Fall. The word conjures images of crisp air, vibrant foliage, and, of course, the return of everyone’s favorite seasonal beverages. And no one does fall beverages quite like Starbucks. In 2021, the coffee giant unleashed a symphony of flavors to tantalize taste buds and warm souls. Let’s dive into the delightful world of Starbucks’ 2021 fall drink menu, exploring everything from the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte to the more subtly spiced creations.
The Reigning Monarch: Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL)
The PSL. The legend. The drink that launched a thousand pumpkin-flavored imitations. Since its debut in 2003, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has become synonymous with the fall season. Its ubiquitous presence signals the start of autumn for millions, and its continued popularity is a testament to its perfectly balanced blend of flavors.
The PSL Breakdown: What Makes it So Special?
The PSL’s magic lies in its carefully crafted composition. It starts with Starbucks’ signature espresso, then combines it with steamed milk and a special pumpkin spice sauce. This sauce, not to be confused with pumpkin puree, contains a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, all the classic spices that define fall baking.
Topped with whipped cream and a generous sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, the PSL offers a multi-sensory experience. The aroma alone is enough to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. The creamy texture and sweet, spicy flavor create a truly indulgent treat. The drink offers a delightful balance of sweetness and spice.
Customizing Your PSL: Making it Your Own
One of the great things about Starbucks drinks is the ability to customize them to your liking. The PSL is no exception. Want it sweeter? Add an extra pump of pumpkin spice sauce. Prefer a lighter flavor? Ask for half the pumps.
For a dairy-free option, substitute almond, soy, coconut, or oat milk. You can also skip the whipped cream to reduce the calorie count. Some adventurous souls even add a shot of hazelnut or vanilla syrup for an extra layer of flavor. You can also request different toppings. Some baristas have interesting spice combinations, such as mixing pumpkin spice with cinnamon dolce sprinkles. The possibilities are endless.
The Dark Horse: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
For those who prefer their coffee iced, even when the weather turns cooler, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was a game-changer in 2019. Building on the popularity of the PSL, this drink offers a refreshing twist on traditional fall flavors. It quickly became a fall staple and was among the must-try fall drinks at Starbucks 2021.
Cold Brew Infusion: A Chilled Delight
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew starts with Starbucks’ signature cold brew, known for its smooth, low-acid flavor. This is then topped with a luscious pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice.
The cold foam is the star of the show. Made with vanilla syrup, pumpkin spice sauce, and nonfat milk, it’s whipped to a velvety smooth consistency that floats effortlessly on top of the cold brew. As you sip, the foam slowly melts into the coffee, creating a creamy, flavorful experience.
Why Choose Cold Brew Over a Latte?
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew offers a different experience than the PSL. The cold brew provides a bolder coffee flavor, while the pumpkin cream adds a touch of sweetness and spice. It’s a perfect option for those who want a less sweet and more caffeinated beverage.
It’s also a great choice for those who find the PSL too heavy or sweet. The cold brew is lighter and more refreshing, making it a perfect option for warmer fall days. You get all the great fall flavors without the heaviness of a hot latte.
The Understated Elegance: Apple Crisp Macchiato
In 2021, Starbucks introduced a new flavor to its fall lineup: Apple Crisp. The Apple Crisp Macchiato sought to capture the essence of a warm apple pie in a cup, offering a comforting and subtly sweet alternative to the bolder pumpkin flavors.
Apple Crisp: A Taste of Home
The Apple Crisp Macchiato features a combination of espresso, steamed milk, apple brown sugar syrup, and a spiced apple drizzle. The drink is finished with a caramel drizzle in a crosshatch pattern, a signature of the macchiato.
The apple brown sugar syrup provides a warm, comforting sweetness that isn’t overpowering. The spiced apple drizzle adds a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, enhancing the apple pie flavor.
A Macchiato with a Twist: Layered Flavors
Unlike a traditional macchiato where espresso is poured over milk, the Apple Crisp Macchiato layers the flavors to create a more complex taste experience. The milk is steamed with the apple brown sugar syrup, then topped with espresso and the spiced apple drizzle.
This layering technique allows each flavor to shine through, creating a harmonious blend of coffee, apple, and spice. It’s a perfect option for those who appreciate a more nuanced and sophisticated flavor profile.
Beyond the Headliners: Other Fall Treats
While the PSL, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and Apple Crisp Macchiato were the stars of the Starbucks fall 2021 show, the menu offered a variety of other seasonal treats to satisfy any craving.
Pumpkin Scones and Muffins: A Bakery Delight
No Starbucks fall experience is complete without indulging in one of their seasonal baked goods. The pumpkin scone, with its moist texture and sweet, spicy flavor, is a classic choice. The pumpkin cream cheese muffin is another popular option, offering a creamy, tangy complement to the pumpkin spice flavors.
Other Seasonal Offerings: Exploring the Menu
Starbucks often introduces other seasonal drinks and treats, such as pumpkin spice cookies, cake pops, and even seasonal blends of coffee beans. These limited-time offerings provide even more opportunities to embrace the flavors of fall. Always check your local Starbucks to see what special treats they may be offering.
Creating Your Perfect Fall Drink: Customization Tips
Starbucks is all about customization, allowing you to create the perfect drink to suit your tastes. Here are some tips for customizing your fall beverage:
- Adjust the sweetness: Ask for fewer or more pumps of syrup to control the sweetness level.
- Choose your milk: Opt for almond, soy, coconut, or oat milk for a dairy-free option.
