STARBUCKS
Apple Crisp Macchiato – Leela Wahl
Located on the corner of Lake Ave. and California Blvd., Starbucks is a familiar refuge to us all. With fall on the way, and the weather finally dropping beneath 100 degrees, one of the best parts of the year is beginning: it’s officially time for Starbucks’ fall drink menu. Why not add a taste of autumn to our year-round classics? An oldie but a goodie, the Apple Crisp Macchiato has been a member of the exclusive fall menu for a few years now, and I am happy to say that it is still a personal favorite of mine. I’ll admit, when I first heard “apple” and “coffee,” I prepared myself for a too-sweet apple flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised! It wasn’t drowned with an overly-fruity taste, allowing me to really enjoy the coffee itself. The apple is more of a side note here, and in my opinion, that’s a good thing. I suggest ordering this drink iced as it really blends in the apple flavor, making sure it’s there but not overwhelming. Plus, for a California fall, you really want something refreshing instead of cozy. I highly recommend the Apple Crisp Macchiato if you want a more delicate flavor in your coffee.
Pumpkin Spice Latte – Eleanor Yohalem
As autumn approaches and the air begins to smell like pumpkin spice, the crave for festive coffees hits us high schoolers hard. Located a brisk five minutes away from Poly, Starbucks is the perfect place to study, hang out with friends, or try one of their famous fall drinks. The Pumpkin Spice Latte, the staple of spooky season, the ultimate addition to a cozy sweater and Uggs, dominates the Starbucks fall drink menu. After I purchased the drink for the first time, the barista handed me a bright orange beverage, topped with a whopping amount of whipped cream dusted with cinnamon. The drink definitely did not lack pumpkin flavor, yet it did not overpower the taste of the espresso, either. I found it to be a very light drink, with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Due to the hot California weather, this drink is best iced. A stand-out on Starbucks’ extensive fall drink menu, I believe the Pumpkin Spice Latte lives up to its hype as a beacon of fall.
PHILZ COFFEE
Vanilla Date Delight – Piper Hart
To give coffee lovers a wonderful fall surprise, the West Coast coffee chain Philz dropped two new coffee drinks last week. One of the new fall beverages, the Vanilla Date Delight has been marketed as a sweet new cold brew drink that captures autumn’s essence in a cup. Filled with excitement, I rushed to Philz the morning after the drop, with my mobile order of a medium Vanilla Date Delight, medium cream and medium oat milk already placed. Beginning with a thin layer of cinnamon, the drink’s unique flavor continues to deepen. The drink does not utilize the common pumpkin flavor which most fall drinks are associated with; rather, it takes ties from more unique fall flavors, allowing it to be very one-of-a-kind. If sugar and spice are really all that nice, this drink confirms that narrative: sweetened by a delicious, all-natural date syrup, the cold brew maintains its spicy aura while catering to the sweet tooth audience. If you like cold brews, dates, cinnamon or just autumn in general, this is the new go-to morning coffee for you this fall.
Spiced Vanilla Latte – Simon Zernicki-Glover
Despite loving the beach and tanning in the sun, fall has always been my favorite season — not for the weather, but for the return of fall drinks at all my favorite coffee spots. One place stands above the rest: Philz Coffee. Not only are the large wooden tables perfect for an after school study session, but a new drink, the refreshing and creamy Spiced Vanilla Soul, has me hooked. With rich, nutty notes of Soul Cold Brew as the base, its flavor expands into a perfect mix of creaminess from the vanilla sauce and velvetiness from the foamed oat milk. However, the spices on top are what make this fall-flavored latte different from the usual vanilla latte. Overall, this drink is a perfect pick-me-up after a long school day, and you’ll be pleased to hear its sweetness isn’t overbearing either.
