Fall drinks are a perfect way to transition into the autumn season. We decided to go to two of the most recommended places in town, Starbucks and Dutch Bros, and select the most popular seasonal drinks off their menu. We will happily share our honest opinions on these for those unsure about where to start!
From Starbucks, we ordered two frappuccinos and one latte (all in a grande size).
The Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino was a cool, chilled drink. The coffee and pumpkin components were balanced well, which made the drink especially enjoyable. It was sweet and had a delicious pumpkin aftertaste. No wonder why so many people choose the Pumpkin Spice Frap! It really does leave you energized for the festivities that come with the season.
Our second frappuccino, The Apple Crisp Oatmilk, had a very warm feeling to it. The apple drizzle was a nice touch since it was slightly tart and blended well with the coffee and whipped cream. The Apple Crisp Frap overall reminded us of apple strudels and oddly enough, the scent of candles.
The Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte with Pumpkin Sauce and Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam is definitely a staple. It had a great mix of both coffee and pumpkin flavors, exactly like the Frap. The addition of the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam was our favorite part of the drink. The simplicity is what we think customers love so much about it. They immediately get fall vibes from the very first sip.
For Dutch Bros, we first tried the Blended Sweater Weather Chai with white coffee. We discovered that the drink had an extremely smooth flavor. It wasn’t overbearing, but it wasn’t bland. Although the vanilla was sweet, it wasn’t artificial or sugar cookie-like. We also concluded that it had a strong chai flavor, the coffee was almost nonexistent. The Sweater Weather Chai is the ideal option if you’re looking for something light and calming.
For those of you who love cinnamon, the Iced Pumpkin Pie Latte with whipped cream is just the one for you. Even without a straw, we could taste the cinnamon powder on top that controlled most of the drink. You might be disappointed if you were expecting the pumpkin to power through. The flavor was unique; it tasted more like a fluffy baked pastry than a dessert drink itself. This drink wasn’t sweet at all, yet there was a subtle flavor. It wasn’t the type of drink to instantly hit you, but it did do the job by giving us a taste of fall. It is perfect for those who enjoy gentle drinks but still want to cozy up.
Both of our Dutch orders were in a medium size.
The two of us ultimately agreed Starbucks was the best choice. We found their drinks to give us more autumn nostalgia than the Dutch Bros ones. They made us feel like it was truly fall when we were drinking them. Dutch is probably more the place to go to if you’re searching for some exciting alternatives. With all five drinks that we tried, it’s safe to say all of them “take you into” the fall spirit in their own special way.
Now that it’s time for pumpkins and sweaters, grabbing one of these drinks will definitely spice up your seasonal fun!
