The Pumpkin Spice Latte is not the only drink being raved about this season due to the release of two new drinks added to their fall line, Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte. Starbucks definitely is known for its fall drinks and every year it does not disappoint. With the flavors of apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, and more, it truly can turn the chilly fall into a warm embrace from your autumn drink.
Honestly, going into both of these drinks I thought I wouldn’t be very keen to like them, particularly because of my dislike for apples and chai tea. But, nevertheless, I decided to pick both drinks up at my local Starbucks and was very much surprised.
To start our drink adventure, I tried the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and was overwhelmed by how much I enjoyed it. The apple flavor was very subtle and did not overwhelm the drink at all and mixed quite nicely with the oat milk. Putting apple into an espresso drink was very much a bold choice considering how strong and bitter espresso is, combined with the sweet apple taste, but I thought it wasn’t too sweet or too bitter creating a perfect fall drink. Obviously with the oat milk added, the espresso wasn’t as intense which created an equal distribution between the flavors. The oat milk made the drink very savory as well as carried a certain thickness to the drink that made it feel more cozy, which is great for the autumn season. I really enjoyed this drink and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves coffee but doesn’t want anything too sweet or too bitter.
“I think the drinks are a great addition this time of year,” says Senior Ashley Drury. “Starbucks is really good at adding holiday drinks and makes you look forward to the season, but I would definitely get this drink again!”
The next and final drink on this list is the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte and for the pumpkin lovers, this one is perfect for you. During the autumn season, it is a huge trend to add pumpkin into every food and/or beverage imaginable, which is why I was so hesitant to try this in the first place, since to the odd pair of chai and pumpkin. Upon my first sip, I was, similarly to the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, taken aback by how much I loved this beverage. The chai and pumpkin mixed very well together, almost too well considering I couldn’t taste the chai tea until I was halfway done with my refreshment. The pumpkin cream foam was a very nice addition to the drink, creating a whole new world of flavor. Many customers of Starbucks said that the drink was overly sweet, and while I thought the flavors weren’t too overbearing I could see why other reviewers might say that. The drink is very sweet but I didn’t mind this aspect so much considering I am very biased with sweet coffee. Overall, my only critique is that more chai could have been added to the drink, but I would recommend this beverage to anyone who likes coffee more on the sweeter side.
Starbucks is a top-tier holiday coffee shop for fall and these new drinks were an excellent addition to their menus. Definitely check these drinks out this season to get into the autumn spirit!
