best seasonal drink Starbucks has ever released. (Yes, even better than the Peppermint Mocha.) Something about it makes it stand out from your typical fall latte– the combination of chai with pumpkin cold foam is like pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream… and it’s all melting in your mouth. How does an iced beverage do that?? I don’t know.
Rylee Tozier ’25: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin (not a drink)
As a lover of all things having to do with fall, you can’t go wrong with anything pumpkin flavored. I am not a fan of the taste of coffee, but I do love the taste of pumpkin to get me going on a crisp autumn morning, so I decided to order a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and not warm it up so I could give it an authentic review. I understand the aesthetic of the pumpkin seeds on top of the muffin, but personally I was not a fan. As for the muffin itself, it was very moist and had a perfect amount of pumpkin taste, but there was one section of the muffin that had a huge chunk of cream cheese that was overpowering and way too much for my liking. Other than that, I thought it was a perfect fall treat for those who love pumpkin muffins. Overall, I would say the pumpkin cream cheese muffin was a 6/10.
Anne Walsh ’26: Doesn’t like any Starbucks drinks
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Starbucks drinks, but they don’t provide a lot of non-caffeinated options. Only 17 out of 130 drinks are uncaffeinated on the normal menu, and on the fall drinks menu, none of them are strictly uncaffeinated. In my opinion, the only difference between the original drinks is the pumpkin and apple flavoring. For most of the drinks you can ask for a non-caffeinated drink, but almost every time I ask for it they don’t take it out. I will say, though, the pastries are not bad at all and are actually quite good.
