It’s autumn; the leaves are falling, the weather is getting colder, but more importantly, fall drinks are in season! In light of the season, Sarah Quick and I went on another adventure and tested some fall drinks from popular drink spots against one another.

We bought a chai and coffee drink from each place, namely Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and Beanster’s, to see which drink comes out on top.

From Starbucks, we ordered a Pumpkin Spice Latte and Chai Tea Latte (with Pumpkin Sauce, Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam, and Cinnamon Topping). Our favorite addition was the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam.

Starbucks was our overall winner, as it had the best balance between pumpkin and drink flavor for both the chai and coffee. However, it was also the most expensive among all the drinks, costing us $13.25 for two medium-sized drinks (owing to the chai tea latte’s extra add-ons that hiked the price up).

At Dutch Bros, we bought their Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Cold Brew and Chai. The caramel overpowered the pumpkin flavor, so those looking for a more pumpkin-flavored drink might be disappointed. Overall, we found Dutch Bros to be well worth our money. Our two medium drinks cost around $7, and we rated Dutch Bros as second-best overall for drink flavor and price.

Finally, Ridgecrest’s local business, Beanster’s Espresso, was the last stop on our pumpkin drink hunt. There, we bought their Pumpkin Latte and Chai. The two mediums cost $12.50. The latte had a good pumpkin flavor in addition to stronger coffee flavor compared to the former two locations, and the same went for their chai.

We felt that Beanster’s offered a good value for our money, as the size and flavor reasonably justified the drink’s $6.25 price tag. For those looking for a stronger coffee or chai, Beanster’s Espresso is the place for you.

With the weather turning chilly and the days growing shorter, enjoy your evening by grabbing some friends and having fall drinks together!