By Lauren Shin, Staff Writer
The highly anticipated Starbucks fall season is finally here. Every Thursday from September 7 through September 28, Starbucks is running a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offer on its fall drink lineup. Customers who order seasonal beverages after 12 p.m. will be able to get a second one at no cost.
To receive the free drinks, customers must download the Starbucks app and create an account. From there, there will be the option to select the BOGO deal and apply it to your order. Once a drink is purchased, you can select any second drink you want, so long as it is of equal or lesser value than the first drink. The offer can only be redeemed once a week on Thursdays, and cannot be used on drinks that cost more than $10.
This year’s featured fall drinks include the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, Chai Tea Latte, Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, Caramel Apple Spice, and Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato.
Starting off with the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte: This drink appears to be the most popular among customers, and I would say that you can never go wrong with a nice Pumpkin Spice Latte. The sweetness is just right and yields the perfect fall flavor.
Next up is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. This is a regular Starbucks Cold Brew sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam as well as a dusting of pumpkin-spice topping. Honestly, I couldn’t taste the pumpkin at all, but the cold cream brew was enjoyable. As a personal fan of cold brews, I had high expectations for the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, but was disappointed by the lack of flavors. If you aren’t a big fan of fall season flavors but want to join in on all the buzz, I would recommend this drink.
The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte features a mix of creamy chai tea with pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice. The chai flavor in this drink is beautifully rich and the pumpkin flavor is light in the foam but you can still taste it. The drink is priced at $5.29, which is a pretty great deal. This one is definitely my favorite fall drink and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Senior Sheryl Li, an avid fan of the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, shares, “I was incredibly happy with my drink. I tried it because so many people had good things to say, and I agree that the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte definitely lives up to the hype.”
The regular Chai Tea Latte shouldn’t really count as a seasonal drink since it’s available year-round, but nevertheless is a favorite among many customers. A Chai Tea Latte always delivers exactly what you had in mind, so it’s always a safe and enjoyable drink.
Now the Caramel Apple Spice, I was not a fan of. I’m not a big fan of spices in the first place, so I wasn’t sure about this decision at first, but I literally could not taste anything except the sweet caramel and apple cider. It’s basically just sweet apple cider at $4.80.
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is the Starbucks Blonde Espresso with notes of apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar, all shaken together and topped with oat milk. It’s priced at $6.49, which is much pricier than the other drinks. The espresso flavor is quite bold and rich, while the apple flavor is extremely light. Because of the strength of the espresso flavor, the apple really gets lost. I would suggest stirring up the drink so you get a better mix of flavors, but if you prefer drinks with a bold espresso flavor, this could be good to try!
For the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, I was surprised to find that I preferred the hot over the iced drink. The sweetness of the apple and brown sugar are quickly followed by the bitterness of the blonde espresso. I couldn’t taste any of the spices but left feeling satisfied enough. The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato and the Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso are both vegan drinks, for all the vegan Starbucks lovers out there.
Sarah Chin, a senior who tried the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, expressed her disappointment with the drink: “I thought it was really bad. The apple flavor didn’t go well at all with the macchiato; the drink was weirdly sweet but bitter at the same time like the coffee had candy melted in it.”
Overall, each drink presented delightful surprises that could cater to various tastes. My personal favorite was the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte and my least favorite was the Caramel Apple Spice, but you can find out for yourself by trying them at a Starbucks nearby before the end of the season deal!