10 Fall Drinks at Starbucks to Order This Year (That Actually Taste Like Autumn)
Let’s be real—the moment that first leaf hits the ground, we’re all counting down the days until Starbucks rolls out their fall menu. And honestly? I don’t blame us. There’s something magical about wrapping your hands around a warm cup that tastes like a Hallmark movie set in New England. 😉
But here’s the thing—ordering the same old Pumpkin Spice Latte every single time? That’s rookie behavior. I’ve spent way too many fall mornings at the Starbucks counter (and way too much of my paycheck) experimenting with every seasonal combo known to barista-kind. I’ve had glorious wins and some “who thought this was a good idea?” moments.
So grab your reusable cup, and let’s chat about the 10 fall drinks you absolutely need to order this year. Some are official menu items, some are secret menu hacks from my fellow coffee addicts, and a few are combos I’ve perfected through… extensive research. You’re welcome. 🍂
1. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Why It’s Awesome: Bold cold brew meets fluffy pumpkin cream cold foam. It’s like autumn decided to take a vacation in your cup.
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is my absolute go-to when I want fall flavors without the heaviness of a latte. It’s smooth, refreshing, and that pumpkin cold foam on top? Absolute chef’s kiss.
Ingredients
- Starbucks Cold Brew
- Vanilla syrup
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam (made with heavy cream, milk, and pumpkin spice sauce)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start with a cold brew base (grande is my sweet spot).
- Ask for vanilla syrup to be added (standard recipe comes with it).
- Top it off with that glorious pumpkin cream cold foam.
- Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice blend for extra flair.
Why You’ll Love It
The cold brew gives you that caffeine kick without the bitterness, and the pumpkin foam melts into the drink as you sip. It’s not too sweet, not too heavy—just perfectly balanced. Plus, it’s way less caloric than the PSL if you’re watching that sort of thing. FYI, I usually order mine with an extra pump of vanilla when I’m feeling indulgent .
2. Pumpkin Spice Latte (The Classic)
Why It’s Awesome: It’s the drink that launched a thousand memes—and for good reason.
Look, you can’t have a fall drinks list without mentioning the OG. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has been the unofficial start of autumn since 2003, and people lose their minds when it returns. I get it. There’s something comforting about that familiar mix of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Steamed milk
- Pumpkin spice sauce
- Whipped cream
- Pumpkin pie spice topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order your favorite size (venti if you’re me).
- Ask for the standard recipe with pumpkin spice sauce.
- Specify your milk preference—oat milk makes it extra creamy IMO.
- Top with whipped cream and that signature spice blend.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s warm, nostalgic, and tastes like fall in a cup. Who doesn’t love a drink that feels like a cozy sweater? Pro tip: ask for it with blonde espresso if you want a smoother, less bitter coffee flavor.
3. Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Why It’s Awesome: Caramel apple vibes without the sticky fingers.
This drink is severely underrated. It layers espresso with oat milk and apple brown sugar syrup, topped with a spiced apple drizzle. It’s like drinking a caramel apple that went to finishing school.
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Oat milk
- Apple brown sugar syrup
- Spiced apple drizzle
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start with a base of oat milk in your cup.
- Add the apple brown sugar syrup (standard recipe amounts).
- Pour in the espresso shots over the top for that layered effect.
- Finish with the spiced apple drizzle on top.
Why You’ll Love It
The oat milk adds this nutty, almost baked flavor that pairs perfectly with the apple. It’s sweet but not cloying, and it hits differently than the pumpkin options. My friend swears this is the best fall drink on the menu, and I’m starting to agree .
4. Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte
Why It’s Awesome: Two fall favorites—chai and pumpkin—team up for the ultimate cozy combo.
If you haven’t tried this yet, drop everything and go. The classic chai latte with its warming spices gets topped with pumpkin cream cold foam, and suddenly you’re in flavor heaven.
Ingredients
- Chai tea concentrate
- Steamed milk
- Pumpkin cream cold foam
- Pumpkin pie spice topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order a standard Chai Latte (hot or iced, your call).
- Ask for pumpkin cream cold foam on top.
- Request a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice for extra flair.
- Sip and wonder why you didn’t discover this sooner.
Why You’ll Love It
The chai spices—cinnamon, cardamom, ginger—blend beautifully with the pumpkin flavor. It’s like fall stacked on fall. I prefer this one iced because the cold foam stays thick and creamy longer, but the hot version is basically a hug in a cup .
5. Salted Caramel Mocha
Why It’s Awesome: Sweet, salty, chocolatey—it’s a flavor party and everyone’s invited.
This one’s a bit of a hidden gem on the menu. The combination of mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup creates this rich, complex sweetness that’s balanced perfectly by a sprinkle of sea salt.
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Steamed milk
- Mocha sauce
- Toffee nut syrup
- Whipped cream
- Caramel drizzle
- Sea salt topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start with your espresso and milk base.
- Add mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup (standard recipe).
- Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sea salt.
- Enjoy the sweet-salty perfection.
