Day 23: Results of the Pumpkin Challenge

If it wasn't for Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, I would never have started drinking coffee. I would be calmer, thinner, and have a whole heap more money in my bank account. Sadly, I was not immune to its siren song and have been obsessed (and addicted to caffiene)since my sophomore year of college. Yet, Cassie posed an interesting question? With the current plethora of pumpkin pumpkin beverages, which is the best and where can I go to get my fix? I had to take this one to the streets--

Dunkin Donuts:
Offerings: Pumpkin latte, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin packaged coffee
Consensus: Remember when DD wasn't that big a deal? They made donuts. And that's what you bought there. But now with it's magical coffee blend, it rivals Starbucks for sales and has a whole new look. I tried both the latte and the coffee here. The latte was good, not great. The pumpkin spice was too mild, making the drink a little bland. It felt like I was drinking a regular latte with just a touch of spice. On the other hand, my boyfriend ordered a pumpkin ICED coffee with milk and sugar, and my tongue felt violated by how sweet it was. Seriously, that sugary syrup punched me right in the face. Perhaps, it was just the barista we had that day. But overall, not great.
Grade: C

The Bean Exchange:
Offerings: They boast that they can make ANY drink taste like Pumpkin.
Consensus: Usually, I adore the south of South St Bean Exchange. They have $1 from 6am-7am which is sometimes the only thing that gets me to work. I tried a pumpkin spice latte there, and while it was good, I was expecting better from a place that is not a chain. It had too much ginger and tasted more spicy than pumpkinny.
Grade: B

Starbucks:
Offerings: Pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin spice frappucino, pumpkin spice coffee
Consensus: Sorry, friend. I'm gonna have to go corporate on this one. Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes are my fall icon. They are not too sweet, but not too mild and have a nice balance between pumpkin and spice. Also, Pumpkin Frappucino?? Come on. I mean, come ON. It's a perfect treat for those "It's a little too warm to be fall" days. PLUS, while Starbucks takes Pumpkin Spice off the menu a little bit after the red cups come out, a barista told me in secret that they actually keep it in stock until February! Keep the pumpkin feeling alive!
Grade: A

Don't overthink it, reader. If you really need a pumpkin pick-me up, Green Mountain makes Pumpkin Spice K-cups (which is really the only good thing Green Mountatin makes), Wawa has a Pumpkin Spice pot brewing these days, and most of your little coffee shops can humor you at this time of year. I'm sorry I had to go with the big dogs; I guess I'm a Starbucks zombie afterall.

Oh and check out this funny blog about men and girly drinks