Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Copycat Recipe, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy content & more information)

If you are looking for a warm drink that you can take on a cold fall day, consider the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Read on to learn everything about it.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a handcrafted beverage made of steamed milk, signature espresso, pumpkin sauce, whipped cream, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon flavors. I enjoyed working at a Starbucks store near my home last fall since it allowed me to try most of the drinks.

One of the drinks that became my favorite was the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Though learning how to prepare was a headache, I soon got used to it. When I went back to college, I continued making this beverage since I had mastered the recipe, and I will share it with you in this post. By the end of it, you will also learn its nutritional facts.

Brief History of the drink

Starbucks was the first coffee shop to introduce Pumpkin Spice Latte in the fall of 2003. This coffee house decided to introduce this drink after introducing other winter seasonal beverages successfully. During this time, the company realized that there was something special about the pumpkin flavor and started experimenting with different ratios of spice to pumpkin.

After testing the final recipe, Starbucks realized it was selling this drink fast and soon made it available at all Starbucks locations in the U.S. In 2015, Starbucks decided to change the recipe a bit. It removed artificial colors in Pumpkin Spice Latte and included real pumpkins in the beverage.

Starbucks changed the recipe after customers complained that the latte contained no pumpkins. After adding pumpkin sauce, the latte became more popular among Starbucks customers.

Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte still available at Starbucks?

Yes. Pumpkin Spice Latte is a seasonal drink that is currently available at Starbucks. This coffeehouse introduced the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte on August 29, 2022. The drink is back for its 19th year and is a fall favorite for many Starbucks customers.

The coffee house offers this drink in different versions at all its U.S. stores, including blended, iced or hot. If you enjoy this beverage, you should order it while supplies last since it will not be available once fall ends. Alternatively, you can learn how to prepare it at home.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content)

What’s in a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte – (ingredients?)

The ingredients in Pumpkin Spice Latte include Signature espresso, pumpkin sauce, whipped cream, steamed milk, and spice flavors. Let us look at each ingredient separately.

• Espresso– Starbucks uses its Signature espresso to make its Pumpkin Spice Latte. This is what gives the latte its coffee taste.
• Milk– This coffee house also adds 2% milk steamed hot in Pumpkin Spice Latte. This milk is frothed and whisked. The ingredient makes it creamier and more nutritious since it is a good source of vitamin D, calcium, and protein.
• Pumpkin sauce– This ingredient gives the latte a more natural taste and unique flavor. It contains condensed milk, sugar, and pumpkin puree.
• The whipped cream-The ingredient makes Pumpkin Spice Latte more delicious and gives it a creamier consistency. It is added on top of the latte.
• Flavors– Starbucks adds a flavor combination of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon to this latte to make it stand out.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: Sizes, nutrition, Caffeine, Dairy Content & Calories

What sizes are available?

One thing that makes the Pumpkin Spice Latte popular is that it is available in 4 size options instead of three. You can choose this drink in a short (8 fl oz), tall (12 fl oz) grande (16 fl oz), and venti (20 fl oz). However, we recommend sticking to short or tall cups to avoid consuming too many calories from this beverage. A tall or short cup is also excellent for ordering the Pumpkin Spice Latte for the first time.

Starbucks baristas consider the cup size you choose to determine the amount of pumpkin sauce and espresso shots to add to your drink. If, for instance, you order a short Pumpkin Spice Latte, it will be made with 2 pumps of pumpkin sauce and 1 shot of Signature Espresso Roast. On the other hand, if you order this latte in a grande, it will be made with 4 pumps of Pumpkin Sauce and 2 shots of Signature Espresso Roast.

Nutritional facts

Though this latte appeals to the taste buds of many Starbucks customers, you should assess how healthy it is before ordering it. The good thing about Starbucks is that it shares nutritional facts about such drinks, as shown in the table below.

Calorie count	390
Nutrient Content (per Grande serving)	% of Daily Value
Total Fat (14g)   Trans Fat (0.5g) Saturated Fat (9g)	18%   45%
Total carbohydrates (52 g)   Sugar (50g) Dietary Fiber (0g)	19%%
Cholesterol (50mg)	17%
Sodium (230mg)	10%

So, from the above, you can tell that Pumpkin Spice Latte is unhealthy since it has lots of sugar. A grande Pumpkin Spice Latte has 50 grams of sugar, which is way more than recommended. According to the American Heart Association, you should not have more than 36 grams of added sugar daily.

