Many people look forward to the start of September because it means going back to school, savoring the cool weather and watching leaves fall.
Others, however, can’t wait until September because they know it means a return to the pumpkin spice season.
Starbucks invented the pumpkin spice latte (PSL for short), a hot coffee beverage made with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, 20 years ago at the coffee chain’s Seattle headquarters.
“Nobody knew at the beginning what it would grow to be,” said Peter Dukes, inventor of the PSL, on the Starbucks website. “20 years later, it’s taken on a life of its own.”
In the years since, consumers have been bombarded with countless other pumpkin spice products, including candles, cookies, cheesecakes, alcoholic beverages, and even pumpkin spice-scented butt wipes.
While many fads have come and gone, it appears that pumpkin spice-everything is here to stay. Starbucks reportedly sold more than 20 million PSLs in 2022, according to CNN, and the drink is considered the company’s best seasonal seller.
So, it’s only natural that local coffee shops jump on the trend, adding their own takes on the popular beverage.
Jefferson County’s coffee shops are throwing their all into the autumn season, not only with their own rendition of the PSL, but also with energy drinks, frappuccinos and spiced doughnuts designed to suit every pumpkin spice-lover’s fall fancy.
On the Grind, Grind Coffee House
On the Grind at 1277 N. Truman Blvd. in Crystal City and Grind Coffee, 4561 Gravois Road, in House Springs began their fall drink offerings on Sept. 1.
Tabitha Shular, a barista at the Crystal City location, said the shop has brought back a few favorite drinks and offers some new ones to try.
“The campfire chai is something we’ve never done before,” she said. “It has toasted marshmallow syrup, with cinnamon and shaken espresso.”
Also available is the pumpkin latte, which Shular said includes a concentrated pumpkin. While Shular said the Hocus Pocus energy drink was a popular option on the first day of the seasonal offerings, she prefers the Witch’s Brew drink, a slightly carbonated dark purple drink that tastes like grape Kool-Aid.
The shop’s Frankenstein frappe is a frozen drink made with matcha powder and blended chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Twin Pikes Roastery
Twin Pikes Roastery, 2528 Gravois Road, in High Ridge offers a “decadent” pumpkin spice frappe, owner Matt Macheca said.
“Our pumpkin spice frappe is made from scratch,” he said. “I’m not a sweet tooth kind of guy, but customers love the pumpkin spice. It’s basically pumpkin pie in a drink.”
Macheca said the pumpkin spice flavoring can be added to pretty much any drink, including lattes, macchiatos and frappuccinos.
The shop also offers two fall-themed Lotus drinks: caramel apple and bonfire. The bonfire drink is described on the shop’s Facebook page as a blue raspberry beverage with “toasted marshmallow super cream.”
“I just handed the drink to a customer out the window and she said, ‘It’s delicious,’” Macheca said. “My daughter and the customer agree that it tastes like a blue Jolly Rancher, with just a bit more sweetness from the marshmallow cream.”
Star Cafe
Star Cafe, 2868 Seckman Road, in Imperial released its fall menu on Sept. 1. The specialty drinks, only available in a large 24-ounce size, include the pumpkin spice latte, the pumpkin cheesecake protein shake and the Harvest Moon Lotus energy drink. Lotus is a naturally caffeinated drink that can be carbonated and customized.
Melissa Schnable, owner of the shop, said the drink menu changes once a month.
“We have different flavors in October and November,” she said. “We try not to gear toward all pumpkin (flavors) because some people don’t like pumpkin. I also hate to release pumpkin too early because it’s a three-month stretch that pumpkin is popular.”
The traditional pumpkin spice latte has a toned-down pumpkin flavor, with a prominent coffee taste, and the thick and rich pumpkin cheesecake protein shake has no coffee in it and tastes like a pumpkin pie blended with a sugar cookie.
The Harvest Moon drink is a mesmerizing pink shade with edible glitter dust swirling through the cup.
Pine Mountain Country Coffee House & Mercantile
Pine Mountain Country Coffee House & Mercantile, 37 East Main St., in Festus has a full menu dedicated to the fall season. Some highlights include a pumpkin pie frappuccino, a pumpkin chai and a caramel apple Lotus drink.
The pumpkin pie frappuccino is a creamy dessert drink without an overpowering sweetness. While the pumpkin flavor is subtle, the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors come through strongly.
“We use real pumpkin puree (in the seasonal drinks),” said owner Amy Lowery. “We also use local coffee beans, roasted in-house.”
The pumpkin cream cold brew drink is a less-sweet option with an emphasis on coffee flavor. The pumpkin flavor in the cream is subtle, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.
Also available at the coffee shop are Lotus energy drinks. The caramel apple Lotus drink tastes similar to a Jolly Rancher hard candy and is a bit sour, but the caramel drizzle helps mute the sourness of the green apple Lotus syrup.
In addition to autumnal drinks, the shop offers apple cider and pumpkin spice doughnuts.
Corner Cup
Corner Cup, 2 E. Main St., in Crystal City began offering its fall drinks on Sept. 5 and will be available in September and October.
Haylee Sitz, a baker at the shop, said the pumpkin brulee coffee drink was a popular option last fall and is making a comeback. She said the drink has a nutty flavor.
The shop’s bee sting latte is made with spicy honey, with a pumpkin cold foam cream on top, Sitz said.
Also available is the autumn orchard matcha drink, which Sitz said “tastes like fall in a cup, but other than that, it’s hard to put into words.”
For a limited time, the shop also offers a cinnamon apple dumpling coffee – a “buttery, cinnamon-y, apple-y” drink, Sitz said.
Orange Couch Coffee House
Orange Couch Coffee House, 98 The Legends Parkway, in Eureka rolled out its fall menu on Aug. 28 and offers fall-themed lattes, teas and frozen drinks.
A barista at the shop said the pumpkin spice latte is made with espresso, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie sauce, a concentrated pumpkin flavoring.
She said her favorite drink is the pumpkin cream cold brew, which is an iced coffee drink made with vanilla and pumpkin pie sauce.