It’s still blazing hot outside, but coffee lovers across America are about to get their first taste of fall. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice season officially kicks off on August 26, 2025, and this year’s lineup has some surprises that’ll make you forget all about those scorching summer temperatures.
But there’s more to this story than just the return of everyone’s favorite autumn beverage.
August 26: Mark Your Calendars
Starting Tuesday, August 26, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte will be back in all its glory – hot, iced, or blended as a Frappuccino. The coffee chain calls this the “unofficial start of fall,” and honestly, they’re not wrong.
The PSL isn’t coming back alone either. Fan favorites like Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai are returning too, along with some brand-new additions that show Starbucks isn’t just playing it safe this season.
Consumer interest in seasonal spice-laden lattes has spiked earlier than ever, according to Google Trends, which showed an uptick in searches starting in mid-June vs. mid-July in 2024.
What’s New This Year
Here’s where things get interesting. The biggest addition to the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lineup this year is the new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado. This isn’t just another latte – it’s a coffee drink with a 1:1 ratio of espresso to steamed milk, combining three shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso with notes of pecan, rich brown butter, holiday baking spices and steamed oatmilk.
The drink comes topped with a sprinkle of pecan crunch topping and is served hot in an 8-ounce cup. It’s basically fall in a cup, but with a nutty twist that’s different from the usual Starbucks Pumpkin Spice offerings.
The Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte is also making a comeback after its successful debut last fall, now available in both hot and iced versions with a layer of vanilla sweet cream cold foam.
The Real Pumpkin Behind the Hype
One thing that sets Starbucks Pumpkin Spice apart from imitators is that they use real pumpkin. Each of these fan-favorite beverages are made with real pumpkin that is grown on a farm in Walla Walla Valley, a half-day’s drive from Seattle.
That’s not marketing speak – the PSL really does contain actual pumpkin along with the traditional spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The pumpkin spice sauce uses these classic fall flavors to create that taste everyone associates with autumn.
The original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte includes steamed 2% milk, pumpkin spice sauce, brewed espresso, whipped cream, vanilla syrup and pumpkin spice toppings, though you can customize the milk and skip the whipped cream if you want.
Food That Actually Goes with Fall Flavors
Starbucks isn’t just focusing on drinks this season. They’re rolling out new Italian Sausage Egg Bites, featuring crumbled Italian sausage, sundried tomato pesto, basil and Monterey jack cheese, folded into cage-free eggs and cooked using the French sous vide technique.
This addition fits perfectly with the high-protein food trends that have been popular all year, giving the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice experience some substance to go along with the seasonal flavors.
The popular Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Raccoon Cake Pop are also returning, because some traditions just work.
The Competition Is Getting Fierce
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice has inspired a lot of copycats over the years. Dunkin’ introduced pumpkin-flavored drinks in 2007, McDonald’s launched their version in 2013, and now pretty much every coffee chain has some kind of pumpkin spice offering.
This year, Dunkin’ actually beat Starbucks to the punch by launching their seasonal menu on August 20, a full week before the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice return date. But PSL fans don’t seem too concerned about the competition.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte remains Starbucks’ most popular seasonal beverage, with hundreds of millions sold since the drink’s 2003 launch. That’s a lot of fall in a cup.
You Don’t Have to Wait for the Store
Here’s something cool – if you can’t wait until August 26, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice products are already hitting grocery stores. The at-home lineup includes K-Cup pods, Nespresso capsules, and ready-to-drink beverages that are available right now.
The grocery store options include Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Flavored Coffee, Fall Blend Coffee, and Smoked Butterscotch Flavored Coffee. There’s also a Pumpkin Spice Latte Inspired Creamer in both dairy and non-dairy options.
New this year is a Maple Pecan Latte Inspired Non-Dairy Creamer that’s exclusively available at Target, giving the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice experience even more variety for home coffee makers.
The RTD Revolution
Ready-to-drink beverages are becoming a bigger part of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice strategy. Starting in early August, you can find RTD Iced Espresso Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink in convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores nationwide.
These aren’t just watered-down versions either. The RTD Pumpkin Spice Latte is described as “a perfect combination of bold Starbucks Espresso balanced with milk and enticing notes of pumpkin spice.”
The Summerween Effect
There’s actually a trend called “Summerween” that’s driving earlier interest in fall flavors. People are embracing autumn vibes even while it’s still blazing hot outside, which explains why Starbucks Pumpkin Spice searches started spiking in mid-June this year.
The coffee chain is leaning into this trend by making their at-home fall products available months before the actual season begins. It’s a smart move that gives PSL fans their fix without having to wait for the weather to cool down.
More Than Just a Drink
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice phenomenon has become something bigger than just a seasonal beverage. It’s become a cultural marker for the transition from summer to fall, even when temperatures are still in the triple digits.
The PSL has inspired countless memes, social media posts, and even academic studies about seasonal marketing. It’s turned into what experts call a “cultural phenomenon” that goes way beyond coffee.
What This Means for Fall 2025
The return of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice on August 26 signals the beginning of what’s expected to be a competitive fall season for coffee chains. With new additions like the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, Starbucks is showing they’re not content to just ride on PSL nostalgia.
The expanded grocery store presence and earlier availability of at-home products suggest that the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice brand is evolving into something that exists year-round, not just for a few months each fall.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re a longtime PSL devotee or someone who’s curious about what all the fuss is about, August 26 is shaping up to be a pretty big deal in the coffee world. The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lineup this year offers something for everyone – from the classic PSL to new options like the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado.
And if you can’t wait that long, there are already plenty of ways to get your pumpkin spice fix at grocery stores across the country. The season of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice has officially begun, even if the actual season of fall is still weeks away.
Get ready for the seasonal rush.
