It's pumpkin spice time. But when will it feel like pumpkin spice time?

Katherine Kokal, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·3 min read
Despite Palm Beach County's soaring temperatures, pumpkin spice season is on the horizon.
Despite Palm Beach County's soaring temperatures, pumpkin spice season is on the horizon.

Ignore Palm Beach County's recent soaring temperatures: Pumpkin spice season is on the horizon.

Starbucks stores will begin carrying pumpkin spice-flavored coffee drinks today, local stores confirmed.

Though drive-thru customers are still greeted by a burst of tropical air when they roll down their windows to order, Dunkin' brought back its pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin cake doughnuts and other pumpkin delicacies last Wednesday — signaling the start of autumn in the consumer calendar year.

Fall officially starts with the autumn equinox Sept. 23. Palm Beach County coffee shops, breweries and bakeries are rolling out the dark orange carpet for a season of special flavors to celebrate.

First off: When will it feel like pumpkin spice weather?

A Dunkin' displays a sign for pumpkin beverages and doughnuts in Lake Worth Beach on Sunday.
A Dunkin' displays a sign for pumpkin beverages and doughnuts in Lake Worth Beach on Sunday.

It's hard to get into the pumpkin spice mood when it's 90 degrees outside.

During a month in which we experienced excessive heat warnings and suffered through "feels like" temperatures over 100 degrees, it's tempting to look forward to cooler days when it may even be appropriate to get a hot coffee drink.

Don't get too excited, though, National Weather Service forecaster Will Redmen told The Palm Beach Post: South Florida won't be able to count on temperatures in the low 80s until early October.

"Since it's been an abnormal summer, it's kind of hard to say when it's going to cool down," he said. "We should by late September, but it's just been an odd year."

Roderick Underwood cools off in the Centennial Fountain during an excessive heat warning in West Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, 2023.
Roderick Underwood cools off in the Centennial Fountain during an excessive heat warning in West Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, 2023.

Redmen said that although clouds and some rain this week made it feel cooler, Palm Beach County won't get a refreshing crisp to the air until December or January — well into peppermint season.

In the meantime, here's where to get a pumpkin spice fix:

When to get pumpkin spice coffee in Palm Beach County

  • Dunkin' locations: Rolled out fall menu Aug. 16

  • Starbucks locations: Begins offering pumpkin spice drinks on Aug. 24

  • Papa Kwan's Coffee Shop and Café, Juno Beach: Begins selling pumpkin-spiced drinks the week of Sept. 4

Dunkin' expanded its menu Wednesday with several fall pumpkin-flavored treats. In addition to its Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, available iced and hot, and Nutty Pumpkin Coffee, available iced and hot, the food stop also has pumpkin cake doughnuts, pumpkin Munchkins doughnut holes and a pumpkin muffin – and Goldfish Dunkin' Pumpkin Spice Grahams.
Dunkin' expanded its menu Wednesday with several fall pumpkin-flavored treats. In addition to its Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, available iced and hot, and Nutty Pumpkin Coffee, available iced and hot, the food stop also has pumpkin cake doughnuts, pumpkin Munchkins doughnut holes and a pumpkin muffin – and Goldfish Dunkin' Pumpkin Spice Grahams.

Where to get Oktoberfest, pumpkin beers in Palm Beach County

While some local breweries create a special pumpkin beer for fall, most also celebrate the 21+ version of pumpkin spice season: Oktoberfest.

Here's a lineup of fall beer releases:

  • SaltWater Brewery, Delray Beach: Oktoberfest beer coming in September

  • Civil Society Brewing, West Palm Beach and Jupiter: Oktoberfest beer coming the second week of September

  • Tequesta Brewing: Oktoberfest beer starts Sept. 16, “Oh My Gourd” pumpkin beer to be released Oct. 7

  • Twisted Trunk Brewing, Palm Beach Gardens: “Papa Pump” pumpkin lager to be released Oct. 21

  • Royal Palm Brewing Company, Royal Palm Beach: Oktoberfest beer starts Sept. 16, pumpkin beer coming Oct. 1

  • Stormhouse Brewing, North Palm Beach: Oktoberfest beer coming in September

The 2022 Gardens Day, at Twisted Trunk Brewing, is an ode to Palm Beach Gardens and its Bavarian Oktoberfest.
The 2022 Gardens Day, at Twisted Trunk Brewing, is an ode to Palm Beach Gardens and its Bavarian Oktoberfest.

Fran Andrewlevich, a brewer of 30 years and owner of Tequesta and Twisted Trunk Brewing, said pumpkin beer is the signal that winter holidays are coming even when temperatures are still climbing into the upper 80s in Palm Beach County.

He said in years past, his brewery has flown through pumpkin beer at a rate of seven half-barrels, or just over 100 gallons, per day in September and October.

Why does pumpkin spice work, you ask?

"It's the same way you would say 'Why does the Shamrock Shake work?'" he said. "It's just so great. The beer is awesome. The hype around pumpkin kind of came up 10 years ago, and we started doing it. Then it just literally took off."

Where to get pumpkin spice sweet treats in Palm Beach County

A pumpkin roll with butter cream filling is now available in the Publix bakery department as the fall season approaches August 20, 2023.
A pumpkin roll with butter cream filling is now available in the Publix bakery department as the fall season approaches August 20, 2023.

Whether you're seeking an autumn afternoon in the kitchen or a quick pick-up in the drive-thru, Palm Beach County shops have you covered:

  • Culver's, Lake Park: Custard flavor of the day will be Pumpkin Pecan on Sept. 7 and Sept. 28.

  • Williams-Sonoma locations: Began selling pumpkin coffee, pecan and caramel pumpkin butter, pumpkin bread and waffle mixes, and pumpkin seed brittle in stores Aug. 11.

Did we miss the date of your business' rollout of pumpkin coffee, pumpkin brew or sweet treat? Email kkokal@pbpost.com to be added to the list.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pumpkin spice near me: Starbucks, Dunkin coffee, in Palm Beach County