15 Best Starbucks pumpkin drinks I look forward to every year

15 Best Starbucks Pumpkin Drinks (Popular fall orders)

Starbucks’ P umpkin spice drinks usually become available at the end of August, which is perfect for cheering you up as the nights get darker.

That is usually my cue that fall drinks are back.

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL)

The best Starbucks pumpkin spice drink is without a doubt the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s a classic choice that has been kicking off autumn for 20 years!

The first sip is creamy, spiced, and familiar, but the espresso keeps it from tasting like pumpkin pie in a cup. I notice the cinnamon and nutmeg first, then the milk softens the finish.

I still remember trying my first ever PSL while visiting the UK with friends. I instantly loved this smooth and cozy twist on my morning coffee.

When PSL season rolls around, I taste more pumpkin pie spice than actual pumpkin, which is part of why it feels tied to fall for me.

The Grande pumpkin spice latte has 380 calories, 50g of sugar, and 150mg of caffeine.

2. Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino  

Sometimes I’m looking to shake things up when it comes to my regular pumpkin spice latte – enter the Frappuccino version!

A PSL in milkshake form featuring all my favorite pumpkin spice flavors? Sign me up!

The vanilla, coffee, and milk give it a milkshake-like base, and the pumpkin spice sits on top rather than leading. That makes it taste less sharp than the hot latte.

I would not reach for it on a cold morning, but on a warm afternoon it feels lighter than the hot version.

Grande size has 420 calories, 66g of sugar, and 100mg of caffeine.

3. Pumpkin Spice Creme 

One of my go-to comfort drinks after a long day is steamed milk with honey and cinnamon, so the Pumpkin Spice Creme feels like the Starbucks version of that habit.

The pumpkin, spice, and extra creamy milk give it a softer, rounder taste than the coffee drinks on this list, and the texture is what makes it work for me. It feels thick enough to slow you down without getting heavy.

The Pumpkin Spice Creme well-balanced and not overly sweet or strong. It’s similar to drinking a warm version of pumpkin ice cream – and who could hate that?

It is the kind of drink I order when I want something warm, quiet, and easy to finish.

Grande size has 400 calories, 52g of sugar, and no caffeine.

4. Salted Caramel Pumpkin Frappuccino 

The Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramel Frappuccino is what I reach for when I want something dessert-like and colder than a standard pumpkin drink.

The caramel gives the pumpkin more depth, while the salt keeps the sweetness from turning flat. I like that it makes the spice seem a little more obvious after a few sips.

This unique take on the classic PSL Frappuccino has me hooked – I can’t stop coming back for more!

It tastes cool, sweet, and a little more interesting than a standard pumpkin Frappuccino, which is why I tend to drink it in the afternoon.

5. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate 

The Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate is one of the better hot pumpkin drinks at Starbucks for me.

It takes me right back to sipping on hot chocolate as a child, leaving me with a cozy feeling every time. Now I order one for my nieces and nephews when I go to visit!

The mocha base gives the steamed milk a darker edge, and that makes the pumpkin spice sauce taste less sugary than it does in some sweeter drinks. The chocolate also keeps it in hot-cocoa territory instead of tipping fully into pie territory.

The Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate is one of my favorite hot drinks at Starbucks. It’s the perfect winter warmer when I’m looking for a coffee alternative.

6. Pumpkin Caramel Macchiato 

When I want a change from my usual grande Caramel Macchiato, I turn it into a pumpkin-flavored version for fall. It keeps the familiar caramel base, but the pumpkin makes it feel more seasonal.

The first time I saw this drink pop up, it went straight onto my seasonal try-list.

The caramel and pumpkin taste sweet together, but the vanilla syrup keeps the drink smooth instead of one-note. The sweetness reads more like a layered caramel dessert than a syrup overload.

The espresso and milk still matter here, because they cut through the sweetness and keep the whole drink from feeling heavy.

I love ordering mine hot but the iced version is great for those suprisingly mild fall afternoons.

7. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew 

Cold brew goes through phases with me, and the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is the version that pulled me back in. It gives me pumpkin flavor without losing the coffee edge I want from cold brew.

It has become one of the more dependable pumpkin coffee orders on the menu.

The Starbucks pumpkin cream cold foam is what makes this cold brew coffee unique. The cold foam is beautifully frothy, sweet, and slightly spicy from the pumpkin spice sauce.

The cold brew base gives it a deeper, more bitter edge, while the pumpkin cream softens it enough to keep the drink from feeling too sharp. I notice the contrast right away, especially after a sip of the creamier fall drinks above it.

The pumpkin cream cold brew contains 250 calories, 31g of sugar, and 185mg of caffeine.

8. Nitro Cold Brew With Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam 

On mornings when regular coffee barely gets me moving, Nitro Cold Brew is usually where I start.

The Nitro Cold Brew is served on draft and infused with nitrogen, which gives it a smooth texture and a more velvety mouthfeel than standard iced coffee. The first thing I notice is how little edge it has compared with a normal cold brew.

That texture makes the pumpkin version feel richer than I expected, even before the caffeine kicks in.

The Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam is the most caffeinated drink on the Starbucks menu, and it packs a punch.

If I want pumpkin flavor plus a serious lift, this is the one I pick.

9. Iced Vanilla Chai With Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam 

Vanilla chai is already one of my favorite tea drinks, so adding oat pumpkin cream cold foam felt like an easy seasonal upgrade. The spices in the chai already set up the pumpkin flavor nicely.

As a noted tea lover, this hits the spot every time. Also, due to its low caffeine level, I can enjoy it at any time of the day, unlike coffee.

The vanilla softens the chai spice, and the pumpkin topping makes the drink taste warmer and creamier without taking over. I like that the oat milk keeps the finish smooth.

