As leaves turn shades of orange, yellow and red, and pumpkins line the outside of grocery stores, many coffee shops are releasing fall flavored drinks. From pumpkin spiced chais to maple brown sugar lattes, we were determined to find the best one. We went to five coffee shops near Lincoln and asked each barista for their most “stand-out” fall drink.
Coco Donuts: Maple Brown Sugar Latte (8oz – $5.75) ★★☆☆☆
Our first drink brought promises of syrupy sweet fall moments. What we received was an utter disappointment. The first let down of many was the price. For an eight ounce drink, we paid $0.72 per ounce, making it our most expensive by far. The drink tasted more like a plain latte with a subtle scent of roasted sugar the same way a La Croix emits subtle scent of fruits. While Coco Donuts’ Maple Brown Sugar Latte isn’t a bad latte, it’s definitely not a great fall drink.
Hof: Pumpkin Spice Chai (12oz – $5.40) ★★★☆☆
Up next was the Pumpkin Spice Chai from the Fehrenbacher Hof cafe. We appreciated the real pumpkin taste in the drink, however the chai flavor was lacking. The drink was sweet, but not too sweet and had a nice, warm taste. While it’s an upgrade from the Maple Brown Sugar Latte, the drink was overall mediocre.
Blue Star: Pumpkin Chai Latte (12oz – $6.25) ★★★☆☆
Blue Star’s Pumpkin Chai Latte was a slight upgrade from the Hof’s. Whereas the prior was lacking in chai, Blue Star nailed it. The flavors were defined and had all the spiciness that should be present in fall drinks. However, what it made up for in chai, it lacked in pumpkin. The pumpkin flavor was present, however more as a middletaste, never making a strong appearance. Overall, the drink is a good introduction to the taste of fall.
Starbucks: Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte (16oz – $6.15) ★★★★☆
Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte has been the talk of the town. For the most part, we agree. With a perfect pumpkin flavor and dash of pumpkin spice, the pumpkin cold foam is revolutionary; it carries the drink. However, the chai is overly sweet and lacking in spice. Overall though, the flavor profile is so “fall.” We love it.
Lincoln Coffee Cart – Brown Sugar Pumpkin Spice Latte (12oz – $5.00) ★★★★★
Lastly, we put Lincoln’s very own coffee cart to the test. Their Brown Sugar Pumpkin Spice Latte, was everything we’d dream of in a fall drink. It had a delicate sweetness, but was not overly sweet, and a great balance of syrup flavor with coffee. Our only complaint would be that it could taste a little more pumpkiny. With a fresh, warm and inviting taste, the Lincoln Coffee Cart landed itself in first place.
