It’s officially fall, and with fall comes the plethora of pumpkin lattes. But of all the lattes in the land, only one can reign supreme.

To find the best pumpkin latte, three local coffee stores and one national chain were tested and ranked on a system of one to five “mugs” based on taste, price and overall satisfaction.

Kaldi’s Coffee
“Baked Maple Pumpkin Latte”
Eight ounces for $3.75

First in line was downtown Columbia’s Kaldi’s Coffee. Its specific creation was the “Baked Maple Pumpkin Latte” which includes real pumpkin, maple syrup and espresso topped with whipped cream and nutmeg shavings.

The coffee and pumpkin flavor was prominent but not overbearing. The drink wasn’t overly sweet, either. This was surprising, considering that there was maple syrup in it. Unfortunately, the drink was thicker than most lattes, and the addition of the nutmeg shavings was a bit overpowering on some sips.

The Kaldi’s latte was strong overall, and although it was pricier, the taste was worth the extra money.

Rating: 4/5 mugs

Lakota Coffee Company
“Pumpkin Pie Latte”
Eight ounces for $2.60

Lakota Coffee Company, situated just across the street from Kaldi’s, had a “Pumpkin Pie Latte” as its signature fall drink. It was the cheapest drink tested.

Unlike Kaldi’s, the Lakota latte did not come with whipped cream, so it appeared smaller than the previous drink. The milk/foam swirl made it appear like a regular latte. It was also thinner, making it much easier to drink.

In terms of taste, the coffee flavor was the strongest from this latte — it truly lived up to its “latte” title. It also had a nice taste of pumpkin that was not overrun with spices. It was perhaps the most balanced flavor of all the lattes tested.

Lakota presented a well-flavored latte for a very reasonable price. The coffee taste was evident, which helped elevate the subtle pumpkin flavor.

Rating: 4.5/5 mugs

Uprise Bakery
“Spiced Pumpkin Latte”
Eight ounces for $3.25

The third stop was downtown hotspot Uprise Bakery with a “Spiced Pumpkin Latte.” Eight ounces of latte cost $3.25, about the midrange of the lattes tested.

The latte came with no whipped cream and was noticeably bitter, likely from the higher ratio of coffee to other ingredients. Although it lived up to its “latte” label, the “spice” component of the drink was largely missing.

However, the pumpkin flavor tasted authentic and was reasonable in strength. In this particular area, it was at an equal level with the two previous lattes.

Rating: 3/5 mugs

Starbucks Coffee
“Pumpkin Spice Latte”
Eight ounces for $4.05

The final latte of the day was from Starbucks Coffee, the only chain in the taste test. At $4.05 for 8 ounces, it was by far the most expensive drink tested. Like Kaldi’s, it was also served with whipped cream and spices on top.

Since it was expensive, it was expected to exceed the other drinks. Unfortunately, it disappointed on almost every front. It was by far the spiciest drink, and that was distracting from the coffee and pumpkin notes. It was also very sweet; if it were to be blended up with ice, it might as well have been a Frappuccino — there’s already a Pumpkin Spice Frappucino, anyway.

Starbucks ultimately fell short to its local counterparts. It needed to tone down on spices and be less sweet to make a more well-rounded latte.

Rating: 2/5 mugs

While many of the pumpkin lattes impressed, one clearly stood out from the others. The winner is … Lakota Coffee Company and its “Pumpkin Pie Latte.” This drink won with its latte-like consistency, rich coffee undertone and aromatic pumpkin flavor. In addition, it was the least expensive in comparison to drinks of the same size, making it the best pick for a warm fall drink.

_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_