For almost 20 years now the annual return of the ubiquitous Pumpkin Spice Latte has signalled the beginning of autumn.
The two-decade-long trend has divided opinion over the years, with some millennials making the festive spice-blended beverage their entire personality for the three-month period during which it is available, while others refuse even to take a sip of the mortal drink.
Back in 2003, the Director of Espresso Americas for Starbucks, Peter Dukes, gathered a small team in what was dubbed the “Liquid Lab” - the very same location at which seasonal drinks such as the Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha were born. The Starbucks taste connoisseurs racked their brains for a brand-new autumnal drink to add to the already bustling line-up.
You can probably guess what Dukes (who has since been referred to as the Father of Pumpkin Spice Lattes) and his team came up with. For a grand total of three months, the espresso innovation collective worked on perfecting the recipe, which ended up consisting of a blend of pumpkin spice sauce, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg with espresso and steamed milk. The latte was then finished with whipped cream, of course, and a special pumpkin pie topping. A star was born. The drink is now so successful that according to a report by Britsuperstore, Starbucks sell over 31.5 million PSLs each year.
Though Starbucks is well and truly the home of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, retrieving your daily spiced caffeine fix from the global coffee chain during the autumn and winter months isn’t the most financially viable addiction. Indeed, a Grande PSL will set you back £4.45, and if you choose to purchase the beverage at least three times a week for the three months that it’s on the seasonal Starbucks menu – you’ll have spent £160.20. Yikes.
Rather than bankrupting yourself for the love of all things pumpkin spice, why not learn to make your very own PSL at home? That way, treating yourself to the real thing will truly feel like a well-deserved luxury. Who knows, you might even end up preferring your homemade creation.
All you’ll need to perfect your own Pumpkin Spice Latte at home is a simple pumpkin spice syrup blend. If you really want to replicate the delicious Starbucks original, we recommend purchasing a dedicated pumpkin spice topping – a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best pumpkin spice syrups for coffee, as well as some extra bits and bobs you might need to perfect your very own seasonal latte. Keep scrolling for more.
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrups
Monin Premium Pumpkin Spice Syrup 700ml
The syrup connoisseurs over at Monin have been in the liqueur game since 1912, so it’s fair to say it’s a brand that you can trust. Though Monin’s products were primarily intended for commercial use, at-home coffee and cocktail maestros have been scooping up their very own bottles of the esteemed syrups in troves.
The Pumpkin Spice blend is a fan-favourite, consisting of sweet pumpkin, spicy clove and cinnamon. Suitable for vegans and certifiably both Kosher and Halal, this syrup is as good as it gets. They also produce a dedicated Gingerbread Syrup, if you’re feeling extra spicy.
Buy now £12.21, Amazon
Tate & Lyle Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup 750ml
Suitable for veggies, the Tate & Lyle Pumpkin Spice Syrup is wonderfully sweet. Measuring 750ml, a bottle of this golden syrup is sure to get you through the depths of autumn and winter.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Simply Pumpkin Spice Syrup, Vegan & Nut Free 1L
With oodles of flavour and style to boot, this nut-free Pumpkin Spice Syrup won’t have to sit at the back of your cupboard to keep your kitchen aesthetic in check. One top review from Darren in the UK declares that this syrup “tastes just like Starbucks.” If it’s good enough for Darren, it’s good enough for us.
Buy now £8.00, Amazon
Pumpkin Spice Syrup - Zero Calorie Sugar Free Skinny Coffee 1L
We’re not exactly sure how The Skinny Food Co has managed to create a zero-calorie Pumpkin Spice Syrup which is free from dairy, fat, gluten and sugar – but lo and behold. Whether you’d like to swap out natural ingredients for a blend of water, flavouring, salt, sweetener and preservatives is entirely up to you, there’s no judgment here. Diet-conscious PSL lovers unite.
Buy now £6.99, The Skinny Food Co
Sweetbird Pumpkin Spice Syrup 1L
On the flipside, Sweetbird’s Pumpkin Spice Syrup is free from artificial colours and preservatives, GMOs and high fructose corn starch. Despite this, a bottle of this sweet stuff has a best before of over two years, even after opening. Have a gander at Sweetbird’s official website for a variety of fantastic autumnal coffee recipes, PSLs included.
Buy now £11.74, Amazon
William Fox Premium Pumpkin Spice Syrup 75cl
Artisan syrup manufacturer William Fox was founded in Liverpool back in 2015 and remains the only colourless syrup manufacturer in the world. Producing a myriad of cocktail-centred and coffee-focused preservative-free sugar syrups, the Premium Pumpkin Spice Syrup is perhaps one of their most versatile offerings. Pop a few caps into your autumnal latte, or even spice up an evening cocktail.
Buy now £9.50, Amazon
Pumpkin Spice Latte Toppings
Just Spices Coffee Kiss
A dedicated spice blend just for our seasonal coffee addiction? Yes, please. Known for its uber-specific spices designed to make adding flavour to the most popular meals easy as pie– Just Spices has done it again with this delightful blend of ground almonds, cinnamon, and cocoa powder.
Buy now £3.99, Just Spices
Badia Pumpkin Pie Spice
For a PSL topping remarkably similar to the original pumpkin pie spice blend used by Starbucks, look no further than the Badia Pumpkin Pie Spice.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Life of Spice Pumpkin Pie Spice
A gourmet option for bougie lovers of all things pumpkin-spice, Life of Spice Pumpkin Pie Spice comes in a handy resealable pouch to keep your precious coffee-topper fresh throughout the autumn and winter. This blend contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace, cloves and sea salt.
Buy now £3.95, Amazon
Simply Organic, Pumpkin Spice
Lovers of organic, sustainably sourced ingredients rejoice, for we too can enjoy the wonders of a pumpkin spice blend thanks to Simply Organic.
Buy now £5.16, iHerb
Anchor Original Real Cream Spray
The perfect, creamy base for your pumpkin spice toppings, Anchor Original Cream Spray is a no-brainer.
Buy now £2.50, Ocado
Pumpkin Spice Latte Mugs
Orange Foliage Pumpkin Mug
Pumpkin-shaped and adorned with various pieces of autumnal foliage, we couldn’t think of a better vessel from which to consume your precious PSL.
Buy now £5.00, Matalan
Halloween Toast Magic Potion 1/2 Pint Mug
Witches and Wiccan will simply adore this handcrafted half-pint mug from Emma Bridgewater.
Buy now £25.00, Emma Bridgewater
Snuggle Season 'Hello Pumpkin' Stoneware Mug
Hello Pumpkin, indeed! Signal the beginning of autumn and the subsequent start of the Pumpkin Spice Latte season with this delightful mug.
Buy now £18.99, Etsy
