Our Overall Rating: B+

November is here and the long-awaited Starbucks fall drinks are back. While beverage aficionados are no stranger to Starbucks visits all year long, the fall drinks inspire much fanfare due to their combination of pumpkin flavors and festive spices. If you are looking for the perfect treat to start off your Thanksgiving cheer early, read on!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

With it’s own Instagram account, no Starbucks review is complete without mentioning the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte.The subject of many memes and even songs, the drink is the quintessential coffee drink of fall and has returned to the Starbucks menu for the 19th season in a row. The drink is available in many forms, like hot, blended or even iced.

Though the drink will be ordered by many this autumn, the hype is not exactly merited. While the flavor of the Pumpkin Spice Latte evokes feelings of leaves changing colors or the whispers of a chill in the morning, it is not life-changing. It is overly sweet and topped with whipped cream, which earns this drink an individual rating of a B-.

“The Pumpkin Spice Latte is my favorite drink to order when it starts getting cold out. Though it may be a little sweet, it gives me feelings of nostalgia and I know that summer is finally ending when I drink one of these,” senior Andrea Delgado said.

Pumpkin Spice Blended Frappuccino

Frappuccinos are arguably Starbucks’ most popular items and often inspire the most news coverage. Frappuccinos like the pumped-full of sugar Unicorn Frappe or the sickly green Zombie Frappe went viral because of their bright colors and marketing towards children.

The fall version of these frappes is the Pumpkin Spice Blended Frappuccino, which has the same flavors as the Pumpkin Spice Latte but in a coffee-inspired way rather than with actual caffeine. Full of whipped cream and spices, the frappuccino is a good treat to end a hard day with. This drink earns an individual rating of an A.

Apple Crisp Macchiato

Unlike the other drinks in this review, this Starbucks fall drink does not contain any pumpkin flavors. Right for the customer who has had more than enough autumn spice this season, the Apple Crisp Macchiato is refreshing in its originality. The drink looks simple enough in a normal Starbucks coffee cup and when tasted, it does not have much more to offer. The coffee flavor is overpowering with just a hint of apple flavor. This is our lowest ranked item, earning an individual rating of a C+.

“I was pretty disappointed by this drink, I expected it to taste more like an apple pie but it just ended up tasting like regular coffee. I wouldn’t get it again,” senior Emily Felipe said.

Full of fall-inspired items, the Starbucks menu does not disappoint. The drinks are dependable and are an integral part in making it feel like the seasons are actually changing here in Miami. Overall, everyone should try at least one fall drink from Starbucks in order to immerse themselves in the spirit of the coming holidays.