pumpkin spice latte

Fall coffee drink

A pumpkin spice latte is a coffee drink flavored with the spices traditionally used in pumpkin pie—cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves—typically with espresso, steamed milk, and sweetener.

Popularized by Starbucks in the early 2000s, it has become synonymous with autumn and is often abbreviated PSL.

The drink inspires both devotion and mockery, serving as cultural shorthand for basic fall enthusiasm: PSL season is finally here.

Opposites
seasonality

pumpkin spice latteiced coffee

Chilled caffeinated drink

summer shandy · pink drink · cold brew · refresher · lemonade

flavor profile

pumpkin spice latteblack coffee

Unadorned brewed beverage

espresso · Americano · green tea · water · plain water

cultural positioning

pumpkin spice latteTurkish coffee

Grounds-in-cup brewing method

cowboy coffee · craft coffee · instant coffee · yerba mate

Family

pumpkin, spice, latte, pumpkins, spices, spiced, spicing, spiciness, lattes

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Mostly American · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G