- Add a shot of espresso: For an extra caffeine boost, add a shot of espresso to any drink.
- Experiment with flavors: Try adding a pump of hazelnut, vanilla, or caramel syrup for a unique twist.
- Adjust the topping: You can always ask to exclude or add extra topping.
The 2021 Fall Drink Lineup: A Lasting Legacy
The Starbucks fall drink lineup of 2021, including the timeless PSL, the innovative Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and the comforting Apple Crisp Macchiato, showcased the company’s ability to capture the essence of the season in a cup. These beverages have not only become seasonal staples but also cultural icons, symbolizing the arrival of fall and all its associated comforts. Each sip brought a cozy feeling of autumn to our hearts. The drinks have set a high bar for future fall menus. The creativity and commitment to flavor are truly apparent in each carefully constructed beverage. The drinks are definitely worth the wait each year. They remain popular even in subsequent years, such as 2022 and 2023.
The Starbucks fall menu continues to evolve, with new flavors and innovations emerging each year. But the core values remain the same: quality ingredients, expertly crafted beverages, and a commitment to providing a comforting and enjoyable experience for every customer. And with the legacy of drinks like the 2021 lineup, the future of Starbucks fall beverages looks bright indeed. This guide shows that they can make drinks that people like.
What classic Starbucks Fall drinks returned in 2021?
Starbucks brought back several beloved classics for the Fall 2021 season. The most anticipated return was undoubtedly the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), a drink that has become synonymous with autumn. Also returning were the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and the Apple Crisp Macchiato. These drinks have cultivated a loyal following over the years, and their reappearance signals the start of the fall season for many Starbucks customers.
These beverages offered a familiar and comforting taste for customers craving the quintessential autumn flavors. The PSL delivered its signature blend of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg, while the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew provided a refreshing twist on the pumpkin spice theme. The Apple Crisp Macchiato offered a different take, incorporating apple and brown sugar flavors reminiscent of a warm apple pie.
What was new on the Starbucks Fall menu in 2021?
While the classics remained popular, Starbucks introduced a new beverage to the Fall menu in 2021: the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato. This drink offered a dairy-free alternative to the original Apple Crisp Macchiato. By swapping traditional milk for oatmilk, Starbucks catered to customers with dietary restrictions or preferences, broadening the appeal of their fall offerings.
The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato retained the comforting apple and brown sugar flavors of the original, but with a lighter and slightly different texture and taste profile. This allowed Starbucks to cater to both traditional and plant-based customers, providing a wider range of choices for those seeking a cozy fall beverage.
What are the main ingredients in the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) is crafted with a blend of espresso, pumpkin spice sauce, steamed milk, and whipped cream. The signature flavor comes from the pumpkin spice sauce, which includes pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg. These spices create the warm, comforting taste that defines the PSL.
The latte is then topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. This finishing touch enhances both the aroma and the visual appeal of the drink. The combination of espresso, milk, and spices creates a balanced and indulgent fall beverage.
How does the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew differ from the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew offers a distinctly different experience compared to the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Instead of espresso and steamed milk, this drink combines Starbucks’ slow-steeped cold brew with vanilla syrup and a topping of pumpkin cream cold foam. The cold brew provides a smoother, less acidic coffee base than espresso.
The pumpkin cream cold foam, made with pumpkin puree, cream, milk, and vanilla syrup, is the defining characteristic of this drink. This velvety foam gently cascades into the cold brew, creating a subtly sweet and spicy flavor profile with each sip. The result is a refreshing and less intensely sweet alternative to the warmer Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Is the Apple Crisp Macchiato available hot or iced?
The Apple Crisp Macchiato is available in both hot and iced versions, allowing customers to choose their preferred temperature. The core ingredients remain the same: espresso, steamed or cold milk, apple brown sugar syrup, and a caramelized spiced apple drizzle. The difference lies in the temperature of the milk and the addition of ice in the iced version.
Whether enjoyed hot or iced, the Apple Crisp Macchiato delivers the comforting flavors of apple pie. The hot version provides a warm and cozy experience, while the iced version offers a refreshing and slightly lighter taste. This versatility makes it a suitable choice for various weather conditions and personal preferences.
What are some ways to customize the Starbucks Fall drinks?
Starbucks offers numerous ways to customize their Fall drinks to suit individual preferences. Customers can adjust the sweetness by modifying the number of pumps of syrup. Alternative milk options, such as almond, soy, coconut, or oatmilk, can be substituted for dairy milk to accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences.
Espresso shots can be added or subtracted to adjust the caffeine level. Customers can also request less whipped cream or omit it entirely. Furthermore, the intensity of the spice flavor can be modified by asking for more or less pumpkin spice topping or apple drizzle. These customizations ensure that each drink is tailored to the specific tastes of the customer.
Are the Starbucks Fall drinks only available during the autumn season?
Yes, the Starbucks Fall drinks are typically only available during the autumn season, generally starting in late August or early September and lasting until supplies run out, usually around the end of November or early December. This limited-time availability contributes to the anticipation and excitement surrounding their annual return. The company strategically uses seasonal offerings to drive customer traffic and generate buzz around their brand.
The exact dates of availability may vary slightly from year to year and by location, so it’s best to check with your local Starbucks or their website for the most up-to-date information. Once the Fall drinks disappear from the menu, customers must wait until the following autumn to enjoy them again. This scarcity helps to reinforce the perception of these drinks as special seasonal treats.