I Tried Starbucks’ New Fall Drink That Rivals the PSL (It Smells Like a Pie!)
Nothing marks the arrival of fall quite like strolling through campus in a sweater with a warm drink in hand. So when I got the opportunity to get an early taste of Starbucks’ newest fall drink, the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, I had to give it a go. Let’s be honest — there’s no better way to ring in the season than with an autumn-inspired drink.
As “basic” as it might be, a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has been my go-to drink from September through November for as long as I can remember. But the new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado pleasantly surprised me — here’s my honest review of the new sip that might just give the PSL a run for its money.
What Is Starbucks’ Pecan Oatmilk Cortado?
I had never tried (or heard of) a cortado before Starbucks sent me the details of the new fall menu. According to Corner Coffee Store, a cortado is equal parts espresso and steamed milk served in a small cup, and it can also be flavored with syrups. Surprisingly, this is much different than a latte, where the espresso-to-milk ratio is usually around 3:1.
The Pecan Oatmilk Cortado includes espresso, oat milk, and pecan-flavored syrup topped with pecan crunch topping. It is served in a smaller cup (8 ounces) than tall sized drinks (12 ounces), and is only available in that size.
This drink is the only new beverage on Starbucks’ 2025 fall menu. It launched on August 26, alongside the return of the iconic PSL, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. A “short” size of the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado cost $5.25 at my Starbucks location.
My Honest Review of Starbucks’ Pecan Oatmilk Cortado
As someone who often finds a latte too milky and black coffee too bitter, I think a flavored cortado is the perfect compromise for me. However, I found the “short” cup size to be a little disappointing — I would love this drink if it was in a tall or grande size.
My drink was served without a lid so I could get a better look at it, and the fall scents were so strong as soon as the barista handed me the cup. I was reminded of pecan pie because of the overpowering nutty and buttery aroma. When I took my first sip of the drink, I absolutely loved the flavor of the pecan syrup mixed with the oatmilk. I thought it complemented the espresso flavor really well, and I love that it still tasted like coffee even though it had a sweet taste and notes of holiday baking spices.
I’ll definitely add this drink to my rotation of coffee orders once the weather gets a bit cooler. But until then, I’ll be sticking with cold brew.
