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It’s time to talk about fall’s most beloved and most detested drink — the pumpkin spice latte. 

Starbucks first put the pumpkin spice latte, also known as the PSL, on their menu 23 years ago, adding flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves (and notably no pumpkin) to their lattes. 

This set off an unstoppable chain reaction. 

Pumpkin pie spiced flavors rapidly began spreading well beyond Starbucks and even beyond coffee. Walk into any Trader Joe’s right now. There are pumpkin spice cookies, bagels, ice cream and even pumpkin spice pumpkin seeds. Starbucks has generated billions in revenue off the PSL, per Business Insider.

Still, despite the pumpkin spice latte’s overwhelming success — many people have come to ridicule the beverage as an overhyped, cloyingly sweet, kitschy product associated with white women. In this sense, the drink has kind of become the Taylor Swift of beverages. 

But, I like Taylor Swift. And, I like pumpkin spice lattes, too. I believe both are brilliant — despite some recent setbacks.

In 2022, Newsweek talked with a Starbucks barista and reported that the company changed its PSL recipe to include “real pumpkin ingredient.” Some customers noticed a difference in taste that felt inferior and artificial. (A Starbucks representative did note that “nothing about the recipe has changed.”)

Even so, just because Starbucks popularized the pumpkin spice latte, does not mean that they make the best one. A proper pumpkin spice latte is balanced, spice-forward and not too sweet. It honestly doesn’t necessarily need pumpkin flavoring in it. After all, this is about pumpkin spice, not pumpkin. Getting it nice and spicy is the most important part, and large chains like Starbucks, Dunkin’ and even La Colombe often miss in this department. 

Still, there are plenty of coffee shops around the city, delivering on the good PSL name. I used to think I didn’t like pumpkin spice lattes until I tried one at my local coffee spot.

Getting a premium pumpkin spice latte is not always easy to find. Many quality coffee spots in the city offer their own spiced autumn latte instead. But when you can find a good one, it’s clear that the PSL is a delicious fall staple that shall not be overturned.

We found five spots around the city that know what they’re doing when it comes to coffee and pumpkin spice.

Knockbox Cafe in West Philly

Knockbox Cafe delivers a knockout-punch when it comes to their pumpkin spice latte. Tucked along a tree lined street in Spruce Hill, their PSL is perfectly spiced for a brisk fall day. What’s more, if you don’t want to go full on latte vibes, the cafe also sells spiced coffee grounds with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Mighty Bread in South Philly

Mighty Bread is usually packed thanks to their impressive spread of pastries and fresh-made loaves, so you may have to wait in line. Still, if you’re worried about your pumpkin spice latte feeling too sugary, this is the one for you. Mighty Bread’s PSL was spice-forward and the least sweet of the drinks we tried.

The Ground in North Philly and Rittenhouse

The Ground is a cozy cafe that doubles as a plant and gift shop. There’s plants all around the place, so you can take a little green friend home along with your pumpkin spice latte — which by the way passes our sweet to spice test ratio. 

Batter & Crumbs in South Philly

Batter and Crumb is a vegan bakery in Point Breeze, where you can pick up plant-based breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Oat milk is the default choice here. They also have a tasty pumpkin spice latte that checks all the boxes when it comes to spiced autumn goodness. 

Vibrant Coffee Roasters (multiple locations)

Vibrant is selling a maple pumpkin spice latte this fall. Their house-made pumpkin syrup does not taste artificial, and the added Vermont maple syrup adds to the overall fall coziness. This drink is on the sweeter side of our list, but in a good way. The recipe is nice, balanced and worth it.