Fall technically doesn’t begin for a few more weeks, but that hasn’t stopped cafes across Philadelphia from starting to roll out autumn beverage specials.
The baseline is, of course, pumpkin spice latte. Merriam-Webster just added “pumpkin spice” to the dictionary, confirming the PSL as a cultural fixture and not just some Starbucks-centric millennial obsession.
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Philadelphia’s seasonal drink selection is wide. You’ll find a spooky espresso lemonade in West Philly, cozy chai lattes in Fairmount, spiced cider in East Falls, and pumpkin matcha on college campuses — plus seasonally appropriate snacks to go with.
That’s right, it’s drinkable gourd season, M-Fers. If people sipping pumpkin-flavored coffee when it’s still above 80 degrees outside bothers you, feel free to close this tab. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Here, we embrace fall fun. (We might just pick up some early Halloween candy, too.)
What that disclaimer is out of the way, here’s a peek at what Philly coffee shops are offering to ring in the pending fall.
Batter & Crumbs: Pumpkin cold brew, pumpkin bread, and the classic PSL
1401 Reed St. (Point Breeze)
Stop by this South Philly bakery and coffeehouse for vegan pumpkin spice lattes, creamy pumpkin cold brew, and cinnamon-spiced pumpkin bread. If you’re lucky, there might also be pumpkin spice oatmeal cream pies in stock. Not in the mood for pumpkin? Banana bread lattes — hot or iced — are on the menu, too.
Bold Coffee Bar: The Sweater Weather, Golden Harvest Lotus, and multiple variations on pumpkin
1623 Ridge Ave. (Francisville)
Bold Coffee Bar has fall-flavored coffee enthusiasts covered. You can order “The OG” PSL, made with real pumpkin, or switch things up with the “Pumpkin Patch” (a mix of white chocolate, hazelnut, and pumpkin spice), the “Sweater Weather” (which combines maple, cinnamon, vanilla), or “The OG Frotte’” (a blended PSL).
For those days when espresso’s not your vibe, opt for the “Golden Harvest Lotus,” an energy drink brewed from green coffee beans with added cranberry, cinnamon, and caramel apple flavors.
Ramona Susan’s Bake Shop: A PSL you can pair with a cupcake
1255 Marlborough St. (Fishtown); 1424 South St. (Graduate Hospital)
Pumpkin spice lattes are on the menu at this pair of cafe-bakeries this season — and in a somewhat rare move for a PSL purveyor, there’s no additional charge for non-dairy milks.
If a PSL alone still isn’t enough pumpkin, the bakery will also be making pumpkin cupcakes with honey-whiskey cream cheese frosting. Heads up: The Fishtown location didn’t have the cupcakes when Billy Penn visited in early September, but they’re expected soon.
ReAnimator Coffee: PSLs and chai spiced cider
Multiple locations
This local coffee chain just resumed selling classic pumpkin spice lattes for the season. This year, there’s also a non-pumpkin, non-coffee autumnal beverage on the menu in the form of a cozy chai spiced cider.
Looking to try both? You can hit up a ReAnimator location in Passyunk Square, Kensington, Fishtown, Port Richmond, or Garden Court.
Grindcore House West: The ‘Carrie White’
4134 Chester Ave. (Spruce Hill)
Yes, there’s an option at this vegan West Philly coffeehouse to add pumpkin flavor to your latte (or regular coffee, or tea, or whatever). But if you’re looking for a drink with some seriously spooky vibes, check the “Carrie White”: a lemonade, espresso, and blood orange syrup concoction inspired by the Stephen King protagonist.
Also on this fall’s menu are apple spice muffins and pumpkin maple sandwich cookies, both from Manayunk’s Crust Vegan Bakery.
Bagels & Co.: Frozen PSL
1001 N. 2nd St (Northern Liberties)
GLU Hospitality’s NoLibs bagel spot has added the “pumpkin spice latte freeze” to its menu this month, and it’s perfect for those late September summer days. You can further customize this drink with a range of fall flavors, like pumpkin french toast (pumpkin, hazelnut, and white mocha) or “autumn” (a pumpkin and salted caramel swirl).
Need an extra autumnal snack? The shop also has maple bacon, apple cinnamon, and pumpkin spice cream cheeses to smear on bagels.
Saxbys: Pumpkin matcha, pumpkin cold brew, and even pumpkin overnight oats
Multiple locations
Matcha plus pumpkin? Apparently so. The unlikely green-and-orange combo is back at the Philly-based campus coffee shop chain this year, along with a slew of other pumpkin things: milk and pumpkin cold brew, iced or hot pumpkin lattes, and pumpkin and spice overnight oats.
Find a location near various colleges, including Temple, St. Joe’s, La Salle, Drexel, Penn, and the Community College of Philadelphia.
La Colombe: Canned PSLs and RIP at-home roast
Multiple locations, online, and in grocery stores
You won’t find baristas making you one to order, but the Philly-based coffee company has brought back its canned pumpkin spice draft latte. They’re available with either oat or lactose-free dairy milk, per the company’s website.
To try this canned wonder, order it online, or head to the closest Trader Joe’s, Giant, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. As for when you can expect to see it on draft in shops, the La Colombe Instagram account told commenters to “stay tuned?.”
Coffee enthusiasts can also order some of the company’s newly resurrected R.I.P. (Roasted in Philadelphia) coffee beans to brew at home, which include a Halloween-themed medium roast with caramel cream, blackberry jam, and spice cake flavoring.
Lucky Goat Coffee House: The Gobbler and the Autumn Sweater
888 N. 26th St. (Brewerytown)
At this family-owned spot at 26th and Poplar, you can go for “The Gobbler” (your choice of the typical PSL or a pumpkin spice cappuccino), or treat yourself to an apple-flavored chai latte. That said, Billy Penn’s official recommendation is the “Autumn Sweater”: a vanilla chai latte with cinnamon that somehow tastes like putting on an oversized sweater, even when it’s iced.
Thunder Mug Cafe: Spiced caramel apple cider and pumpkin or maple spiced anything
4233 Ridge Ave. (East Falls)
Stop by this Northwest Philly cafe for a warm spiced caramel apple cider. Not feeling that one? You can add pumpkin spice, maple spice, or spiced brown sugar flavor shots to most drinks on the menu.
PSL? White chocolate spiced brown sugar mocha? The world is your oyster pumpkin.
