This upcoming fall, new seasonal drinks arrive that satisfy the year-long wait for customers. From the classic Pumpkin Spice to Almond lattes, fall drinks bring everyone joy during this cool season. Starbucks and Dunkin shops all over the globe prepare for this year’s new menu items throughout the summer.

Starting with the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, Starbucks began releasing autumn-inspired drinks to amplify the seasonal spirit. Prior to this launch, Starbucks included specialty drinks for the winter season, such as peppermint mochas and eggnog coffees, which led them to expand to a fall lineup. It took three months for workers to perfect the fall essence of the drinks before adding the treats to the menu in 2004. Over the years, Starbucks has reformed its menu to incorporate new specialty drinks and treats such as the apple crisp menu.

The newest fall drinks arrived August 22 and featured six different refreshments along with three fall treats. Out of the six drinks on this year’s menu, three of them pair with the nostalgic pumpkin spice flavor customers all crave. The annual Pumpkin Spice Latte served hot, iced or frappuccino style also returned, as well as the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. These drinks share the warm flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, topped with whipped cream or the delectable pumpkin cold brew including a dusting of spices. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai incorporates the rich chai taste of black tea and warm spices with pumpkin cream cold foam for the perfect sip of fall. 

“The fall menu is my favorite because the seasonal drinks always come around the time of my birthday so I see it as something to look forward to every year… last year my favorite fall-flavored drink was the pumpkin cream cold brew because it is very light and not super overpowering,” magnet junior Mia Diaz said.

The Starbucks apple crisp coffees blend the flavors of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar to fulfill the seasonal desires. The Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso, a fan favorite from last year, blends strong blonde espresso with the warm apple flavors to produce the perfect energizing apple pie taste. For people who prefer a sweeter drink, the Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato includes creamy oat milk and spiced apple drizzle to enhance the apple’s delight. A new menu item this year, the Iced Apple Crisp Cream Chai gathers the apple flavor with the warm chai taste to appeal to the season and nondairy fans. 

The company’s three sweet treats add to the flavor of the drinks. The Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin contains a spiced pumpkin muffin filled with a sugary cream cheese filling and topped with pepitas, a type of pumpkin seed. The Baked Apple Croissant resembles the apple-flavored drinks and includes croissant dough that carefully wraps around a warm apple-spiced filling. Lastly, as Starbucks always includes various cake pops in their menu, the company featured a Racoon Cake Pop to represent the common sightings of raccoons in the fall.

In 2007, Dunkin began their own autumn tradition with pumpkin donuts and munchkins. Soon after Dunkin noticed the publicity these fall-inspired donuts generated, they included the pumpkin flavor swirl in coffees and it has evolved into a fan favorite ever since. Throughout the years, Dunkin experienced other fall flavors and treats while also branching out to create fall-flavored K cups and creamers sold at grocery stores. 

This year’s fall menu launched August 28, entailing three fall drinks accompanied by six treats. The three drinks include a variety of different flavors providing customers with an assortment of options. The signature Pumpkin Spice Latte also returned to Dunkin, served iced or hot and topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of pumpkin spice syrup. The Almond Spice latte also arrived back this year with a pumpkin swirl, a rich toasted almond shot of espresso and almond milk. This drink, invented in 2016,  underwent improvements to magnify the autumn spice. The Dunkalatte, a brand new drink, features an iced latte combined with rich espresso and Dunkin coffee extract. The Dunkalatee, served iced or hot, represents the original coffee flavor, but in a new form. These drinks pair well with the various fall treats.

“I have only been here [Dunkin] for a few months but I know people ask about our fall drinks year round even if we do not carry them in store. The pumpkin spiced latte is a fan favorite, we carry the pumpkin syrup year round because of that I believe,” magnet senior Dunkin employee Zorian Lang said.

This year an additional six treats arrived on the menu to continue the fall theme. The pumpkin donuts and munchkins announced their annual comeback this year with the inclusion of an apple cider donut, two well-known flavors of the fall season. The pumpkin muffin topped with a sweet glaze and the banana bread stuffed with milk chocolate chips also returned. These fall treats can settle a sweet craving, but the menu also includes savory items. Loaded hash browns include crisped potatoes doused with bacon and jalapeno queso. For a fall twist on this breakfast item, people can enjoy maple sugar seasoned bacon at Dunkin which when added to a breakfast sandwich or the Wake Up wrap satisfies all customers. 

These seasonal drinks by Dunkin and Starbucks welcome in the fall season, and excite customers for autumn. The various flavors and treats bring something for everyone to enjoy until the winter drinks fill stores globally. Hurry to Starbucks and Dunkin to try the newest fall additions.