Starbucks Just Dropped Their New Fall Food And Drink Menu — Here's My Honest Review Of Everything As A Former Starbucks Barista
Hi, I'm Dannica, and I was a Starbucks barista for four years. As someone who was a trainer and master barista, I know a thing or two about Starbucks — especially PSL season.
I was around when the pumpkin cream cold brew got introduced and when the brown sugar shaken espresso was born. Thankfully, the Unicorn Frapp was over and done with by the time I first held that itchy green apron in my hands.
That said, if you're like me and mark the beginning of autumn with the release of the Starbucks fall menu, I have some good news for you: PSL season is HERE, and Starbucks added NEW(ish) food and drink items to menus nationwide! So bust out your Uggs, light a candle, and start crocheting beanies.
The two new drinks are the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte and the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso — and the new food item is the Baked Apple Croissant.
NEW Starbucks items joining the fall menu, available Thursday, August 24: • Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso• Baked Apple Croissant pic.twitter.com/VaEPrq7gHH
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 23, 2023
Twitter: @PopCrave / Starbucks / Via Twitter: @PopCrave
Here are 2022's fall menu items that are not returning this season:
• Pumpkin Scone (RIP, I'm devastated)
• Pumpkin Chai Latte (This isn't an *official* menu item, but you can definitely still order it. Just ask for a chai latte with pumpkin sauce!)
Now, I have a few qualms about these new menu items because the only thing that's *really* new is the Baked Apple Croissant, and I was hoping for a new flavor (Starbucks does nutty flavors really well, so a candied pecan flavor or something would be spectacular). Nonetheless, I decided to try out these menu items — plus the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato for funsies — to see which items are worth your hard-earned money. And as a former barista, I'll even include some fun facts and recommendations *wink wink*. Because I know you can't contain your excitement, here are the drinks and the new bakery item IRL:
I was most excited to try the Baked Apple Croissant, because if it tastes anywhere close to as good as the Sugar Plum Cheese Danish...I'm not going to be able to control myself.
DRINK #1: The Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato. If we're being technical, this isn't necessarily a 100% new fall menu item. The drink was first introduced in 2021 and the standard recipe included 2% milk. Well, in simple terms, the drink flopped, so Starbucks revamped the entire drink by tweaking the recipe of the apple crisp syrup and making oat milk the default milk, which is what was featured on 2022's fall menu. This drink can be requested iced or hot and is made with apple crisp syrup, oat milk, espresso, and is topped with a spiced apple drizzle.
The way I didn't even wait to get into my car. I had to try everything IMMEDIATELY.
First sip:
NGL, when I first tried this drink back in 2021, I hated it. The flavor was like if Bath & Body Works melted one of its fall candles and put it over ice. If I'm being honest, because of the horrid first impression it left on me, I didn't really give the new version a chance when it emerged last year. But now that I'm finally trying it...I'm pleasantly surprised!
The drink was a little on the sweeter side thanks to the cinnamon-y spiced drizzle (which has apple puree in it), but I was still able to taste the espresso without compromising the baked apple flavor Starbucks was going for. As I mentioned, the drizzle is on the heavier side, so it does sink to the bottom. I recommend mixing the drink before tasting it, or you can even ask for the drink upside down (when the espresso shots are on the bottom rather than the top).
Try the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato:
• If you like sweeter drinks
• If you're looking for a dairy-free option (though you can certainly substitute with any milk of your choice)
• If you like apple, cinnamon, and caramel-y flavors
DRINK #2: The Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. I think a lot of people are extremely excited for this drink, namely because all of Starbucks' shaken espresso drinks are bangers (except the toasted vanilla one, personally). This drink only comes iced and is made with shots of blonde espresso and the apple crisp syrup. The drink is then shaken to reach foamy perfection and is topped with oat milk.
Warning: I do not have a good relationship with shaken espressos. Whenever I get them, they're either the best, most heavenly things I've ever had, or they taste like dirt.
First sip:
This did NOT taste like dirt. I personally don't think anything can take the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso's crown, but I was also surprised with how nice this drink was! At first, I think I was just taken aback by that first sip because shaken espressos just taste so strong. But after everything settled, I gave it a little mix, and the ice kind of started to get its melt on, the drink turned out to be really nice and mellow, with just a hint of the apple flavor.
This drink doesn't come with the spiced drizzle (you can ask for it for an additional charge), so the only sweetener you're getting is from the apple crisp syrup. I actually found myself returning to this drink more than the macchiato!
