As the leaves begin to change in Oxford, students and baristas are engaged in a flavorful debate: Is pumpkin spice still the supreme flavor for fall beverages, or is apple cinnamon finally ready to have its moment in the spotlight?
Pumpkin spice combines pumpkin puree with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove — balancing with milk and cream, for a smooth, comforting sensation. Apple cinnamon, however, brings a lighter, more refreshing taste to the table. The tartness of apples paired with spices like cinnamon or caramel makes one nostalgic of fall carnivals, cozy sweaters and grandma’s fresh baked pie.
Alexandra Fausett, a senior biology major, is team pumpkin spice and described what makes the classic flavor timeless.
“Pumpkin spice is just festive and really makes me feel like fall is actually here,” Fausett said. “I mean, every year, everyone anticipates when the pumpkin stuff will come out. It just makes people excited.”
Lauren Harlow, an Ole Miss alum and current University of Mississippi Medical Center nursing student, disagrees with Fausett.
“I would choose apple over pumpkin all day,” Harlow said. “It just sounds cleaner and crisper compared to pumpkin spice. I also just think the pumpkin (flavor) is completely overrated.”
Virginia Perret, a Common Grounds Coffee barista and senior integrated marketing communications major, shared an insider perspective on demand for the two flavors.
“I think the trend is what kick-starts all of the pumpkin sales, but people do definitely enjoy it,” Perret said. “We actually have people ask for it year round, so I think that they do genuinely like it.”
How does the demand for apple flavor stack up?
“We definitely sell more pumpkin spice flavored things, (and) we have many specialty flavors that we mix the pumpkin spice with. For apple, we have an Apple Chai but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of demand for it,” Perret said.
Shadrachs Barista and junior elementary education major Mallory Shoffner echoed Perret’s claims that pumpkin spice is the most popular choice but contested its year-round popularity.
“For Shadrachs, I would say that pumpkin is a pretty popular flavor, but we definitely don’t have any orders for pumpkin outside of the fall season,” Shoffner said. “What is it about wanting pumpkin flavor in your coffee after feeling a cool breeze outside?”
However, Starbucks barista and junior art major Ash Pegues challenged this thought. Pegues argued that the demand for pumpkin spice is only higher among college-aged students.
“Seven out of 10 college age people will order the Pumpkin Spice Latte over the Apple Crisp (Latte). However, customers usually over 30 lean toward the Apple (Crisp Latte),” Pegues said.
Will pumpkin spice maintain its crown, or will apple cinnamon steal the show? Only time — and your taste buds — will tell.
