Starbucks Dropped *Another* New Fall Drink, So I Had to Try It (Love This Unique Flavor Combo!)

As someone who’s been known to replace my afternoon cold brew with a refreshing, sweet iced matcha latte, I was thrilled to see Starbucks’ recent Instagram post about a new drink combining matcha and pumpkin spice. I typically only drink matcha lattes in the summer, but Starbucks’ new “Pumpkin Spice and Matcha Drink,” as the company called it in a September 6 Instagram Reel, might be a contender for my new favorite fall drink. 

I truly believe there are two types of people: those who love matcha, and those who think it tastes like grass (I am the former). It’s almost as divisive as the famous PSL, so combining matcha and pumpkin spice in one drink is quite a bold move. But after tasting this green and orange concoction, I think Starbucks might be onto something (and my go-to strawberry matcha might be taking a back seat this fall). Here’s my full, honest review of Starbucks’ new Pumpkin Spice and Matcha Drink. 

With September in full swing, Starbucks posted on Instagram to share a new fall drink called “Pumpkin Spice and Matcha,” which is basically the most fall-ified matcha latte you’ve ever seen. Thankfully, the company’s account shared exactly how to order it. Ask for the following:

• A grande iced matcha latte with oatmilk 
• No classic syrup 
• 2 pumps of brown sugar syrup 
• 1 pump of pumpkin sauce 
• Pumpkin cream cold foam 
• Pumpkin spice topping

I paid $8.94 for a grande size. It was a mouthful to order, so I recommend keeping the list handy, as this isn’t a menu item yet (here’s hoping!). 

Starbucks’ matcha can catch a lot of slander from the matcha connoisseurs out there, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this latte. 

When I first grabbed the drink, I was immediately hit with the scent of the pumpkin spice topping. It took a while to get the cold foam mixed in with the matcha, but even before it was fully combined the latte itself tasted sweet and pumpkin-y. I didn’t get any matcha flavor on the first few sips, and really only tasted the pumpkin creaminess. The drink was much creamier than I usually like, but I actually loved it! I found the pumpkin spice flavor to pop a lot more when combined with the matcha as opposed to the usual espresso. 

For a matcha-based drink, though, it didn’t really smell or taste much like matcha. So matcha purists probably won’t be adding this to their go-to orders. But it’s a perfect drink for someone who wants all the fall flavors and isn’t the biggest matcha fan. 

This creative new Pumpkin Spice and Matcha Drink definitely won’t replace Starbucks’ iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte for me, but it’s a fun twist on matcha, and I’ll certainly be getting it again on a hot fall day.