Celebrate 20 years of the PSL with pumpkin spice coffee, baklava, shaved ice and dog brew

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·7 min read

Want to briefly escape the excessive heat plaguing the Midwest this week? Close your eyes and imagine pulling on your coziest sweater (we are using our imaginations here), putting on a spooky movie and curling up with a drink that defines the fall season: a pumpkin spice latte. Fortunately, PSLs can also be ordered iced, so if you want to celebrate early, you don't have to wait until the temperature drops.

The first day of fall isn't until Sept. 23, but the smell of pumpkin spice is already in the air, as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and Scooter's Coffee introduced their fall menus this month. National brands aren't the only ones involved in the pumpkin spice onslaught — plenty of local businesses are offering their takes on the harvest-time craze.

Starbucks

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is returning for its 20th anniversary in 2023.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is returning for its 20th anniversary in 2023.

Starbucks is often credited with "inventing" the famous pumpkin spice latte and the beloved — or sometimes loathed — drink is celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall.

Since its introduction in 2003, the Starbucks PSL has claimed the hearts of many, but it actually wasn't the coffee brand's first seasonal blockbuster. That was the Peppermint Mocha, introduced in 2002.

Peter Dukes, former Starbucks espresso beverage team lead, recalled the invention of the PSL in the Starbucks headquarters in Seattle. Following the success of the Peppermint Mocha, the team wanted to create an equally successful autumn menu item.

“We started with a huge brainstorm list and filled the wall with ideas,” Dukes said in a news release. “We probably had at least 100 ideas up on the wall. And once we got those ideas, we started to whittle away at them and came down to a list of about 20 different flavors including chocolate and caramel — the most popular flavors to pair with coffee — and there was orange and cinnamon ... and there was pumpkin there as well.”

The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.

According to Duke, the team played around with several name ideas, such as the fall harvest latte, before landing on what the drink truly was: pumpkin spice.

In fall 2003, Starbucks unveiled the new drink at 100 stores in Washington D.C. and Vancouver, Canada. The PSL was instantly a hit. The next year, the drink rolled out through the U.S. and Canada and has been served to hundreds of millions of customers over the past 20 years.

Alongside the PSL, Starbucks' fall menu — released on Aug. 24 — features the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup, pumpkin cream cold foam) and two new items: the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte and Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. The latter will combine Starbucks Blonde Espresso with notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, topped with oat milk.

Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is new to the fall 2023 menu. The drink is made with Blonde Espresso and notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar. The drink is topped with oatmilk.
Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is new to the fall 2023 menu. The drink is made with Blonde Espresso and notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar. The drink is topped with oatmilk.

As for baked goods, the Baked Apple Croissant is new this year — layers of croissant dough wrapped around a warm apple filling, topped with sugar. Making their return are the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, Owl Cake Pop and Pumpkin and Pepita Loaf.

Starbucks Baked Apple Croissant is new to the fall 2023 menu. The bakery item is made with croissant dough with a warm apple filling and topped with sugar.
Starbucks Baked Apple Croissant is new to the fall 2023 menu. The bakery item is made with croissant dough with a warm apple filling and topped with sugar.

For those who prefer playing barista at home, Starbucks' at-home and ready-to-drink coffees are returning to grocery store shelves. This year's lineup includes items like the Pumpkin Spice Flavored Coffee K-Cups, Pumpkin Spice Flavored Creamer and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drinks.

Starbucks Iced Espresso Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink and other at-home options are available in grocery stores.
Starbucks Iced Espresso Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink and other at-home options are available in grocery stores.

Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. Served hot or iced, the latte features notes of sweet pumpkin, vanilla and fall spices.
Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. Served hot or iced, the latte features notes of sweet pumpkin, vanilla and fall spices.

Among the first to jump on the PSL train, Dunkin' Donuts released its fall menu on Aug. 16. The coffee brand's Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte and Nutty Pumpkin Coffee (pumpkin, cream and hazelnut) have returned. Coffee lovers who are interested in "spicing up" their own favorite drinks may also order a pump of Pumpkin Swirl this fall, a flavor that can be added to any hot or iced coffee, espresso drink, cold brew or frozen coffee.

If a pumpkin-spiced drink isn't enough, Dunkin' Donuts has a full fall bakery menu too. This year, fall bakery items include the Pumpkin Cake Donut, MUNCHKINS Donut Hole Treats and Pumpkin Muffin. For those who prefer something more savory, Dunkin's Maple Sugar Bacon is back, available on its own as Maple Sugar Snackin' Bacon or in the Maple Sugar Bacon Breakfast Sandwich.

Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffin features notes of pumpkin and sweet spices, topped with a streusel and drizzle of icing.
Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffin features notes of pumpkin and sweet spices, topped with a streusel and drizzle of icing.

For folks who'd rather just stay at home, Dunkin' has also re-released its Pumpkin K-Cup Pods, available at participating Dunkin' Donuts' locations.

Last year, Dunkin' partnered with Goldfish to release its limited edition Pumpkin Spice Grahams. The graham-textured goldfish crackers feature notes of pumpkin, donut glaze, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Starting in September, the goldfish will be available at participating grocery stores with a suggested retail price of $3.69 per bag, according to a Dunkin' Donut's news release.

