With pumpkin spice latte season in full swing, I threw on my coziest sweater and hit up seven coffee chains around Toronto to try their take on the fall drink.
I compared and rated each of them, factoring in taste, price and presentation. There were some I loved and others I didn't, but one has got me rethinking my usual order.
Upon asking each spot for their version of the pumpkin spice latte, I discovered they're all quite similar. Each is made with steamed milk, pumpkin syrup, and a shot of espresso, and may come with whipped cream or a sprinkle of cinnamon and pumpkin spice. To ensure a fair comparison, I sampled all of them hot and without any modifications.
Here are my thoughts on every pumpkin spice latte I could get my hands on from major coffee chains across the city.
Starbucks
A pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks
Helen Jacob | Narcity
Of course, we have to start with the chain that made the pumpkin spice latte such a phenomenon over 20 years ago. This orange beverage is generally made with three pumps of pumpkin sauce, one shot of their signature espresso roast, steamed milk with foam, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice topping.
Starbucks PSLs can be a hit or miss for me. Sometimes they’re not creamy enough and other times they’re just too sweet. So you want to make sure to customize it to your liking. But this one was good enough. The pumpkin flavour was strong, the spices came through, and it’s just the quintessential fall drink we all know and love. It's still a bit runny for my liking, but the whipped topping helps counter that.
If you're craving a PSL with a twist, you can also try their pumpkin cream cold brew and iced pumpkin cream chai. Or try something new like the iced apple crisp nondairy chai.
Or just stick to the classic.
Price: $5.65 for a tall
Score: 3.5/5
Second Cup
A pumpkin spice latte from Second Cup
Helen Jacob | Narcity
Second Cup does have a great roster of flavoured lattes all year round, and their fall offerings are abundant. If you're looking to mix it up, you might enjoy the nutty pumpkin frocho or an oatmeal cookie latte. These options were tempting but I stuck to my task and got myself a hot pumpkin spice latte made with white mocha syrup, brown sugar syrup, pumpkin spice powder, milk and espresso.
Surprisingly, the flavour here topped Starbucks for me, but my goodness was it sweet. If I were to order it again, I would cut the sugar in half. I can still feel the syrup in my molars. Besides the sugar levels, I would say it’s a solid PSL — creamy, spice-forward and the price is only a little bit steeper than Starbucks.
Price: $5.85 for a small
Score: 4/5McDonald’s
A pumpkin spice latte from McDonalds
Helen Jacob | Narcity
I’m a fan of McDonald’s iced coffee so I was excited to try their pumpkin spice latte. Made with their McCafe signature espresso, the drink also has steamed milk that’s frothed and sweetened with caramel pumpkin spice flavoured syrup, whipped cream and cinnamon sugar topping.
The verdict? Nothing to write home about. It was a little bitter, with a hint of a syrupy aftertaste, but it was tasty enough. The pumpkin spice wasn't super prominent (compared to Starbucks or Second Cup), but I didn’t expect that either. I was just happy the price point was closer to $4 and not $6.
It was pretty good, but in the future, I’ll stick to my usual iced coffee.
Price: $3.39 for a small
Score: 3/5
Tim Horton’s
A pumpkin spice latte from Tim Hortons
Helen Jacob | Narcity
I prefer the tea at Tim Hortons over the coffee personally, but I gave the pumpkin spice latte a try. It’s made like the others— think espresso, pumpkin syrup, whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.
After the first few sips of mostly whipped cream, I got a taste of the latte. The pumpkin flavour was too subtle for my liking and I found it got lost in the coffee and whipped cream of it all. It might've been an off day, but it just wasn't my cup of tea (get it?).
Maybe I’ll go for the pumpkin spice Iced Capp next time.
Price: $3.98 for a small
Score: 2.3/5
Krispy Kreme
A pumpkin spice latte at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Helen Jacob | Narcity
I was unaware Krispy Kreme did pumpkin spice lattes. I was passing by and thought I’d drop in for a fresh doughnut when I saw the seasonal drink options. The doughnut chain isn't really known for its coffee, at least not amongst my family and friends, and somehow I was still disappointed.
It’s made with their coffee blend, milk and pumpkin pie sauce. This one was a misfire for me and had an acidic aftertaste to it. I think it’s safe to say I won't be ordering their take on a PSL again.
But I’ll take my pumpkin spice cake in doughnut form though!
Price: $3.75 for a small
Score: 1/5
Jimmy’s Coffee
A pumpkin spice latte from Jimmy's Coffee
Helen Jacob | Narcity
After the last three cups, I just wanted a reliable latte. For me, that’s Jimmy’s Coffee — obviously I had to try their pumpkin spice version. Theirs is also made with pumpkin syrup, steamed milk and a single shot of espresso (you can add another if you need to).
This one had the subtlest flavour and not a hint of that orange hue. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness for me, (keep in mind I’ve had about five variations of the latte so far). If you’re looking for a punchier, in-your-face Starbucks-esque pumpkin spice flavour, this isn’t it. But if you want just a good cup of coffee with the slightest amount of festive action, I’d recommend it. Plus, if you’re going to pay around $6 anyway, might as well make it count.
Price: $5.96 for a small
Score: 4.8/5
Balzac’s
A pumpkin spice latte from Balzacs
Helen Jacob | Narcity
This local favourite chain serves not one but two espresso shots in their harvest latte, along with a pump of pumpkin spice syrup and steamed, frothy milk.
If you don’t like your latte sweet, this is perfect for you. I had to add an extra packet of sugar, but similar to Jimmy’s, it’s just a good cup of coffee with the warmth of the pumpkin spice coming through. It’s definitely a lot frothier than the other options, and a stronger drink overall, on account of the double espresso. I would give it the same score as Jimmy’s, but I shaved off a decimal point only because I had to add sugar.
Price: $5.95 for a small
Score: 4.7/5
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, a pumpkin spice latte costs about the same whether you get it from a local chain, Starbucks or Second Cup. So, if given the choice, I’d opt for a pumpkin spice latte from Jimmy’s Coffee every time.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
Pumpkin drink line-up at Starbucks.Courtesy of Starbucks
Apple Crisp drink line-up.Courtesy of Starbucks
Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Chai.Courtesy of Starbucks
Racoon cake pop.Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks x Stanley Quencher.Courtesy of Starbucks
