2023 Pumpkin Spice Latte Review 

2023 Pumpkin Spice Latte Review

In January of 2003 a new invention was introduced to the country that would change it forever: the pumpkin spice latte, of course. Every year as summer comes to an end and the air begins to cool, the pumpkin spice latte greets us as a welcome into fall. According to foodandwine.com, “In the 1930s, spice manufacturing companies…came out with a revolutionary product: pumpkin pie spice, a pre-blended mix that meant bakers could buy one spice instead of several.“ Starbucks was the first coffee shop to introduce this blend into an iconic new drink, the PSL. Now you can find it at any of your favorite coffee places. I traveled to three different coffee shops that can be found all around NH, (Starbucks, Aroma Joe's, and Dunkin Donuts), to give you an exclusive, highly accredited, PSL review.

I ordered each PSL small, iced, and with oat milk, as that's my preferred way to drink any latte. I rated them based on three categories: pumpkin spice to coffee ratio, smoothness, and lastly sweetness. The pumpkin spice flavor should offer a sweeter taste; therefore, a PSL will lose points for bitterness. 

Starbucks- Of course my first stop was to where it all began: Starbucks. As I took my first sip, my attention was brought to the sweet flavor and the flawless combination of coffee and pumpkin spice. It offered a smooth texture, but not quite enough to eliminate all wateriness. So here are my ratings…

Pumpkin Spice to coffee ratio- 5/5

Texture- 4/5 

Sweetness- 5/5

Starbucks total: 14/15

Aroma Joe's- My second stop was Aroma Joe's, it isn't a classic coffee shop like Starbucks or Dunkin, but it is definitely well loved among New England residents. What I noticed with my first sip was the strong coffee flavor, the small integration of pumpkin spice, as well as the bitter taste it offered, but an overall smooth texture.

Pumpkin spice to coffee ratio- 3.5/5

Texture- 4/5

Sweetness- 2.5/5

Aroma Joe's total: 10/15

Dunkin Donuts- My final destination was Dunkin Donuts. There is an ongoing debate about whether Starbucks or Dunkin is the best stop for a coffee. So will Dunkin beat Starbucks in this race? Upon my first sip I noticed a different flavor than that of Starbucks and Aromas. There was a hint of caramel and cinnamon that offered the most flavorful sip out of all three of the stops. Despite the sweetness of those flavors, a bitter taste followed.

Pumpkin Spice to coffee ratio- 4/5

Texture- 5/5

Sweetness- 4.5/5

Dunkin Donuts total: 13.5/15

The results are in. With a rating of 14/15, Starbucks has the greatest tasting pumpkin spice latte. Only lacking one point with the texture, it is close to perfect. Dunkin donuts comes in second, which makes it a reliable option for those who will die on the hill that it is the superior coffee shop. Dunkin may also provide customers with a cheaper pumpkin spice latte as Starbucks latte comes in at $1.29 more expensive than dunkin. In conclusion, if you want the greatest quality PSL, head to the place it first started.