I Tried Starbucks’ New Iced Pumpkin Shaken Espresso, and It Instantly Dethroned My Go-To Fall Drink

It’s been 23 years since Starbucks first tested the Pumpkin Spice Latte, affectionately known as the PSL, in 100 stores and definitively changed the fall coffee game forever. The chain followed it up in 2019 with the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, definitively changing the iced fall coffee game forever … or so I thought. Because when Starbucks announced a new Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso as part of the fall 2026 menu, I knew it had potential to earn a spot among the company’s storied pumpkin-flavored drinks.

Starbucks sent me a gift card to preview a few of the new fall menu sips, and I think August 2026 will mark a lasting achievement in Starbucks’ pumpkin history. Here’s everything to know about the fall drinks.

The shifting of the seasons also means new and returning drinks at Starbucks. For fall 2026, the one that really caught my eye is the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, which is on the seasonal menu as of August 25. Starbucks launched shaken espresso drinks in the spring of 2021 and has rolled out different flavors over the years, but never a pumpkin one — until now. 

It’s made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso that’s shaken with brown sugar syrup and cinnamon, and it’s “served over ice with oatmilk and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam for a sweet and creamy finish,” according to a Starbucks press release.

I also got to try another drink that uses pumpkin cold foam, the Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, which is basically an iced matcha topped with the seasonal cold foam.

When I grabbed my drink off the counter, I instantly got a whiff of pumpkin pie spice that primed me well for the delicious pumpkin flavor that came through from the pumpkin cold foam. On my second sip, I got a little more iced espresso in the mix, and it combined so well with the pumpkin flavors. Nothing about the drink tasted fake or overly sweet, and I liked that I could actually taste the espresso. I couldn’t detect the brown sugar syrup in the espresso on its own, but it rounded out the flavor of the drink. 

I couldn’t get over how well the espresso mixed with the pumpkin cold foam, and I really enjoyed that the pumpkin spice sauce wasn’t in the drink itself. The pumpkin spice flavor in the cold foam is just enough to give your iced espresso a fall feel while still tasting refreshing. As I drank, I just kept repeating to myself (in the cafe, around other people, mind you), “This is SO GOOD.”  

I’ve never been a regular matcha drinker, but when Starbucks comes out with seasonal versions of the drink, I find myself intrigued. The pumpkin cream cold foam doesn’t stand out as much here as it did with the espresso, but if you’re a regular Starbucks matcha drinker, this sip is a good way to give your go-to a seasonal touch.

In the past, I’ve regularly chosen the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew over the PSL. But now I’m reconsidering everything, because the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso instantly proved to be a trusty fall sip. It’s refreshing while still giving you cozy feels because of the pumpkin spice, and it might just be the drink of the season.