The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte makes its 2025 return on Tuesday as the coffee chain turns a page on the calendar to start its fall food and drink season. This year’s launch comes alongside new menu additions, but the PSL remains the centerpiece of Starbucks’ autumn lineup, available hot, iced, or blended, and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices.
The Seattle-based company’s fall menu also features the new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, as well as returning favorites such as the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. The new Italian Sausage Egg Bites and returning Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Raccoon Cake Pop are also on the menu for the fall season.
The Starbucks PSL was first launched by management in 2003 in an effort to expand seasonal beverage offerings after the success of winter drinks like the Peppermint Mocha. Created in Starbucks’ innovation lab, the drink was initially offered in just 100 stores but quickly exceeded sales expectations, leading to a national rollout the following year. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) updated the formula in 2015 to include real pumpkin and remove artificial colors, responding to consumer interest in real ingredients. The PSL has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, with an estimated over 424 million beverages sold since its introduction. Analysts noted that the chain typically benefits from the extra store traffic during the first three weeks of the return of PSL.
McDonald’s (MCD), Dunkin, Dutch Bros (BRS), Peet’s Coffee, Krispy Kreme (DNUT), 7-11, and Tim Hortons (QSR) all have pumpkin spice drinks of their own on their fall menus.