When I want more pumpkin, I ask for extra pumpkin spice sauce or syrup, because a little extra on top changes the whole cup. It pushes the spice closer to the surface without drowning out the chai.

If I want it lighter, I cut back on the syrup pumps or go smaller, since the drink can tip sweet quickly.

10. Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte 

I like it just as much iced as I do hot, which is not something I say about every pumpkin drink.

When all the apple-picking and pie baking has me needing to cool down, the Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte is a must-have.

Compared with sweeter iced drinks like the Iced Mocha Latte, this one stays more balanced and leaves a lighter finish. The pumpkin is still there, but it does not hang around as a syrupy aftertaste.

A little caramel drizzle and extra pumpkin spice topping can push it toward dessert territory, but I usually keep it simple.

11. Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino 

I was genuinely happy to find a pumpkin drink in Frappuccino form that still felt like a comfort drink instead of straight sugar.

The Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino is the iced, coffee-free version of that cozy flavor, and it leans harder into texture than caffeine.

Sipping this while on a fall walk with friends really had me feeling the warm and fuzzies – despite the cold ice on my tongue.

It is built around creamy, frothy milk, whipped cream, and pumpkin spice, so the texture is closer to a milkshake than a coffee. The cold, airy feel is what makes the flavor seem lighter than the hot creme drink.

Grande size has 350 calories, 48g of sugar, and no caffeine.

12. Pumpkin Chai Latte 

This is one of the better lower-calorie pumpkin options for tea drinkers when I want something seasonal but not too heavy.

It used to sit on the secret menu, but it is now a familiar fall order, and the chai base makes it lighter than the PSL. I still think of it as one of the easiest pumpkin drinks to enjoy when I want spice without a strong coffee taste.

It’s similar to the PSL but is much lighter and aromatic thanks to the spiced black tea.

There are days when I prefer the lighter, tea-forward taste of the Pumpkin Chai Latte to the PSL.

I reach for it on cool autumn mornings or in the afternoon when I want pumpkin spice without as much coffee intensity.

13. Pumpkin Pie Frappuccino 

I have always liked the idea of pumpkin pie in a cup, and this one gets surprisingly close in a cold format.

It works as a dessert drink, but I also like it on a hot day because the pumpkin and spice still come through cold. That contrast makes it feel more like a treat than a routine coffee order.

It really does feel like I’m sipping on iced coffee and eating pumpkin pie with lashings of whipped cream – just in milkshake form!

The result is rich and creamy enough to satisfy a sweet tooth without feeling completely like a standard latte.

14. Harry Potter’s Pumpkin Juice  

I am an apple juice fiend, so this one was an easy yes for me.

This is an ideal Starbucks pumpkin drink for anyone who doesn’t want caffeine jitters.

It is sweet, apple-forward, and lightly spiced, which is why I keep coming back to it.

This nostalgic secret-menu drink only shows up during fall, so I try to enjoy it while it lasts. It tastes most like a fall apple drink when the spice stays in the background.

I sometimes order it hot when the weather turns, and it works well either way.

It is also one I would happily order at the end of the day or for kids who want something sweeter.

15. Pumpkin Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso 

Some days I cannot decide between a Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso, so this drink feels like a practical compromise. It gives me the comfort of pumpkin with a coffee profile that still tastes awake.

The brown sugar gives it an almost caramel-like flavor, too, adding some sweetness but without making it too overpowering.

It brings in pumpkin spice sauce and topping for flavor, but the shaken espresso keeps the coffee stronger than most sweeter pumpkin drinks. I also like that the espresso stays visible in the taste instead of disappearing under the milk.

This shaken espresso feels like drinking fall in a glass . For me, t his is one of the best brown sugar flavored drinks at Starbucks.

It has 250 calories, 31g of sugar, and 185mg of caffeine.

How to order a Starbucks Pumpkin Drink? (Tips & tricks)

Ordering a Starbucks pumpkin drink is easy because the seasonal add-ons can be built into plenty of different drinks, which is how I usually customize them.

The pumpkin cold foam and pumpkin spice topping can be added to any beverage of your choice.

You can add pumpkin flavor syrup or sauce to hot or cold drinks.

If you add pumpkin syrup to a drink, it will cost you approximately 50c. The price of a Starbucks PSL varies, but it usually lands around $4.45 to $5.45.

If I am trying to keep a pumpkin drink lighter, I ask for less whipped cream and a milk like oat milk. That keeps it creamy without making it feel as rich as the full version.

If I want it sweeter without much extra effort, I use a packet of Splenda.

FAQs

How many calories are in Starbucks pumpkin flavoring?

One pump of Starbucks pumpkin spice syrup adds around 30 calories and 7.5 grams of sugar to your drink. The pumpkin spice sauce has approximately 55 calories per tablespoon serving, which is why the drinks can change fast once you start customizing them.

Does Starbucks use real pumpkins?

One detail that surprised me the first time I read about it was that Starbucks did not use real pumpkins in its sauces and syrups until 2015.

What is the newest pumpkin drink at Starbucks?

One of the newest pumpkin drinks at Starbucks is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. I highly recommend this coffee to people who want a strong Starbucks drink.

Summary - Try one this fall!

The Starbucks secret menu gives you plenty of options, but it can also make choosing one harder than it should be.

My personal favorites are the PSL, Pumpkin Spice Creme, and Pumpkin Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, because each one gives me a different take on the same seasonal flavor. Those are the drinks I end up returning to when I want a familiar order instead of a gamble.

If you want caffeine, something iced, or a warmer pumpkin spice hot chocolate, this list covers most of the usual fall moods without locking you into one style.