By Sofia Montoya-Deck
Hood College sophomore Megan Pezenosky swivels her head to the left, and then the right, before crossing the street. She scurries across the crosswalk as her two friends follow closely behind. Once on the other side, Pezenosky pulls her phone out of the back pocket of her ripped jeans and unlocks it. She clicks on a small green square icon.
As the Starbucks app loads, she is already mentally preparing her order: an iced pumpkin spice latte with pumpkin cream cold foam. Pezenosky, like many others, is partaking in the ever-widening pumpkin spice phenomenon that has swept the food industry.
“I haven’t always been a big fan of pumpkin spice, but I still participate in the trend when fall comes around,” Pezenosky said as she prepared for her mid-day treat. “I definitely look forward to trying out new pumpkin spice foods and drinks.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. It was first created by Peter Dukes, a former product manager at Starbucks who was in search of a fall-themed beverage that could generate the same popularity as the seasonal peppermint mocha flavor.
Two decades after its creation, the pumpkin spice latte and its many variations continue to dominate the coffee industry. The return of the seasonal drink often marks the unofficial beginning of fall.
After a few minutes of waiting in line, Pezenosky confidently recites her order for the pumpkin spice latte she had been craving all morning. Her friend Caylee Sheaffer follows, opting for the pumpkin cream cold brew. Jordan Taylor orders next, trying out the newest pumpkin spice drink, an iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte.
Despite the omnipresence of pumpkin spice, it has its critics. Bella Bellucci, a barista at Starbucks, doesn’t understand the flavor’s fanatical appeal.
“I think the [pumpkin spice drinks] are average,” she said. “They aren’t great, but they also aren’t bad. I do enjoy pumpkin spice, but I wouldn’t go crazy over it.”
Bellucci firmly believes that the holiday drinks at Starbucks, and in coffee shops in general, are good for both the business and its customers. “There’s more flavors to play around with,” she explained. “More flavoring options means more opportunities to taste test new drinks.”
Although Bellucci is far from pumpkin spice’s biggest supporter, she is not immune to the fall craze. Every once in a while, she finds herself ordering Starbucks’ iced pumpkin cream chai latte.
The pumpkin spice trend has undeniably trickled down to local entities as well. Local coffee shop Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe has embraced the ever-growing trend by incorporating multiple pumpkin spice products into its menu.
According to the cafe’s owner, Mike Winder, the coffee shop’s biggest hit is their pumpkin spice lattes. “They are always popular when the fall season rolls around,” he said.
Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe begins selling its pumpkin spice lattes in mid-September and adds pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin scones to their food menu on Oct. 1. All beverage and food pumpkin spice products remain an option for customers until Thanksgiving.
Mike Winder is also the owner of Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream. In celebration of the fall season, the store carries pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin shakes and makes its own pumpkin fudge.
“We always have seasonal offerings and have had them since we first opened,” Winder explained. He has owned Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream since 2002 and purchased Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe in 2010, as it was conveniently located just across the street.
“They sell well, and people look for them as soon as September gets here,” Winder said of their pumpkin spice menu items. He is confident that both of his stores will continue to offer pumpkin spice products for years to come.
Whether you are a fan or a foe of pumpkin spice, its presence today is simply unavoidable. The consumer-driven trend will undoubtedly continue to make its return at the mark of each new fall season.
As Pezenosky takes the first sip of her iced pumpkin spice latte, she sums it up perfectly: “In the fall, pumpkin spice is everywhere.”
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