Pumpkin watch 2019: Fall flavors return to US coffee chains

22-Aug-2019 - Last updated on 22-Aug-2019 at 09:51 GMT

Starbucks adds a pumpkin flavor to its new at-home creamer line.

Pumpkin and maple-flavored beverages seem to crop up earlier each year, with most major tea and coffee chains now announcing their autumn offerings in mid-August. We round up what’s new and when favorites return.

The turn of the seasons mark new opportunity for beverage, and autumn is known for heavy flavors in hot drinks. From syrups to creamers to spice blends, coffee shines in the fall.

Starbucks

Starbucks has made a tradition of releasing its fan-favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte on the Tuesday before Labor Day in the US. It will not disappoint for 2019 and brings the beverage back to store on August 27, which it says is its earliest release date yet.

To coincide with the season, Starbucks will also add a Pumpkin Spice flavor to its new line of at-home creamers. The collection dropped this month and launched first with Cinnamon Dolce Latte, White Chocolate Mocha and Caramel Macchiato flavors.

Along with the creamer, customers can already find Pumpkin Spice flavored Starbucks products in retail, like the Ground Coffee, K-Cup Pods, VIA Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Ready-to-Drink.

Dunkin' Donuts

Pumpkin landed at Dunkin’ August 21, anchored by the Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte, new for 2019.

Returning is Dunkin’s pumpkin flavoring for addition into hot and iced drinks, as well as Pumpkin K-Cup Pods and RTD Pumpkin Iced Coffee.

Dunkin’ rounds out its fall menu with new Apple Cider-flavored donuts and Munchkins donut holes, and returning Pumpkin donuts and Munchkins.

Peet’s Coffee

Peet’s Coffee moves its seasonal lineup closer to the true autumn season, announcing this week that its fall beverages will be available from September 4 - November 5.

New this year is the Honey Harvest Latte, featuring Peet’s house-made Lapsang Souchong syrup.

Returning are the Pumpkin Latte, the Pumpkin Chai Latte and a third limited run of its Vine & Walnut Blend medium roast coffee, sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sumatra, and Java.

Patrick Main, beverage innovator at Peet's Coffee, said "Our new Honey Harvest Latte showcases our Peet's handcrafted approach at its best.

"As summer turns to fall, beekeepers harvest honey from their hives, using pine smoke to calm the bees.

“The Peet's Honey Harvest Latte pays tribute to this practice with a warm honey sweetness and a subtle smokiness achieved by infusing a house-made simple syrup with pine-smoked Mighty Leaf Lapsang Souchong tea."

7-Eleven

Nationwide convenience chain 7-Eleven is again serving its version of a Pumpkin Spice Latte and pumpkin-flavored coffee. The flavors hit stores on August 13 and comply with 7-Eleven’s deal that any size coffee is $1.

7-Eleven recommends that customers create a ‘pumpkin spice mocha’ by adding a few pumps of its new chocolate sauce to the latte and topping with the leaf-shaped sprinkles.

Michelle Cram, 7-Eleven senior category manager for hot beverages, said "Pumpkin spice is our coffee customers' favorite flavored drink, and we didn't want to make them wait any longer.”

"With 7-Eleven's special dollar pricing, pumpkin spice-lovers can drink three – at morning, noon and night – for the same price they'd pay for just one latte at a coffeehouse or restaurant. And, after only six beverage purchases scanned on the 7-Eleven app, you can get a free one."

TAZO Tea

TAZO Tea has added a Chai Pumpkin Spice Latte flavor to its Concentrates, available to restaurant operators across North America.

TAZO said the easy-to-use tea and latte concentrates allow for mixing both large and small stock of hot and iced tea beverages.

Other Concentrate options include Classic Chai, Chai Organic, Decaf Chai, Chai Vanilla Caramel and Skinny Chai. With instructions just to shake, pour and mix, there is no brewing time required.