Pumpkin spice has become a staple in the fall

“August slipped away into a moment in time…,” Taylor Swift once sang in her hit song “August,” and with that comes the long-awaited, back for a limited time, pumpkin spice.

The combination of cinnamon and spice in a latte evokes a cozy, fall-like feel for people across the world. And now that the “ber” months are in full swing, these vibes are in high demand.

Sophomore Anna Eberhart, a Primary Education major, has been a pumpkin spice enthusiast since she first tried a McDonald’s pumpkin spice iced coffee at the age of 11.

“At home, we have a pumpkin festival where everything is pumpkin-themed: pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin donuts and of course, pumpkin drinks,” Eberhart said.

Pumpkin spice is a tradition she celebrates when the leaves fall and the temperatures start to dip.

Outside the doors of each Starbucks on campus, there is a pop-up sign featuring their fall menu items, tempting students to walk in and grab one.

On Aug. 26, Starbucks released its fall menu, featuring classics from years past and some new items that have sparked the interest of pumpkin lovers. This menu features their classic pumpkin spice latte (PSL), available hot or cold, as well as their new pecan oatmilk cortado, an iced pumpkin cream chai and a pumpkin cream cold brew, all topped with their real pumpkin cream cold foam.

While the menu features new items, Starbucks kept the classics, bringing comfort to its PSL lovers. Eberhart’s go-to is the pumpkin spice chai.

Sophomore Mira Feingold works as a barista at the three on-campus Starbucks locations and has personally seen the influx of pumpkin spice. According to her, the most popular drink order is the iced pumpkin chai.

“I have made over 100 fall drinks in the last week, but my favorite part is the pumpkin cold foam because I enjoy whipping it up and sprinkling the pumpkin powder on top,” Feingold said.

As one walks through campus, it’s almost impossible not to see someone carrying the iconic orange-brown drink.

One of the notable aspects of Starbucks is that one can essentially create one's own drink. Choosing a drink as the base, customers can customize it through syrups, cold foam, toppings and much more.

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Most customers know exactly what customization they like for their drinks when they are at home, and it's no different here in Oxford.

Feingold gets a front seat to all the various combinations that students and faculty order.

“The most memorable drink was a pumpkin matcha. I had to try it after I made it for someone, and it was fire,” Feingold said.

Beyond Starbucks, there are small coffee shops that are offering similar cozy vibes for the fall season.

Kofenya is a popular spot for students to study, hang out and caffeinate before class. Their fall menu includes pumpkin spice latte, cold brew and cold foam, along with their spiced hazelnut and cinnamon sugar latte. For those that are 21+ and looking for a little extra buzz, they have an espresso martini with their cinnamon sugar topping.

For September, Kofenya has partnered with Coarse Culture, a brand created by a Miami University alumna VaLanDria Smith-Lash to offer a pumpkin whip, which consists of pumpkin cold brew, vanilla cold foam and is topped with cinnamon.

Smith-Lash graduated from Miami in 2023 and was recently named one of Forbes' 30 under 30. Her business is rapidly growing with new seasonal flavors every couple of months.

Coarse Culture was created with Smith-Lash’s mother in mind to help her with her Lupus diagnosis. The body butter moisturizes dry skin, increases vitamin intake, protects from the sun and helps against stretch marks.

“Our seasonal scents are all about tapping into the nostalgia and feelings tied to each time of year. I like to think about what people are craving—cozy, warm, comforting scents in the fall,” Smith-Lash said. “For instance, the inspiration for our Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin came from walking into a kitchen on a chilly October afternoon and smelling a pie fresh out of the oven. I want our products to recreate those kinds of experiences for people.”

Every time a customer orders a pumpkin whip, they will receive a free sample of Coarse Culture’s sweet cinnamon body butter.

“They can expect a little taste of fall joy,” Smith-Lash said. “Each time someone orders the signature Kofenya x Coarse Culture drink, they’ll also receive a mini pumpkin whip sample. It’s a chance to sip, savor and discover a seasonal self-care ritual all in one.”

Located right here in Oxford, Coarse Culture provides students with seasonal body shea butters to keep the seasonal spirit home away from home.

Pumpkin lovers across campus can look forward to incorporating pumpkin into their skincare routines.

“I love my marshmallow pumpkin latte body spray, so I would love to get a free pumpkin shea butter,” Eberhart said.

tessmahn@miamioh.edu