What’s up world?! Gracie Autumn here to talk about autumn. My favorite season. And it’s not just my favorite because I’m named after the season (or maybe it kind of is??). But seriously, I LOVE cozy sweaters, boots, and anything pumpkin spiced. Speaking of pumpkin spiced, I took it upon myself to FIND the best pumpkin spiced latte (PSL) that’s out there. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be and there was a lot of revising and re-tastings of PSLs to truly find the BEST one in my hometown. In the last few weeks, I’ve tried 10 different PSLs. Now, before I get into which one was the best and all that, I think it’s important for you to know what kind of a coffee drinker I am. This will help you discern which PSLs you want to try. If I thought one PSL was way too sweet and you like sweet drinks, maybe that is the one for you.
I have been drinking coffee since I was two. Yes, two-years-old. I take my coffee in a coffee cup with a little creamer. No sugar. I like a medium/dark roast. I want to be able to TASTE the coffee. Coffee that I always have in my house include Dunkin' Donuts, Scotty P’s coffee (created by Scott Patterson), and occasionally Bagel Lover’s Columbian Roast. Now with that out of the way, let’s talk about the process.
Objective: To find the best PSL and to help YOU find the best PSL. We all have different ideas on what the BEST is, so I’ll do my best to add a few comments on each coffee so you can get a sketch of what each PSL tasted like. Just because I didn’t like one doesn’t mean you will not like it.
Criteria: I judged the 10 different PSLs on three different points each on a scale from 0-5:
Pumpkin Flavor: Does it taste like a pumpkin? This is kind of important.
Spice - Does it have hints of cinnamon? Nutmeg? Does it have that little kick?
Fall Factor: Does it make me think of fall? When I take a sip, am I taken to a pumpkin patch? Do I feel the embrace of a warm cardigan or sweater?
Next, it was time to pick the spots I wanted to try. It would be incredibly hard to try every single PSL in the central PA area (not to mention expensive). So here’s the list of the places I chose and why I picked them:
Dunkin’ Donuts: Duh - the world runs on this stuff. Dunkin' is one of my go-to spots for coffee and it’s what I drink at home most of the time.
Starbucks: I am going to offend a lot of people, but I don’t like Starbucks. If you’re a specialty coffee kind of person, this is your place to go. But when you’re looking for coffee with a little creamer, this is not the place. However, I wanted to do this right and give Starbucks a fair shot. Everyone deserves a fair chance...even Starbucks.
Sheetz: I’ve never known Sheetz to be a coffee place, but a few people suggested it so I put this on the list. I love Sheetz’s burritos so maybe I’d like their PSLs, too?
Saint Thomas Roasters: This is a super cute coffee shop in Linglestown, PA. As I said before, I wanted to check out some local businesses so this was a great place to checkout. Support local businesses, yo!
Cocoa Beanery - This is one of my favorite coffee places located in Hershey, PA. I love meeting friends here. Plus, it’s quiet enough to chill and read.
Cornerstone Coffeehouse - I LOVE this venue in Camp Hill, PA. And their coffee is WONDERFUL!!! They are super artsy and also have a ton of great live music.
Bagel Lovers- This is a great shop in Harrisburg, PA. Excellent bagels, friendly staff, and delicious coffee. How could I not add this place to the list?
Capital Joe’s - My sister-in-law suggested this coffee shop located in Mechanicsburg, PA. I had never been here before. So this gave me a good reason to check it out!
Tomato Pie Cafe - This place in Harrisburg is known for its coffee and chill atmosphere. I like their mac + cheese. Not that that has to do with PSLs.
Coffeemate Pumpkin Spice Creamer - Does this count? I say it does. PSLs get EXPENSIVE so I wanted to offer an alternative. Why spend 4+ dollars on one coffee when you could just purchase this stuff that will cost the same but give you multiple cups??
Well, I think I gave you enough information so let’s get to the judging! First stop - Dunkin’ Donuts!
GRADING SCALE (in case you forgot)
0-5
Criteria: Pumpkin Flavor, Spice Level, Fall Factor.
Day 1: Dunkin’ Donuts:
Pumpkin Flavor - 3
Spice Level - 3
Fall Factor - 4
Total - 10
Overall comments - It was hard to judge this one because it was the first one I had for the season. It was delicious, but I will say it was a bit overwhelming. Yes, it did had a strong pumpkin flavor, I did taste cinnamon, and it made me think of pumpkins even though it was 90 degrees outside. But it was just a lot. It was super sweet and flavorful but I had a hard time grasping what I was supposed to taste. If that makes sense. If you like super sweet drinks, this one is for you.
