As the leaves start falling, the air becomes crisper and “sweater weather” officially starts. There is no doubt that fall is in the air. With the beginning of the season comes the iconic fall flavor that can be found seemingly everywhere, from Starbucks to candy stores to really wherever food is sold: pumpkin spice.
While many automatically associate pumpkin spice with the ultra popular Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), commercialized by Starbucks, pumpkin spice is much more than just the coffee. The spices that make up pumpkin spice have been around for thousands of years and are generally made up of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, with no actual pumpkin involved.
In the 1930s, pumpkin pie spice started to pop up in the U.S. market, being long and well established before the coffee giant further popularized the flavoring. Fast forward to 2003 where the PSL by Starbucks quickly caught on and interest in pumpkin spice both in drink and food form has skyrocketed to the delight of pumpkin spice lovers and to the annoyance of the less enthusiastic.
With this increase of pumpkin and pumpkin spice products in the market, there are a vast range of opinions when it comes to it and the community of Buena is no exception.
Social studies teacher Andrew Coates, while having no issue with the spice itself, feels that the PSL is an unnecessary addition to the fall season.
“When it comes to coffee, I think pumpkin spice is for people who don’t want to taste their coffee and don’t actually like coffee,” Coates said. “They want to taste what it would feel like to drink a blended up piece of cake that had caffeine artificially added to it, so they can drink their cake through a straw and then not feel tired in the morning.”
One of the explanations for why pumpkin spice is so popular is because the flavor appeals not only to the time of year and that pumpkins are in season, but also the feeling of fall and the nostalgia that comes with the changing of the leaves and seasons.
Sophomore Layla McCambridge, while never trying the PSL, is a fan of pumpkin flavored food and believes pumpkin spice is very much seasonal.
“I think pumpkin spice is something that you can associate with weather. I wouldn’t go out in the summertime and buy a pumpkin loaf, but I would for fall because it gives cozy vibes,” McCambridge said.
Stepping into the bustling shop of Starbucks Coffee, the scent of coffee and fall flavors linger in the air, while posters hanging above the register advertise all of the fall products that Starbucks has to offer.
The PSL has quickly become the mascot of the fall season starting in late August to November. The minute the latte hits the market, the crowds pour into stores, snagging the drinks off the shelves, grabbing the pumpkin muffins and posting their finds on social media, often with the tagline #pumpkinspice.
Like most other products out there on the market, pumpkin flavored delicacies have see-sawed back and forth in popularity. The trend is still going strong in 2025 as Starbucks has reported the highest PSL sales yet this past August when the PSL launched for this year.
“I would actually say it increased, thinking back on my ordering. I’ve had to order a lot more pumpkin in the last three years,” Palermo Coffee general manager Gabby Benavides said.
Pumpkins, purple and orange decorations, as well as spider-related decor are common sights among stores during the season. However, there’s a lot more planning that goes into it than one might think.
From placing orders for the seasonal items early in the year to decorating the space, each store has a method that is all its own.
At Palermo Coffee, the most popular item during the fall season is the Pumpkin Cobbler Bar, a bar with a pumpkin pie filling and a short bread crust. The carrot bar is also a top seller, along with seasonal drinks such as the pumpkin chai and Palermo’s own spin on the infamous PSL.
“[There is] some pressure from the chain coffee shops to fit in with them and make sure we have something that they might have, but even better,” Benavides said.
As the main month of “pumpkin spice season” draws to a close, customers sip their lattes amidst the fall breeze. A certain section of the spice aisle in supermarkets remains sold out, and coffee shops restock and prepare for the winter season.
“It’s [very] consistent,” Benavides said. “People who love the seasonal stuff come in and get the pumpkin spice every year. As soon as that goes on the board, we sell out.”
Whether you love it or hate it, it seems that pumpkin spice is here to stay, as a symbol of the fall season. So put on those sweaters and scarves and head outside to enjoy the fall weather, perhaps with a signature PSL or pumpkin flavored pastry to top it off.
