As the seasonal favorite ‘pumpkin spice latte’ becomes available across Columbia, MOVE writer Chace Missouri reviews the different options available for college students.
I’ve always been a fall enthusiast. The cooler weather and the colorful leaves falling through the air bring a wonderful and well-needed feeling to end the humid, stuffy summer. October in Columbia is one of the most lovely times of the year. It marks the return of pumpkin patches, haunted houses, Halloween parties and other fall events that we can experience throughout the city. But nothing universally embodies the return of the fall like the return of the pumpkin spice latte.
Throughout my 19 years of life, I’ve never had the pleasure of tasting a pumpkin spice latte. There’s a possibility that I might actually be the only college student in the United States who has never had one. I’ve seen the buzz about it on social media; the hints of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with espresso creates a cultural phenomenon. I’ve always wondered if the pumpkin spice latte is just an aesthetic, or if the taste really lives up to the hype.
In order to fully experience this once-in-a-lifetime event, I went to five different coffee locations across the city. I wanted to see the difference between corporate coffee chains; Starbucks, Scooter’s Coffee and 7 Brew, and the locally-owned shops across Columbia; Lakota Coffee Company and The Grind to determine which has the best ‘PSL.’
The first stop of my journey was the fan-favorite, Starbucks, which sits beneath Bluford Hall. This was the only cafe on this list that I was familiar with. Since it’s been hotter than usual lately, I opted for an iced drink. The presentation was beautiful. The whipped cream on top of the PSL with the sprinkling of pumpkin flavoring would even make Gordon Ramsay proud. Upon the first sip, the subtle sweetness of the spice on top of the whipped cream gave it an extra flavor that lingers in your mouth long after you sip. Overall, it was a delicious and savory drink that also satisfied my sweet tooth. I wanted to give this PSL a perfect score, but my drink was 60% ice and 40% liquid, a cardinal sin. Therefore, I can only give it an 8.5/10.
After Starbucks, I drove to Scooter’s Coffee. Their latte, also topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice flavoring, wasn’t as strong as Starbucks’, but had a good balance of sweet pumpkin spice and not-too-bitter espresso. The consistency was smooth, making it easy to drink. They didn’t bombard me with large amounts of ice that made me feel like I was getting scammed. I’m personally a sweet drink type of guy, so I didn’t enjoy this PSL as much as Starbucks’ drink. I’ll give Scooter’s an extra half point just because their small size was twice the size of Starbucks’, which I appreciated. Scooter’s gets a 7.5/10 from me.
The third spot I visited was 7 Brew. After visiting and trying their Pumpkin Spice Blondie, it’s safe to say that I will be coming back in the near future for more. I had no idea what a ‘blondie’ was, so I looked it up and found out it contained caramel, vanilla breve and a double shot of espresso. When I received the drink, I was a little disappointed because there wasn’t any whipped cream on top, but the flavor more than made up for it. This PSL is bursting with sweetness and flavor – it felt like my taste buds were in a pumpkin-patch heaven. Instead of the typical latte, this drink was probably 85% pumpkin spice and 15% espresso. I forgot I was still drinking coffee until the double shot of espresso started kicking in. If I ever had to go to an 8 a.m. lecture after a late night, I would take this drink as my best bet to help me get through it. The 7 Brew Pumpkin Spice Blondie changed my life, so I have to give it a 10/10.
After those three coffee spots, I decided it was time I support locally-owned businesses to see what their fall-flavored drinks taste like.
Lakota Coffee Company’s drink didn’t include whipped cream or as much pumpkin spice flavoring as the other places I had been to. It had the strongest espresso so far and tasted more like a typical iced latte than a pumpkin spice. The drink was my personal least favorite, but it had the most authentic coffee taste on this list. It was the strongest espresso I’ve ever tasted. If you’re a fan of strong espresso I highly recommend Lakota, but it just wasn’t for me. Similar to Scooter’s, I think frequent coffee drinkers will enjoy Lakota the most because of how strong the drink is. I’ll give Lakota a 6.5/10.
To end my pumpkin-filled journey, I visited The Grind Coffee House. The Grind’s PSL was a great blend of strong pumpkin spice flavor that didn’t undermine the espresso. It’s not so sweet that it tastes like a milkshake, but it’s not bitter to the point where all you can taste is the espresso. This latte, like 7 Brew’s and Lakota’s did not come with my preferred whipped cream and sprinkle of pumpkin spice flavoring on top. However, it had the same authentic and fresh espresso taste as Lakota. Ultimately, it lacked the sweetness I got from Starbucks and 7 Brew. This PSL deserves a 8/10.
After an incredibly caffeinated day of trying all of these autumnal drinks, I found that every place I visited has a unique take on their pumpkin spice latte. The undeniable winner of the best PSL in Columbia was 7 Brew, but I recommend you try them all out yourself. The beautiful thing about the fall season in Columbia is that coffee shops everywhere are showcasing their version of the famous drink. Whether you’re more of a sweet-treat person or a regular coffee lover, Columbia has what you’re looking for.
Edited by Ava McCluer | amccluer@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Jayden Bates-Bland and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com