Day 2: Starbucks
Pumpkin Flavor - 4.5
Spice Level - 4.5
Fall Factor - 4.8
Total: 13.8
Overall comments - Starbucks, you went and surprised me, gosh darn it. I went in thinking I’d hate your PSL, but I enjoyed it. You do know how to make a specialty drink. This one had a nice pumpkin and spice blend. PLUS it made me think of scarves and pumpkins and chilly October days just after the first sip. I ordered a small and that was the perfect amount for me. If I had ordered a larger one, I think it would have been a little too much for me.
Day 3: Sheetz
Pumpkin Flavor - 4.6
Spice level - 4.6
Fall factor 4.1
Total - 13.3
Overall comments - Now this one was kind of tricky to judge because Sheetz has a lot of customizable options - so you can make the PSL of your dreams. I had mine made with almond milk and also added a double espresso and whipped cream. It was delicious! Perhaps I would not get the double espresso next time, but other than that, I loved it! I also liked that I could taste the coffee. It had a nice coffee/pumpkin blend.
Day 4: Saint Thomas Roasters
Pumpkin Flavor - 2
Spice Level - 4
Fall Factor - 2
Total - 8
Overall comments: With this PSL, I did not get a lot of pumpkin taste. It was mostly cinnamon. So if you like cinnamon, I’d suggest this one. If I were meeting a friend at Saint Thomas Roasters, I’d order this, but I would not go out of my way to get this PSL.
Day 5: Cornerstone Coffeehouse
Pumpkin Flavor - 2.2
Spice Level - 2
Fall Factor - 2
Total - 6.2
Overall comments: I was a little disappointed in this PSL. I LOVE this coffee shop as I mentioned before. So I was incredibly surprised that I was not a fan of their PSL. Maybe it was just an off day? I thought it tasted a little weak.
Day 6: Cocoa Beanery
Pumpkin Flavor - 4
Spice Level - 4.4
Fall Factor - 4
Total - 12.4
Overall comments: What I liked about this PSL was that it took a moment for all the flavors to settle. It’s a very 'take the scenic route' kind of PSL. Whereas the Starbucks PSL screamed PSL from the first sip, the one at Cocoa Beanery took a moment to settle. I also liked that it tasted like a natural pumpkin. I also liked that you could also taste the coffee in the drink as well. Good pumpkin/coffee blend. Also, this one had a lot of foam if that's your thing. I do love foam.
Day 7: Bagel Lovers
Pumpkin Flavor - 4.9
Spice Level 5
Fall Factor 5
Total 14.9
Overall comments - This PSL was the essence of fall. It was super flavorful but still tasted natural. I’d highly suggest this one! As with the PSL from Cocoa Beanery, this one also had a nice hint of coffee flavor.
Day 8: Capitol Joe’s
Pumpkin Flavor - 4.4
Spice Level - 5
Fall Factor - 4.8
Total - 14.2
Overall comments: Not only did I like this PSL, but I LOVED the venue. The staff is incredibly friendly and the coffee shop is super cool! I will be back to do some reading...and to have another PSL. :)
Day 9: Tomato Pie Cafe
Pumpkin Flavor - 5
Spice Factor 4.4
Fall Factor - 4
Total - 13.4
Overall comments:
This PSL was very good, too. I'd highly suggest trying this one. I tasted the spices over the pumpkin flavor which was an interesting change. I liked that it was flavorful but not too overpowering. It was sweet, but not overly sweet.
Day 10: Coffeemate Pumpkin Spice Creamer, my house
Pumpkin Flavor - 4
Spice Factor - 3.1
Fall Factor - 4
Total 11.1
Overall Comments - Uh I loved that I could enjoy this PSL without having to get out of my PJs or leave the comfort of my home. YEAH. It was a little sweet for my liking, but I did enjoy it. It tasted like a pumpkin. Good job, Coffeemate! I will note - this stuff flies off the shelves so be sure to get to your grocery store early in the morning to get this stuff. It’s a hot commodity.
AND THAT’S A WRAP! This was one of my favorite research projects I’ve ever worked on. The PSL from Bagel Lovers was definitely my favorite. It was super hard to pick a favorite, but I remember this one really standing out to me. Each PSL had their strengths and weaknesses. Although I had a favorite, I'll definitely be visiting the other places again to take part in their tasty PSLs and cozy atmospheres. Who knows, maybe I'll be visiting Starbucks again.
Thanks to everyone who followed me on this journey! I’m grateful to all those who watched my Instagram stories and suggested coffee shops to try. It’s not every day a coffee shop in the Netherlands comments on your posts about PSLs. I hope this post is helpful to you in finding your favorite PSL. I’d love to know what you think of these PSLs. Happy fall!
Cheers,
-Gracie Autumn
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