Why You’ll Love It
That salt cuts through the sweetness in the best way possible. It tastes like a fancy dessert without being overly heavy. If you want a break from pumpkin but still want something cozy, this is your drink .
6. Cozy Latte (Secret Menu Hack)
Why It’s Awesome: It’s a Pumpkin Spice Latte that got a major glow-up.
This secret menu creation swaps half the pumpkin spice sauce with white chocolate mocha and upgrades the milk to vanilla sweet cream. It’s like the PSL went to finishing school and came back even more delicious.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin Spice Latte base
- White chocolate mocha sauce
- Vanilla sweet cream (instead of regular milk)
- Blonde roast espresso (recommended)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order a Pumpkin Spice Latte through the app.
- Replace half the pumpkin sauce pumps with white chocolate mocha. For a grande, do 2 pumps white mocha, 2 pumps pumpkin.
- Swap the default milk for vanilla sweet cream.
- Ask for blonde roast espresso for a smoother flavor.
- Enjoy what might be the best fall drink you’ve never tried.
Why You’ll Love It
The white chocolate mellow out the pumpkin spice and adds this creamy richness that’s absolutely addictive. I tried this last week and haven’t stopped thinking about it. One warning: the barista might give you a confused look, but trust me, it’s worth it .
7. Maple Pecan Latte
Why It’s Awesome: Thanksgiving in a cup. End of story.
When this one shows up on the menu, I lose my mind. Maple pecan is such an underrated fall flavor, and this latte nails it with warm maple sweetness and nutty pecan goodness.
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Steamed milk
- Maple pecan sauce
- Whipped cream
- Praline topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order your latte size of choice.
- Ask for the maple pecan sauce (usually seasonal).
- Choose your milk—oat milk adds extra nuttiness.
- Top with whipped cream and praline topping.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s nutty, warm, and not as sweet as the pumpkin options. The maple adds depth without being cloying. I once tried to recreate this at home and failed miserably—some things are just better left to the pros .
8. Dirty Chai with Pumpkin Cold Foam
Why It’s Awesome: It’s a chai latte that got caffeinated and fancy.
This isn’t on the official menu, but it should be. A “dirty” chai means adding a shot (or two) of espresso to your chai latte, and the pumpkin cold foam takes it to another dimension.
Ingredients
- Chai latte base
- Espresso shot
- Pumpkin cream cold foam
- Pumpkin pie spice topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order a Chai Latte.
- Add a shot of espresso—this makes it “dirty.”
- Request pumpkin cream cold foam on top.
- Ask for pumpkin pie spice to be sprinkled over the foam.
Why You’ll Love It
The espresso cuts through the sweetness of the chai, and the pumpkin foam ties everything together. It’s spiced, cozy, and energizing all at once. This is my go-to when I need both comfort and a caffeine kick .
9. Pumpkin Pie Shaken Espresso
Why It’s Awesome: All the fall vibes without the heaviness.
If you love shaken espressos (and who doesn’t?), you need to try this fall adaptation. It takes the classic Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and adds pumpkin cream cold foam on top.
Ingredients
- Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Pumpkin cream cold foam
- Optional: White mocha pumps for extra sweetness
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
- Ask for pumpkin cream cold foam on top.
- If you want it sweeter, add a couple pumps of white mocha.
- Watch the cold foam slowly melt into the drink. Magic.
Why You’ll Love It
The oat milk pairs beautifully with the pumpkin foam, and the brown sugar adds that caramelized sweetness. It’s lighter than a latte but still satisfies that fall craving. Warning: it’s heavy on coffee flavor, so if you’re not a fan of bold espresso, add that white mocha .
10. Caramel Brulée Latte
Why It’s Awesome: It’s caramel that got extra fancy and toasted.
This one technically leans into winter territory, but it often shows up late fall, and I’m not complaining. The caramel brulée sauce has this toasted, caramelized flavor that’s absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Steamed milk
- Caramel brulée sauce
- Whipped cream
- Caramel brulée topping (crunchy bits)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Order your latte size.
- Ask for caramel brulée sauce (seasonal availability).
- Top with whipped cream and the crunchy topping.
- Sip and feel fancy.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s sweet, buttery, and has these little crunchy bits on top that make it feel like a dessert. If you’re caramel-obsessed like me, this one will ruin you for other drinks .
Related Recipes:
- 10 Best Apple Crisp Recipes (With Oats & Without)
- 10 Simple Fall Meals for Busy Weeknights
- 10 Football Finger Foods That Are Super Easy to Make
Wrapping Up Fall in a Cup
There you have it—10 fall drinks that go way beyond your basic PSL. Whether you’re a traditionalist who sticks with the classics or an adventurer who loves secret menu hacks, there’s something here for everyone.
My personal favorites? The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew for everyday sipping, the Dirty Chai with Pumpkin Cold Foam when I need extra energy, and that secret menu Cozy Latte when I’m feeling fancy. 😉
Remember, you can customize just about anything at Starbucks. Don’t be afraid to mix and match syrups, swap milks, or add cold foam to drinks that don’t normally have it. The baristas are usually happy to help—especially if you order through the app and give them clear instructions
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