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Being a caffeine addict, you will frequently see me in the Starbucks drive thru and I was thrilled when I heard that their fall menu was making a return.
Starbucks recently reintroduced its fall menu on Sunday, Aug. 22 for its 20th anniversary. Along with some old favorites, new items were also released in celebration of the occasion.
The 2023 fall menu included two new drinks: the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte and the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
I had the chance to try both drinks and I have been craving the Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte (with oat milk) ever since. I would not have expected the pumpkin spice and chai to go so well together, the drink was the perfect embodiment of fall, with just the right hint of pumpkin spice in the cold foam and a chai flavor that wasn’t too overbearing. Now, some may argue that this drink can be easily made from home, but for it being just $5.25 for a grande (without any adjustment), I think it was worth every single buck.
On the other hand, the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso was one of the worst drinks I’ve ever had from Starbucks. Truly, the apple syrup tasted like a candle. When I took my first sip, the artificial green apple smell instantly hit me in the face; it felt like I just walked into Bath and Body Works. Honestly, I thought I was drinking medicine; I was at a loss of words for it. Out of all the fall drinks, this has to be my least favorite.
Along with new drinks, Starbucks also released a bakery item: the Baked Apple Croissant. However, I would not spend my money on this again. Now I might be biased, I don’t like apples, but personally, the apple flavor was just too strong and completely overtook the croissant, which only made the item worse. The croissant also had actual apple chunks in it, making it very soggy. I just think Starbucks could’ve done better with both of these apple/apple-flavored items.
Although not a new drink, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was (and has always been) a classic in my books. The cold brew has a hint of vanilla syrup and pairs wonderfully with the subtle pumpkin cream cold foam. This is what I get when I’m in the mood for coffee since I am not the biggest fan of the pumpkin spice latte. This is also a way “healthier” option, which is another plus.
I hate to say it, but I feel like Starbucks has had better days with its fall menu. Although some items quickly climbed on my favorites list, like the Pumpkin Cream Chai, other items like the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the Apple Croissant were just disappointing. Nonetheless, I would recommend going to Starbucks to try one of these new fall items for the perfect kickstart to your fall day.
