coffee-for-less-blog
Are You Nearly Ready to Just Say No...To Pumpkin Spice?
Pumpkin spice may be your ultimate jam in life when autumn rolls around, and of course, that’s fine. But for every five pumpkin spice superfan out there, we’re pretty sure you can also find at least one absolute hater. Surely, as the saying goes, haters are going to hate.
The good news is that for fans and foes of pumpkin spice alike, there are fall alternatives to the seasonal flavor that will most certainly make for a refreshing break from the time honored tradition. After all it’s fall, and you want to get into the spirit of the season, so here are some ways to do so without succumbing to The Great Pumpkin. In other words, here we present you with a few ways to add a little variety to your latte diet from September through the New Year.
1 - Eggnog Latte
Wait! Wait! Hear us out. If you’re a holiday purist and can’t imagine touching eggnog before Black Friday, that’s great! Fall lasts three more weeks after Thanksgiving, so feel free to wait. But with eggnog making its appearance felt as early as mid-September in grocery store coolers this year, you can get your eggnog on for a solid three and a half months.
Remember: eggnog has nutmeg and all spice, and maybe even a little cinnamon or clove, so it’s not that far from the pumpkin spice bull’s-eye. But at least you won’t look like you’re jumping on the bandwagon when you order one at your local coffee counter.
2 - Mexican Mocha
A complete left turn from the road to pumpkin spice will land you in the delicious world of the Mexican mocha. For those who don’t know, chocolate in Mexico is sometimes mixed with spices and ground chilies to make a delicious concoction that is complex in flavor, subtly spicy, and absolutely delicious when mixed with espresso or coffee. Plus, chocolate!
While you may find some coffee bar out there trying to mix pumpkin spice with chocolate, you might be better off trying one of these mochas instead.
3 - Maple Nut Coffee
If you’re looking to get into the spirit of the season but want a different take on fall flavor than the one note offered by The Great Pumpkin, consider a maple nut coffee of some sort. The deliciously rich, complex, and sweet flavor of maple pairs divinely with coffee and nuts, whether we’re talking about pecans, filberts (hazelnuts), or almonds.
4 - Caramel Apple Lattes
Another fall favorite that doesn’t include a pinch of squash puree, the caramel apple latte can transport you to a time that’s been nearly forgotten, when apples were bobbed for before they were skewered and dipped in caramelized sugar. A treat for the kid in all of us, the caramel apple latte soothes and satisfies like nothing else really can.
5 - Dirty Chai
You know what has all the spice of pumpkin spice but absolutely no pumpkin? Chai! For bonus points and bonus caffeine, you can get your chai with a shot or two of espresso. Make it dirty, and make it delicious!
6 - Pumpkin Flavored Coffee
One of the problems with the pumpkin spice latte is that it’s basically an entire pie’s worth of calories stuffed into a sixteen or twenty ounce cup. Well, if you want all of the amazing flavor without the unfortunate pounds that often come with it, then consider getting regular old coffee with a pump or two of pumpkin spice flavor instead.
7 – Coffee!
What’s wrong with coffee? Nothing! That’s what! When was the last time you sat down and actually just had a good cup of coffee, and really tasted it for what it is. Remember? Coffee is simple yet complex, bold, and delicious – a true expression of the labor and talent of the many hands that went into making it!
One More Pumpkin Spice-Flavored Anything and I Might Lose It!
So, if you’re tired of pumpkin spice everything, or never jumped on the bandwagon in the first place, you’re in luck this fall. There are alternatives to tradition, it seems – even when that tradition is the hallowed pumpkin spice.
Even if you’re firmly in the PSL camp and are dreading the end of the season already, you can still consider diversifying your portfolio to make the eventual crash a bit more palatable. You might just find something you could drink all year, seasonal squash or not.