Dunkin' Donuts and Goldfish have partnered to release the limited edition Pumpkin Spice Grahams for fall 2023. The grahams feature flavor notes of pumpkin, donut glaze, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
Dunkin' Donuts and Goldfish have partnered to release the limited edition Pumpkin Spice Grahams for fall 2023. The grahams feature flavor notes of pumpkin, donut glaze, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

Scooter's Coffee

Like its counterparts, Scooter's Coffee is offering the traditional Pumpkin Spice Latte, but its fall menu has a few personalized twists, like the Pumpkin Caramelicious (espresso, caramel, milk and pumpkin spice), Pumpkin Cold Foam and Autumn Caramel Crunch (espresso, caramel, hazelnut and vanilla).

The Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Cake Bikes are two items on Scooter's Coffee's fall menu.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Cake Bikes are two items on Scooter's Coffee's fall menu.

To eat, Scooter's is serving up Pumpkin Spice Cake Bites, a Pumpkin Caramelicious Muffin and Maple Waffle Sandwich.

Interested in supporting more local this fall season? Plenty of Springfield business are offering their own pumpkin spice goodies.

Prairie Pie

Nothing hits the pumpkin spice jackpot quite like a piece of pumpkin pie itself. Located downtown, Prairie Pie offers pumpkin pies for pre-order year-round.

Although pumpkin pie isn't on the restaurant's sweet pie menu for August, almond plum, grapefruit custard, peach crumble and peanut butter and jelly pies are available. Apple hand pies with cinnamon sour cream glaze are also up for grabs.

Greek Belly

Baklava from Greek Belly.
Baklava from Greek Belly.

For another pumpkin-inspired baked good that is a bit off the beaten path, Greek Belly is once again offering its pumpkin spice baklava this fall. The baklava is available now on the restaurant's menu.

SnoBiz

If you're looking to cool down but still want to get in the fall mood, SnoBiz on West Battlefield Road is offering a pumpkin spice latte-flavored shaved ice, topped with whip cream.

Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar

Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar's pumpkin spice affogato is a part of the coffee shop's fall seasonal menu. The Italian-based dessert is made with double vanilla ice cream, espresso, pumpkin sauce and pie crust pieces.
Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar's pumpkin spice affogato is a part of the coffee shop's fall seasonal menu. The Italian-based dessert is made with double vanilla ice cream, espresso, pumpkin sauce and pie crust pieces.

Alongside a classic PSL, Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar downtown will serve up a pumpkin spice affogato. An Italian dessert, an affogato is served with a small cup of ice cream and splash of espresso, meant to be poured over the sweet treat. Green House's fall menu will be introduced closer to the fall season.

Big Momma's Coffee & Espresso Bar

Big Momma's Coffee & Espresso Bar offers pumpkin spice lattes all year, but the coffee shop will unveil its fall seasonal menu in September. Fall drinks include a Fireside Latte (vanilla, honey and cinnamon), Pumpkin Chai and Zombie (chocolate, caramel and cherry).

European Cafe

Starting Sept. 1, European Cafe will offers its fall menu items: a pumpkin spice latte, spiced honey latte, dirty pumpkin chai (chai latte with espresso), pear Italian soda and classic pumpkin tart.

The Potter's House

Just a jaunt across National Avenue from Missouri State's campus, The Potter's House offers two pumpkin drinks year-round. The Great Pumpkin is a non-espresso frozen drink with ice cream, chai, caramel and pumpkin pie sauce. A traditional pumpkin spice latte is also on the menu.

The Coffee Ethic

The Coffee Ethic's Salted Maple Latte is a part of the coffee shop's fall menu.
The Coffee Ethic's Salted Maple Latte is a part of the coffee shop's fall menu.

Coming soon, The Coffee Ethic's seasonal menu will feature a PSL, spiced pumpkin cream cold brew, salted maple latte and cider-dazed soda. A pumpkin muffin, maple pecan glazed scone and carrot cake protein bikes will also be up for grabs.

Mother's Brewing Company

Mother's Brewing Company's 6-packs of Mr. Pumpkin and Oktoberfest at Hy-Vee located at 1720 W. Battlefield Road. The beers are a part of Mother's limited, seasonal menu for fall.
Mother's Brewing Company's 6-packs of Mr. Pumpkin and Oktoberfest at Hy-Vee located at 1720 W. Battlefield Road. The beers are a part of Mother's limited, seasonal menu for fall.

For a different type of pumpkin, Mother's Brewing Company's Mr. Pumpkin ale is back. The pumpkin ale features a "generous dose" of Columbus hops with a sprinkle of nutmeg, mace and cinnamon. Mother's Brewing Company recommends pairing the ale with popcorn balls, Grandma's dressing and green bean casserole.

Mr. Pumpkin is available on tap at Mother's Brewing Company or in cans for sale at local grocery stores.

Busch's Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew

Busch has announced a new Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew, which contains pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water. Four-packs are available for $15.
Busch has announced a new Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew, which contains pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water. Four-packs are available for $15.

It may not be crafted locally, but Busch announced its new Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew for canine friends this week. The non-alcoholic product is made with pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water. Four-packs are available for pre-order online for $15.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Gear up for fall with these pumpkin spice treats in Springfield