pumpkin lattes: a review

I like pumpkin.  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bars, baked pumpkin, pumpkin pie martinis, and yes... pumpkin latte's.  I like pumpkin flavor so much in fact that I just purchased a new bottle of flavoring syrup in case for some reason I could not get out of the house for weeks on end and needed to make pumpkin flavored coffee drinks at home. 

Every year in the fall I look forward to October when 'pumpkin latte season' officially opens.  In the last (approximately) 38 days  I have sampled 3 versions at some of my favorite coffee places.   I provide this review and encourage your input in case I have missed your favorite. 

The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is available widely.  It is creamy, super-sweet, and has "full-on pumpkin flavor".  It also has that nice cold whipped cream on the top that I so enjoy.  Whenever I have one I make sure I am firmly seated when I take my first sip so I don't swoon and fall all over myself with joy.   

The Maple Pumpkin Latte from LatteLand is thick.  It has real pumpkin in it and tastes exactly like a piece of pumpkin pie topped with a thin layer of whipped cream that has been drizzled with maple syrup.  Just imagine that -  blended with espresso and super creamy milk and you have it.  Not as sweet as the Starbucks version and did I mention it is thick and has real pumpkin in it?  I die. 

At Signs of Life bookstore in downtown Lawrence,  the Pumpkin Latte is first and foremost a coffee drink.  Then you taste the subtle pumpkin flavor with a vanilla undertone.  It is the least sweet of the three and is completely delicious.   

Which one do I like best?   Don't be silly.  I want to be friends with all of them and simply could not choose one over the other.   

Comments

[Leslie J. Moran]

You are becoming way too influential in my life. I think I have one "Perfectly Pumpkin" left in my Keurig stash. AND a little whipped cream. Lovely way to start the weekend.

[Susan]

I just had breakfast with my kid. She had a farm friend deliver two beautiful "happy fall" pumpkins last week and had them artfully arranged on her buffet. This afternoon's plan of action was to cleave those puppies in half, scoop out the seeds for toasted seed garnish, bake the pumpkins, puree the pumpkins, and freeze the pumpkin puree in blobs. What(might you ask) do you do with a freezer full of pumpkin blobs? All year she adds them to stir fry, soups, stews and slaws. Now THAT is a pumpkin lover. Me? I just see pumpkin as a vehicle for whipped cream.

[Cat]

The only flavorings I have ever allowed in my coffee are chocolate and St Brendan's Irish Cream Liqueur.(I'm sure I spelled that wrong!!) BUT, you are seriously tempting me to try a pumpkin drink...seriously. Hope that Starbucks one isn't too too sweet!!