If you make a purchase using our provided links, we may receive a commission. Learn more here.
Fall is here, and that always sends me looking for Starbucks drinks that lean into cinnamon, apple, and a bit of warmth for a cool morning.
I like trying the menu one chilly day at a time, especially when the drinks move between spice, apple, and different levels of milkiness.
A proper autumn walk feels incomplete without a coffee stop, and these are usually the drinks I think about first when the weather turns crisp.
10 Best Starbucks fall drinks (New & older classics)
Here are my top picks for fall-inspired drinks at Starbucks. I tend to start at the top and work down, mostly because the sweeter drinks and the more coffee-forward ones feel easier to compare that way.
Some lean indulgent, some feel lighter, and a few sit in the middle depending on how much sweetness I want in the cup.
1. Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (New For 2023)
One of the new kids on the Starbucks block has really shaken up the fall drink scene.
The Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso gives the Shaken Blonde Espresso a clear fall twist.
With apple brown sugar crisp syrup and oatmilk, it still reads as coffee-first, but the apple comes through immediately and hangs around as it cools.
What I liked most was the balance. It feels more like a coffee break than a dessert drink, even with the sweeter apple note and creamier oatmilk.
I was curious about this one from the first time I saw it, and it delivered. The apple flavour stays noticeable without drowning out the espresso or turning the whole drink syrupy.
In terms of nutrition, the grande Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso contains:
2. Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte (New For 2023)
Another new drink on the Starbucks fall menu is the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte, and I was keen to try it because it sounded like a shortcut to autumn.
This drink used to be a TikTok Starbucks secret menu drink, but now it gets the ultimate honor of crowning the new season.
It is still a little different from the version most people already know.
It starts with the iced chai latte base, pumpkin cold foam, and pumpkin spice, but the version I tried skipped the pumpkin sauce, which made it feel a little less layered.
That extra sauce does make a difference. Without it, the drink is still good, but it feels flatter and less rounded on the tongue.
Overall, it comes across as creamy and comforting from the first sip, with enough chai spice to keep it from tasting one-note.
A grande Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte contains:
3. Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato
I was skeptical about the Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato. This is its third year on the fall menu, and I did not love it back in 2021 because it reminded me of a fall candle in the wrong way.
This year's Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato tasted cleaner to me.
It takes creamy oatmilk, ice, blonde espresso, apple brown sugar syrup, and spiced apple drizzle, and the result feels lighter and cleaner than I remembered.
The first thing I noticed was the cinnamon and apple together, which gave it a cereal-like nostalgia without making it heavy or cloying.
A Grande Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato contains:
4. Pumpkin Spice Latte (The Classic)
The Pumpkin Spice Latte still feels like the drink that tells me fall has started at Starbucks.
It is hard to imagine autumn without it showing up first on the menu.
It is a classic, but I still have mixed feelings about it because I do not always want that much pumpkin spice in one cup.
I hate to say it, but the bright orange colour and the sweetness were both more than I wanted, and my cup also had a bit of oil separation on top.
I can see why it stays a fan favourite, though I reach for other drinks in the fall lineup more often. I still pick one up now and then for the nostalgia and that familiar spice hit.
A grande classic Pumpkin Spice Latte has:
5. Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
I have something to confess: I love a good Frappuccino, and fall menu season never helps.
I especially like this Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino because it tastes familiar from the first sip.
It uses the classic Frappuccino base, gets topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice sauce, and finishes with a dusting of pumpkin pie spices.
It comes across rich, sweet, and very pumpkin-heavy, closer to pie spice than a subtle coffee drink.
The grande Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino has:
6. Caramel Apple Spice
I adore apple juice. Give me a glass of it, and it usually disappears fast before I have time to think about it.
Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice is basically warmed apple juice dressed up with cinnamon dolce syrup, whipped cream, and caramel sauce, which is why it feels familiar so quickly.
I tend to skip the whipped cream because I like the drink a little lighter, but it works either way. Without it, the apple and cinnamon stay clearer and the texture feels less heavy.
It is one of the sweeter hot drinks on the menu, but I still come back to it when I want something simple, cosy, and not coffee-based.
The grande Caramel Apple Spice contains:
7. Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Starbucks' Hot Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato is the kind of drink that feels cosy as soon as you pick it up.
The apple and coffee flavors from the syrup and Starbucks blonde espresso blend well together while not being too sweet.
If you like warm baked apple, this leans in that direction. I found it smoother with whipped cream, which softens the edges and gives the drink a fuller finish.
A grande Hot Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato has:
8. Chai Tea Latte
and it still feels like a nostalgia pick for me.
It still brings back long study sessions and homework breaks with something warm beside me, even if I do not miss the deadlines themselves.
Black tea, milk, and hot water mix with chai concentrate to make a sweet, cosy drink with a spiced tea flavour that still tastes recognisably like tea.
I sometimes switch to oat milk because it gives the drink a thicker mouthfeel and a slightly softer finish.
The grande Chai Latte contains:
9. Apple Crisp Frappuccino
If you liked the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, the Frappuccino version keeps a similar flavour idea but makes it colder and thicker.
I loved the caramel apple smell and thought it was just toying on the edge of too sweet. Still, this is a great Starbucks drink for any kids (or grownups) with a sweet tooth.
Some people read this as a pumpkin spice apple candle, but I did not get that. If I were ordering it for myself, I would probably choose a tall because it feels rich enough to be a lot in one sitting.
A grande Apple Crisp Frappuccino has:
10. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
The last newcomer in this year's fall drink lineup is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
I have always liked Starbucks cold brew, so this was the one I was most curious about when it was announced.
It features a classic cold brew base sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and pumpkin spice.
I expected it to be a little sweeter than my usual cold brews, but the cold foam gives it a softer, creamier finish than I first assumed, almost like it rounds off the bitterness before it gets too sharp.
In the end, I enjoyed it more than I expected. It is definitely an indulgence, but the coffee still comes through under the foam.
The Grande Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew contains:
The release date for Starbucks’ fall menu typically starts in late August, with the inaugural date being August 24th this year.
From there, you can get your seasonal pumpkin fix in the form of coffee and other Starbucks hot drinks, as well as pair it with sweet treats like the new baked apple croissant.
How long the Starbucks fall menu lasts varies by location, but it usually runs into November and sometimes a little later.
What fall syrup flavors does Starbucks have?
You can’t get a real Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte without some seasonal Starbucks syrup flavors.
Other classic syrups that you see year-round can still be used to customize your drinks, but the stars of fall are:
FAQs
How many calories are in Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam?
There are around 90 calories in Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam.
How long does Starbucks sell fall drinks?
That is usually the part that gets me trying the fall drinks sooner rather than later, before I have to wait another year for them.
Why does Starbucks have seasonal drinks?
Starbucks seasonal drinks are part of what makes fall feel a little more distinct, especially if you already like pumpkin spice.
Get ready for sweater weather with these drinks!
Now that fall is here, I am ready for the pumpkin spice craving to show up properly again.
There is enough variety here for a coffee run after a walk, a study session, or a very sweet afternoon break.
