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It’s pumpkin spice latte season which is the unofficial marker that autumn is here. With pretty much every coffee shop creating their own version of the festive drink, Mirror writer Niamh decided to see which came out on top
It’s autumn, the leaves are falling and the temperatures have dropped which can only mean one thing: it’s well and truly pumpkin-spiced latte season.
Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no escaping the PSL when pretty much every coffee chain proudly serves its own version of the autumnal drink. It’s the unofficial marker that winter is on its way, and as a true lover of the cinnamon-spiced hot drink, I always get my yearly fix as soon as they come back into stock. Starbucks arguably began the pumpkimn spice craze, but now they’ve got competition on their hands from rival chains.
Greggs announced they have concocted their own PSL back in August, and TikTok-viral underdog Blank Street sent fans into a frenzy with an Instagram post unveiling their autumn line up including Banana Bread Matcha and Pumpkin Spice Latte. Meanwhile, Pret has also joined in on the seasonal fun.
With hot drinks costing an arm and a leg these days, it’s difficult to know which one to spend your hard-earned money on. Luckily I’ve done all the hard work for you by trying this season’s offerings to see who does it best…
Pret – £4.40
Pret’s pumpkin spiced latte was a real journey. As a Pret lover, I was hoping this would become a firm favourite but sadly, it just didn’t even come close. It had a seriously strong spice taste as soon as I took my first sip, and this may well have been down to the clumpy sprinkles on top. I also didn’t enjoy the bitter aftertaste either as it almost tasted burnt.
The clumps also seemed to have seeped into the coffee which wasn’t a pleasant experience – it was just too overpowering. I couldn’t really taste any pumpkin in it, but they got a bonus point for being hotter than Starbucks and having a lot more foam. I think I’ll just stick to my regular Pret latte next time.
1/5
Blank Street – £4.70
I’ve only just clocked onto the Blank Street coffee hype, so I was excited to try their take on the PSL. Known for their unique matcha flavours, the micro chain is renowned for its experimental flavourings.
As soon as I took my first sip I was hit with an extremely strong taste of spice, it was quite a to so you have to be a true pumpkin spice lover to enjoy this. I thought it was delicious even though it was a lot stronger than other contenders. Although I went for the large, it was still the smallest out of the four and for £4.70 it is is pretty pricey.
4/5
Greggs – £2.95
I am a big Greggs coffee fan – it always offers great value for money. But does its PSL live up to expectations? For just £2.95 it was the cheapest of the four, and it was surprisingly good. It was a smooth coffee, with a good amount of foam.
There were hints of spice but it wasn’t too strong and it didn’t have the bitterness that Pret had. It also didn’t leave too much of an aftertaste but it did taste extremely sugary. I don’t think it’s a strong contender against Starbucks and Blank Street, but for the price you can’t complain at all. If you want a nice autumnal treat at a reasonable price, I think this is your best option.
3/5
Starbucks – £5.55
My go-to for my PSL fix, Starbucks’ offering was most expensive out of the four I tried, coming in at a whopping £5.55, so I was expecting big things. Starbucks holds the crown for being one of the original creators of the drink and as soon as I took my first sip, I knew it was going to be pretty tough to beat. It’s also by far the biggest out of the four – I opted for a grande, which is their ‘medium’ size and they were also the only store to offer cream on top.
The coffee was smooth and creamy, with the hint of spices coming through straight away, followed by a rich aftertaste. The pumpkin and cinnamon notes weren’t too overpowering either, which was nice. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
The drink got extra points for its unusual orange colour, which made it stand out in the crowd. Overall, this one has the best pumpkin flavour and isn’t overshadowed by the spices.
Rating: 5/5
The verdict: Best pumpkin spice latte
I think it’s fair to say that all of these chain’s recipes differ, but my heart still lies with Starbucks. The brand has managed to perfect the blend of the pumpkin flavour, coffee and subtle spices – it truly is an autumn treat.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the Greggs offering. Although it was a weaker brew than the rest, it’s the best value for money – and tasted much better than the Pret one. It’s safe to say I’ve had my fair share of pumpkin spice lattes to keep me going until they’re back next autumn.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
