Dutch Bros' caramel and pumpkin drink blew the competition away.
People have looked forward to the limited release of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte every year since 2003. But I wanted to see how it compared to fall offerings at other popular coffee chains.
I tried pumpkin-flavored iced drinks at Dutch Bros, Dunkin', and Starbucks.
Here's how they stacked up.
First, I ordered from Dutch Bros.Dutch Bros is a drive-thru-only coffee chain.
Meredith Schneider
There's nothing more satisfying to me than pulling into an empty Dutch Bros parking lot super early on a weekday.
The Oregon-based chain has more than 900 locations across the US, and it's drive-up/drive-thru only.
I usually just go through the drive-thru, but I ordered my caramel pumpkin-brûlée breve ahead of time on the app so I could park and walk up to the window. Since Dunkin' only offers an iced pumpkin beverage, that's how I ordered this one, too.
The 24-ounce, medium-sized drink cost me $7.59.
The added caramel gave the drink a boost of smooth flavor. Dutch Bros sells a pumpkin breve.
Meredith Schneider
The seasonal drink had almost no trace of pumpkin-pie spices. However, I did taste a hint of nuttiness that I associate with actual pumpkins.
The smooth, sweet caramel added a lot to the drink. Mixed with the other flavors, it almost tasted smoky, which felt very autumnal to me.
Additionally, when the sweetened cold foam on top seeped into the drink, it added a lovely creamy texture.
Then, I headed to Starbucks.Starbucks is known for its Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Meredith Schneider
I took a right out of the Dutch Bros' parking lot, crossed through one light, and swung right into Starbucks.
It's not necessarily surprising that the chain was so easy to find, considering there are more than 15,000 locations across the country.
I placed a pick-up order for my iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, or PSL. The medium, 16-ounce drink cost me $7.21.
The PSL is full of flavor. I got an iced version for a fair comparison between the chains.
Meredith Schneider
I think Starbucks' PSL has gone through several iterations over the years. The current beverage is allspice-heavy and comes topped with thick whipped cream and cinnamon.
Of the three drinks I tried, Starbucks had the darkest brew of coffee.
Although the flavor was nice and full, which paired with the warming spices, the aftertaste was bitter.
To end, I grabbed the iced drink at Dunkin'.Dunkin' has added more seasonal items to its menu over the years.
Meredith Schneider
Dunkin' has introduced a rotating cast of seasonal drinks and doughnuts to its fall lineup over the last 10 or so years.
Although you can find the Massachusetts-based chain on street corners across the East Coast, it's a little less common in my Midwest city. Luckily, there's a drive-thru-only Dunkin' not too far from me.
I placed my order on the app, and my pumpkin-spice iced signature latte was ready as soon as I pulled up to the window.
The medium, 24-ounce drink came to $6.01, making it the most valuable option.
Dunkin’s pumpkin latte tasted more like chai to me.There were more warming spices in Dunkin's pumpkin-flavored coffee.
Meredith Schneider
I don't have Dunkin' that often, so I'm not sure if this is standard, but the espresso shot was pretty weak. It tasted more like a chai latte to me.
The pumpkin-spice syrup was also super sweet, and the drink wasn't as creamy as the other two.
One of the saving graces was the big pile of whipped cream on top. It was thick and added a buttery flavor to the beverage.
For me, Dutch Bros dethroned Starbucks' PSL. Dutch Bros caramel-pumpkin coffee took the cake for me.
Meredith Schneider
Dutch Bros' sweet, creamy caramel pumpkin-brûlée breve was the winner for me. Even though the seasonal drink didn't taste like traditional pumpkin spice, I thought it had a unique, autumnal vibe.
Although I didn't dislike Starbucks' PSL, it was a little too bitter for me — especially with the strong mulling spices.
Dunkin's drink tasted more like an overly sweet chai latte, so I probably wouldn't order it again.