As someone who is a former barista, I believe that pumpkin spice is an overrated flavor to represent the fall season. 

Don’t get me wrong, I loved carving pumpkins as a kid and still enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie, but the hype of pumpkin spiced lattes from Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee is an over-representation of fall marketing.

The seasonal trend of pumpkin spice lattes from your favorite corporate coffee chains are linked to consumerism to drive profits. 

For example, foot traffic for United States Starbucks rose by 24% on Aug. 22, 2024 when the pumpkin spice lattes launched compared to previous traffic on Thursdays, according to an Aug. 26 article from Associated Press. 

Pumpkin was not a popular flavor and was limited to pumpkin pie, until Starbucks created the new fall flavor, according to an Aug. 24, 2023 article from Tasting Table. 

In 2003, Starbucks had developed a pumpkin spice latte recipe and tested it in over 100 stores in Vancouver, Canada and Washington, D.C.

By 2006, customers had shared on social media that they love pumpkin spice lattes with friends and family, according to an Aug. 23, 2023 article from Starbucks. 

When I was a barista at Peet’s Coffee, the seasonal pumpkin spice syrup we had from Monin tasted artificial and too sweet for me. 

From a business standpoint, I can understand why Starbucks releases the pumpkin spice drinks out in August to make money for the usual business corporate coffee chain. 

It makes no sense, it’s just Starbucks pushing a business agenda earlier into the year. 

It is similar to how businesses and retailers have fall items appear in stores earlier in the year to make more profit from Halloween, according to an Aug. 22, 2024 article from Scripps News.

When I was a barista, we had our training for the fall seasonal drinks in August.

The seasonal drinks would be out on the menu for the public to order by September. 

August is a summer month, not a fall month. 

Particularly, my annoyance for pumpkin spice lattes stems from my experience as a barista.

The trauma of the holiday season rush always started with the fall seasonal launches for me. 

The repeated orders of having to make pumpkin spice lattes over and over again was exhausting.

Especially with how sweet and artificial the syrup smelled to me, it made me dislike it even more. 

I am not saying to get rid of pumpkin spice off of the drinks menu but we just need to stop putting an overemphasis on the pumpkin spice flavoring and try something different. 

I think maple syrup is an underrated flavor and should be more representative of fall because how pretty maple trees change in color during the fall season. 

I feel like maple syrup is such a versatile ingredient that does not get enough hype. 

Maple lattes, to me as a coffee drinker, are underrated during the fall season.

It’s not too sweet for my liking and pairs well with espresso. 

It can be used as a sweetener, a glaze for meats and vegetables, used with sauces and in desserts, according to a Feb. 24, 2024 Heaven’s Honey article . 

Every year, hearing about the pumpkin spice lattes returning in August just makes me feel like there is nothing new for the fall season.

I just wish there were a new flavor that would add more excitement for the fall season instead of pumpkin.