The amount of calories in this beverage is also concerning. According to nutritionists, healthy drinks should not have over 250 calories, and Pumpkin Spice Latte goes past this. Therefore, if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight, you should take this latte frequently since it can jeopardize your goals.

Though this beverage is not very healthy, it has milk which contains nutrients that support bone health, and espresso, which contains micronutrients like niacin and antioxidants. The inclusion of spices can also give Pumpkin Spice Latte anti-inflammatory benefits.

Caffeine information

Pumpkin Spice Latte can lead to an energetic buzz since it contains caffeine. A grande and a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte have 150 mg of caffeine, while a tall and short cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte has 75 mg of caffeine. This is because Starbucks adds two shots of espresso in both a venti and Grande and 1 shot of espresso in both a tall and short cup of this latte.

The caffeine in a tall cup of this latte is similar to that in two cups of black tea or a half cup of coffee. The caffeine content in Pumpkin Spice Latte is within the acceptable range. According to the FDA, you should not take more than 400 mg of caffeine daily.

So from the amounts above, you can tell that Pumpkin Spice Latte is not very strong regarding caffeine. However, you should avoid taking two or more cups of Pumpkin Spice Latte since you may experience caffeine-related side effects.

Also, avoid consuming this latte close to bedtime since it may negatively affect your sleep.

The best time to take Pumpkin Spice Latte is in the morning when preparing for work since it can make you feel more focused.

Dairy content

Starbucks uses 2% milk to make Pumpkin Spice Latte. This reduced-fat milk is steamed before being used in the latte. This coffee house gets its 2% milk from Dean Foods, a subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America. Dean Foods is one of the largest milk processors and distributors of milk in the U.S. Though 2% milk is the default, you can still order Pumpkin Spice Latte with any other milk alternative you prefer.

So, what does Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte taste like?

Before Starbucks changed the recipe, Pumpkin Spice Latte was bitter and had little pumpkin flavor. However, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is now delicious. This latte also has a subtle taste of pumpkin and cinnamon. The addition of whipped cream gives this latte a creamy texture.

Ways to Customize a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks – Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Variations

Starbucks allows you to customize the Pumpkin Spice Latte differently to enjoy it more. Would you want to make this latte stronger? If yes, consider ordering it with an extra shot of espresso. This can make it feel more like a coffee drink than dessert in a cup.

If, for instance, you want to give it a spicier flavor, you can add more syrups. Feel free to order this latte with two pumps of cinnamon dolce. You can also slightly alter the taste of the Pumpkin Spice Latte by ordering it with some mocha syrup, toffee nut syrup, or hazelnut syrup.

Though Starbucks makes Pumpkin Spice Latte with 2% milk, you can request that your drink be made with options like soy milk or coconut milk. Rather than always topping your Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream, you can ask the barista to add cold foam to make it extra frothy.

If you are trying to reduce the sugar in your Pumpkin Spice Latte, you can keep it simple by ordering it with half the amount of pumpkin sauce. This will also reduce the overall calorie count in it. You can also make it healthier by ordering the Pumpkin Spice Latte without whipped cream.

How to make Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte at home- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Copycat Recipe

Informative section

How do you order a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Since this is a popular drink, you can simply tell the barista its name. Alternatively, start by specifying your desired cup size and then list its ingredients. Ask for brewed espresso, milk, pumpkin sauce, nutmeg flavors, cloves, and cinnamon, and tell the barista to top it with whipped cream.

How much is the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte?

A grande of this drink costs between $5.45 and $5.95.

Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte good?

Yes. This latte is good in terms of taste but is unhealthy since it has lots of calories and sugar.

Are Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes gluten-free?

Yes. According to Starbucks, most of its handcrafted beverages, including this latte, are not made with ingredients that contain wheat and gluten.

Are Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes vegan?

No. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is not vegan since it is made up of pumpkin spice sauce which contains dairy.

Is Starbucks pumpkin spice latte keto-friendly?

No. Pumpkin Spice Latte is not keto-friendly since it has high sugar content, making it unsuitable for a low-carb, high-fat diet.

When will Starbucks pumpkin spice latte return?

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte returned to U.S. stores on August 30, 2022, and is currently available.