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Changes to the Pumpkin Spice Latte this year

1055 Views 9 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Ophelia
Just read this and not surprised after last year complaints and news. Just wondering if the flavor si going to change. what does everyone else think of this news?

:(:confused:

Starbucks, Panera tweak pumpkin spice latte formulas

NEW YORK (AP) — The pumpkin spice latte battle is heating up just in time for fall.

Starbucks and Panera are hyping reformulated versions of the popular drinks in a fight to win over fans of the beverage in coming weeks.

Starbucks Corp. said Monday its version of the concoction this year will be made with real pumpkin, and without caramel coloring. The change comes after blogger Vani Hari, known as the Food Babe, criticized Starbucks last year for the drink’s ingredients and its lack of transparency around the issue.

Panera meanwhile, also said its pumpkin spice latte this year will be made “entirely without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup.”

The popularity of the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks has made it common offering on menus at other chains during the fall.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has called the pumpkin spice latte the company’s “most popular seasonal beverage ever.” In late 2013, he said sales of the drink were as strong as ever “despite the proliferation of knockoffs and copycats.”

In Seattle, Melissa Lane, who says she loves Pumpkin Spice lattes but isn’t a big Starbucks fan, said Monday that she would be more likely to buy one of the specialty drinks if they make the ingredients more natural.

“That sounds awesome,” Lane said. “I prefer less ingredients and more natural stuff.”

Not everybody was sold on the idea of pumpkin-flavored caffeine drinks.

Beth Alley, who was enjoying iced tea with a friend outside a Seattle Starbucks, said she’s never had a pumpkin spice latte.

When asked what she thought of the idea of pumpkin flavors in caffeine drinks, she said, “I probably wouldn’t have one anyway.”

Panera plans to offer samples Tuesday in Seattle, where Starbucks is headquartered. The sampling will be across the street from the first Starbucks location by Pike Place market, according to a Panera representative.

Panera Bread Co. says its version of the drink also has real pumpkin and will be sold in its stores starting Sept. 9. Starbucks has not yet said when its drink will be available. The company even has a Twitter account set up for the drink, which has more than 82,000 followers.
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I hope it improves the taste. For me, one or two sips is ok but then it just tastes nasty! I've never tried Panera's though. I may have to try it.
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Ugh, It's not called Pumpkin Latte, it's Pumpkin Spice latte. Gourds do not have much of a distinct flavor, hence the compensating with all of the spices/butter/garlic/onion/etc.{I can't form an opinion on homegrown gourds, I merely speak of the market variety}

I always understood that drink to be the spices found in a pumpkin pie, and never expected it to have any pumpkin flavor. My ex-husband complained about the drink not having pumpkin in it, and would send me links of blogs with PSL recipes that used pumpkin puree. Yum! lumpy coffee!

Still, I'll give this new version a try. The cynic in me believes they'll go back to the old formula if people start to complain that it tastes "weird". See, the change I would like to see implemented would be to make the drink less cloyingly sweet, or figuring out a "skinny" version of it.
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Flavor?

How about just lowering the PRICE !
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There's a battle? Seriously? People will make up drama over anything, won't they?
That said, I prefer to make my own at home with a little pumpkin spice creamer anyway. That way I can control the sweetness AND not pay $5+ for a cup of coffee. ;)
Ugh, It's not called Pumpkin Latte, it's Pumpkin Spice latte. Gourds do not have much of a distinct flavor, hence the compensating with all of the spices/butter/garlic/onion/etc.
I agree. However, I think there's something about the gourd itself that enhances the spices. Sometimes I'll get one that is way to cinnamon-y, or too much of some other spice. The pumpkin tones it down a bit and gives me all the spice flavor without the spice's "kick."

Regardless, I'm excited to have Pumpkin Spice Latte's back in my life this fall :)
Ugh, It's not called Pumpkin Latte, it's Pumpkin Spice latte. Gourds do not have much of a distinct flavor, hence the compensating with all of the spices/butter/garlic/onion/etc.{I can't form an opinion on homegrown gourds, I merely speak of the market variety}

I always understood that drink to be the spices found in a pumpkin pie, and never expected it to have any pumpkin flavor. My ex-husband complained about the drink not having pumpkin in it, and would send me links of blogs with PSL recipes that used pumpkin puree. Yum! lumpy coffee!

Still, I'll give this new version a try. The cynic in me believes they'll go back to the old formula if people start to complain that it tastes "weird". See, the change I would like to see implemented would be to make the drink less cloyingly sweet, or figuring out a "skinny" version of it.
This is my point too.

Pumpkin has a flavour but it's not a strong flavour. The "pumpkin flavour" we most associate with pumpkin pie is really the spices used in it, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice, or if you don't want to buy all of those you can just buy pumpkin pie spice which is just a combo of all of those.

So they can dump all the real pumpkin in it that they want & it still won't taste like a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie or what we associate with that particular taste.

Now if they can lower the sugar content & price, THEN they can brag. I don't think I've ever had one & have no real desire to try it since I'm not a big Starbucks fan in general.
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I used to love Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte. I still have memories of waiting in line at Target the day after Thanksgiving and Starbucks (located inside Target) would come out with free samples of Pumpkin Spice Latte for everyone in line. Back then I remember the Pumpkin Spice Latte tasting very good. Good marketing move on their end because that is what got me addictive to their Pumpkin Spice Latte for a few years.
Last year I purchased a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks and it was not as good as I remembered it being years ago. I haven't had a Pumpkin Spice Latte in a few years so maybe the changes they have made over the years were more obvious to me than someone who drinks it every year. The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte mix they sell at the grocery store doesn't taste that great either.
If they can make them not taste disgusting, I'm all for it.
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Coffee snob alert:

Honestly, I have such a hard time with most drinks at coffee shops. I usually call them candy bars in a cup, they all just use too much syrup for my tastes.

That being said, when I make flavored lattes at home, I use Amoretti syrups(and, in case you're wondering, I use Ghirardelli barista chips for mochas). They are more concentrated, and less sweet. I've got their Pumpkin Pie syrup, which is supposed to be less spicy than their Pumpkin Spice syrup. Definitely worth checking out, if you think most are too sweet.
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