To the average confused customer,
What says fall more than ordering a cup of coffee and viciously typing into your computer under the free Wi-Fi of Starbucks? Every day, students are scattered throughout the store, working on projects ranging from college applications to essays due the next day, spending hours focused on their computer screen. But we all need some type of break, so what do we order? There’s all kinds of choices for you to pick from, ranging from a regular cup of Pike’s Place brew to Pokemon Go Frappuccinos. That’s why I, your local barista, am here to help you find a drink that’s right for you this fall season.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSL) are a very well-known fall drink at Starbucks. It’s a coffee drink with traditional fall flavors like pumpkin and cinnamon with espresso shots, steamed milk, whipped cream and pumpkin spices to top it off. It also can come iced and even blended into a frappuccino if you prefer it. It’s a classic Starbucks drink, and is commonly labeled as a favorite by many customers. It’s only seasonal, so you only have a few months to stop by and order it.
Although it’s said to be this favorite drink among many, in my opinion, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are way too overhyped. The pumpkin sauce inside makes it way too sweet, and the whipped cream on top just adds onto that. I feel like ordering an iced drink takes away from its flavor, as well as that soothing satisfaction that the drink provides when it’s warm. If I were to order the PSL, I’d order it warm with no whipped cream and less pumpkin sauce; that way it still has that coffee flavor and a temperature that makes you feel all warm inside.
Rate: 7.5/10
Salted Caramel Mocha
Another fall seasoned drink is the Salted Caramel Mocha (SCM), which also comes either hot, iced, or in the form of a blended frappuccino. The drink is essentially a mocha with toffee nut flavoring, espresso shots, milk, and topped with whipped cream, caramel, and the salt topping. This is another seasonal drink that people have to wait for fall to order it, but those who know the ingredients can get it before it comes by just ordering a mocha frappuccino with toffee nut.
Yet again, the drink, at least in my opinion, is way too overhyped. When I first tasted it, I expected it have a nutty flavor mixed with the perfect balance of chocolate and a topping mixed with the caramel that was a perfect combination of salty and sweet. What I actually tasted was just a mocha with extra toppings on top and no real nutty flavor. Now I’m not saying it’s terrible because it’s not as sweet as the PSL, but the drink is still not something I would get on a regular basis. If I were to tweak it, I’d probably ask for more of the toffee nut syrup because I didn’t get any nutty flavor. But I do have to say, the caramel and salt toppings did really compliment each other perfectly so kudos to Starbucks for that part of the drink.
Rate: 6/10
These are the only popular seasonal drinks, so next I’ll introduce some of the newer drinks that entered the menu in stores nationwide.
Triple Mocha Frappuccino
The Triple Mocha Frappuccino (TMF) isn’t super new, but it just entered stores this summer. The drink is a blended drink with a chocolate flavor, topped with the new Cold Brew Whipped Cream (CBWC). It’s supposed to be sweeter than the regular Mocha Frappuccino.
In my opinion, the way the drink is presented is pretty cool. Baristas add whipped cream to the bottom of the cup with mocha sauce so that when mixed with the drink it almost looks like a cool swirl. In my opinion, the CBWC really adds a new flavor to the drink; that’s what makes the drink sweeter than the original. The ingredients that go inside are essentially the same as a regular Mocha Frappuccino, but the CBWC is definitely worth the extra 50 cents in the end.
Rate: 8.5/10
Ultra Caramel Frappuccino
I know we have many Starbucks lovers out there who get their Caramel Frappuccinos with so much extra caramel that you might as well just order an entire cup of it. Instead of forcing you to keep ordering extra extra extra caramel, Starbucks has offered the new Ultra Caramel Frappuccino (UCF). A blended drink made with our new dark caramel in replacement of the original caramel and topped with our Cold Brew Whipped Cream and Caramel Drizzle, the drink provides an even sweeter twist to the original Caramel Frappuccino (CRF).
As far as sweetness goes, in my opinion, I prefer a stronger coffee taste over sweetness, so I usually add a couple shots to any frappuccino I order. The presentation of the drink itself is similar to that of the TMF, with CBWC mixed at the bottom to give it that cool swirl effect. In the end, it all depends on how sweet you really want your drink to be.
Rate: 8/10
Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher
And last but certainly not the least, I present to you the newest addition to the refreshers, the Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher. When it first came out, stores were constantly running out of the new refresher, which replaced the previous Cool Lime Refresher. The new refresher is a combination of tropical flavors, including a mango taste with some dragon fruit flavors. The drink is topped with dragon fruit bits to give it a vibrant pink color and can be shaken with either water, lemonade, or coconut milk.
In my opinion, just ordering the Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher (MDR) tastes like some watered down Vitamin Water. If you shake it with lemonade, it brings out more of the mango flavoring and adds a really good flavor to the already popular drink. I’ve seen customers order it with coconut milk, which gives it a VERY vibrant pink color, as well as makes it a little sweeter than the original drink. The MDRL is actually one of my favorite drinks on the menu, so I would definitely recommend it.
Rate: 9.5/10
I hope this helped guide you to your preferred drink out of the newer drinks that Starbucks has to offer. In all honesty, every drink on the menu has its own uniqueness that fits to every customer’s needs. As long as you know what you’re craving, choosing the perfect drink shouldn’t be too hard.
Sincerely,
Your Local Barista ◆
The Legend Online 