One thing I definitely want to point out is that shaken espressos are espresso-forward. Unlike lattes, where the cup is filled with milk, shaken espressos are meant for the espresso shots to shine through, which is why they're only topped with a splash of milk at the end.
Try the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso:
• If you enjoy the taste of coffee and want to enjoy the fall vibes with just a hint of sweetness
• If you want more caffeine (shaken espressos are made with an additional shot of espresso. For example, a grande latte gets two shots, but a grande shaken espresso gets three)
• If you want a drink that doesn't have a lot of milk
• If you like Starbucks blonde shots
DRINK #3: The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte. Not to be confused with last year's Pumpkin Chai Latte, this drink is basically just an iced chai topped with pumpkin cream cold foam (the same foam used on the iconic Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew) and a beautiful dusting of pumpkin spice powder.
The cold foams at Starbucks are so good, it should be criminal. The salted caramel cold foam?! Bury me in it, honestly.
First sip:
Ugh, I just knew I was going to love this drink. If I'm being honest, I'm not a pumpkin spice girly — but last year's Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte changed the trajectory of my life. The pumpkin cold foam is already a treat on its own, so to pair it with a classic chai latte is just *chef's kiss*. I personally think this drink is so much better than the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
This drink is sweet thanks to the pumpkin foam (which is made with vanilla syrup and pumpkin sauce), but the chai adds a smidge of spice and a touch of cinnamon, creating a perfect balance of flavors. Granted, this drink is very milk-heavy — it's made with pumps of chai, the milk of your choice, plus the cold foam, which is made with 2% milk and heavy cream. That said, I personally wouldn't get this drink every day, but I'd for sure turn to this item if I had a "treat yaself" moment.
Hot tips:
• If you want to try this drink (or any chai-based drink) but need a caffeine boost, ask for it dirty. A dirty chai will indicate to the barista that you want to add an espresso shot!
• If you want pumpkin cold foam but don't want the dairy, ask for an oat milk cold foam with two pumps of pumpkin sauce and one pump of vanilla in it! The oat milk doesn't froth as thick, but it'll still sit on top of your drink well enough (and better than the other non-dairy options).
Try the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte:
• If you don't like the taste of coffee but still want something fall-flavored and caffeinated
• If you love the pumpkin cream cold foam but don't want to commit to getting the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
• If you love chai
• If you're in the mood for a sweet drink
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Baked Apple Croissant. Not gonna lie, I was mad when I heard that the Pumpkin Scone wasn't making a comeback. But when I heard that the Baked Apple Croissant was going to be the new baked good on the block, my eyes probably rolled to the back of my head in excitement and sheer delight. Oddly enough, this food item is shaped like a muffin but has a gooey, delicious cinnamon-apple filling.
Also, this croissant is only available at stores that have an oven, because it has to be served heated.
First bite:
I literally don't have any photos of me taking a bite of this croissant, because I was just way too enamored by it.
OMG, it was so, so good. Is it better than the Sugar Plum Cheese Danish? No, but that's okay. I actually love that Starbucks introduced a non-pumpkin bakery option, and I love even more that it's a "croissant." I personally was expecting it to give a more apple turnover–type vibe, but who am I to complain? The outside of the croissant is flaky and has a nice crisp to it, and the inside has a dollop of what I can best describe it as "apple pie filling." The taste isn't overwhelmingly sweet, but it can definitely satisfy a sweet tooth. It was warm and melty in my mouth, and I honestly wish there was just more apple filling! Like, if I bite into a pastry that's stuffed with something, it better be messy!
At the location I went to, the Baked Apple Croissant was $4.45, which I think is pricey considering how small it is. Realistically, though I did love it, I think I'd rather just buy the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, since I feel like it's actually worth the price. However, it's definitely worth trying at least once (maybe twice).
Try the Baked Apple Croissant:
• If you want to try a non-pumpkin seasonal bakery item
• If you want to treat yourself
• If you want a baked good that's not overly sweet
• If you like cinnamon paired with apples
FINAL THOUGHTS: Not gonna lie, this Starbucks fall lineup did what it had to do! Even though it's still searingly hot where I live in California, the second that apple crisp flavor hit my tongue, it was like I was transported to Massachusetts in the middle of a quiet October evening. When it comes to the new drinks, I think there's something for everyone to enjoy, and of course, there's always the PSL and the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew to fall back on.
And remember: The beauty of Starbucks is that you can modify your drink to your liking. If you don't like oat milk, you can always ask for a different milk to be used, even though the drink by default has oat milk! Likewise, you can also modify the number of pumps used, how many shots you get, and so many other things. Just kindly ask your barista for help if you need suggestions for modifying anything!
