Arts and Entertainment
By Maci Taylor, Guest Writer
When asked what a pumpkin spice latte meant to them, respondents answered “Comforting,” (Sophomore Maggie Costello, Biomedical Science) and “Delicious,” (Sophomore Kenzie King, Criminal Justice).
The plague of girls decorated with artificial fur insulated beige Uggs, skintight black Lululemon leggings and hefty infinity scarves are back. Oh, and what’s that that they’re holding? Drinks that could cure the incurable, bring the dead back to life and bring the Xavier Men’s Basketball team a winning season. Starbucks’ infamous fall drink lineup is here.
On Aug. 22, Starbucks released their fall menu earlier than ever before to combat the ever-growing conversations over losses of company earnings and of customers’ interests. Despite that, still in the cook-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat of summer, Starbucks announced that the unofficial start to fall was here, causing a frenzy of Starbucks fall drink fiends to break out of hibernation early.
The company added a new, more inclusive drink, the impossible to say five times fast Iced Apple Crisp Non-Dairy Cream Chai, to the already blockbuster fall drink lineup. Additionally, two new Starbucks app exclusive drinks are making their debut; Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte and the Iced Honey Apple Almond Milk Flat White.
However, don’t worry Starbucks fiends, the classics are back, and these drinks are battling to win your hearts. Starting off with our first drink, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. It has fall flavor with the gentle cascade of the orange pumpkin cream cold foam intertwining into the rich cold brew. This is the drink to take home to Mom and Dad.
Next up is the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, which is making a strong entrance after entering the Starbucks villa last fall. This drink brings an explosion of bold flavors with every sip. This is Iced Chai Latte’s more attractive and popular sister, the one that pity invites you to parties.
Finally, of course, the queen of all queens, making her 21st appearance on the Fall menu: Ms. Pumpkin Spiced Latte (aka PSL). This drink embodies the season of Fall and makes tastebuds shiver at the thought of her. She holds the perfect mix of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Don’t forget about the luscious whipped cream on top. *Sighs in PSL delight.*
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia.Commons.org
All these flawless and carefully crafted drinks induce straw slurping, lid licking and crushed cup foot smashing and recycling. Even Xavier’s own Starbucks worker, sophomore Philosophy, Politics, and the Public and Philosophy major, Seth Banninga, agrees. Banninga was asked about how the introduction of the fall menu has affected the overall atmosphere and experience in the store. “It’s a lot livelier of an atmosphere because some people only come to Starbucks during the fall season. It’s fun to see people smile. Everyone goes to Starbucks to enjoy the drinks, and I am just happy I get to contribute to making their days better,” Banninga said.
