FALLing into autumn with pumpkin spice lattes

Whether+its+specialty+is+boba+or+caramel%2C+Edmonds+coffee+shops+have+a+wide+variety+of+Pumpkin+Spice+Lattes+to+offer.

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Whether its specialty is boba or caramel, Edmond’s coffee shops have a wide variety of Pumpkin Spice Lattes to offer.

Adeline Gruen, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Every fall many businesses come out with their own line of pumpkin spice scented or flavored items. From pumpkin spice bath bombs to spaghetti noodles, consumers can find it all. Recently, the most popular way to enjoy this spice has been through a pumpkin spice latte (PSL). Almost every coffee shop has its own version though, so which one is the best? This ranking will walk readers through the best, and possibly worst, places to find a PSL in Edmond, Okla. 

5.  Teapioca Lounge

While Teapioca Lounge mostly only serves boba tea, they also have their very own line of pumpkin spice flavored drinks. I ordered the Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino Frappioca with regular boba. This drink was much more expensive than some of the other drinks, coming in at $5.99 with an additional $0.75 fee for adding boba, which the shop is known for. While the drink had a nice traditional pumpkin spice flavor with bits of cinnamon and other spices peeking through, the boba in the drink tasted like chemicals. Since the drink was fine on its own, I would recommend forgoing the boba.

4. Starbucks

Starbucks is the go-to for many in Edmond as there seems to be one around every corner. However, this PSL severely disappointed me. While the drink had a wonderful taste with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled on top for pizzaz, the fact that it was basically 50% ice ruined the beverage for me. The ice also made it fairly hard to drink because the ice would stop the straw from working. With a price tag of $5.75 for just a grande, it was just simply not worth buying.

3. Dunkin Donuts

Dunkin Donuts is another staple for coffee lovers. While they are named after their main commodity, donuts, they also have a wide variety of drinks. Dunkin’s Iced Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte is simply delicious. Not only is this drink the cheapest option of the five mentioned in this ranking ($3.89 for a medium), but it is also one of the tastiest. The drink is creamy with the perfect amount of Pumpkin Spice flavor so that it doesn’t feel overpowering. The only downside is that the cinnamon that is sprinkled on top is quite strong and can take away from the enjoyment of the drink. If someone is looking for a cheap and tasty option, this PSL is the way to go.

2. Summer Moon

Summer Moon, located in the Edmond Railyard, is one of the city’s newest coffee shops. In addition to having many beverage options, they also offer the full moon, half moon and quarter moon lattes, with each one indicating how much creamer the coffee contains. This fall, they offered the “Autumn Moon Latte” which is their own spin on the traditional PSL. This drink had the perfect amount of pumpkin spice. The flavor wasn’t overpowering but it could still be tasted. I ordered the iced version and, compared to other places on this list, it had just the right amount of ice. It was on the pricier side being $5.85 for a medium, but this PSL was definitely worth it. 

1.  Dutch Bros

Dutch Bros opened this summer and soon acquired a long line of cars that has yet to dissipate. This coffeehouse has their own version of the traditional PSL called the Caramel Pumpkin Brûlée which can be ordered hot, iced or blended but I chose the blended version. This drink is slightly cheaper than others featured on this list at $5.65. The thing that made this drink stand out from all the others was its caramel flavor. The caramel added a new height to the enjoyment of the drink, although it did overpower the pumpkin spice a little too much. If you have a big sweet tooth, this is the drink for you.

Even though Dutch Bros won due to its spectacular caramel taste, each coffee shop’s unique take on a PSL was amazing. Unless of course it’s adding boba that tastes like straight up chemicals.

*All prices featured in this list reflect the prices of a medium drink at each respective coffee shop

Contact Adeline Gruen at [email protected]