By Sanika Saraf
The other day, after seeing dead leaves on the ground and feeling a slight breeze on my shoulders, I smelled it. Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves mixed with the comforting and creamy flavors of coffee and milk. My legs took me to the nearest coffee shop to buy my favorite fall drink: the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
However, my excitement for all things autumn was crushed once I realized that I paid $6 for a mediocre beverage at best. Armed with my immense passion for finding the best value drinks, I ranked PSLs across campus and Collegetown to satisfy my fall cravings. Though PSLs are traditionally served hot, I refuse to have hot lattes when it’s still over 60 degrees outside. Besides, I’ve noticed cold beverages are more popular among the Cornell student body than hot ones.
Following two weeks of comprehensive research, here is my PSL ranking for five of Ithaca’s best coffee spots based on overall flavor, coffee quality, and value.
5. Libe
Libe Cafe serves the traditional, iconic, PSL brand: Starbucks. So, I entered through Olin with hefty expectations, however, it was a huge letdown. I literally couldn’t get through more than 3 sips of the drink.
I was attacked with an artificial pumpkin flavor that was so overpowering I physically choked. Think of chugging artificial pumpkin puree from a blue plastic straw – this was my exact experience. The Starbucks Libe was a disappointing start to my PSL journey, but I guess this should encourage you to support small businesses.
4. De Mokha Cafe
This was my first time trying this cafe, and I was super excited upon seeing that they use Yemeni coffee beans. While this latte was pretty good by regular coffee standards, it was not a PSL. In fact, I was actually questioning if I ordered a PSL or just a typical iced latte. There was no pumpkin spice flavor, which was a little suspect as I paid almost $8 for a 16oz drink. De Mokha definitely delivered on the espresso front, however, I’d be careful about buying a flavored latte here.
3. Cafe Jennie
Serving Peets Coffee, Cafe Jennie is my go-to central cafe. When ordering, I wasn’t expecting much because To my surprise, Cafe Jennie delivered a solid latte that could potentially hit the spot if you’re craving pumpkin pie. Upon one sip, I was hit with a wave of pumpkin, which balanced with milk was not overwhelmingly sweet at all.
However, the PSL leaves a bitter and artificial taste in your mouth due to the boldness of the espresso. I think, in particular, a lighter or blond espresso would’ve complimented the syrup and coffee taste. Additionally, I detected no spice flavor in the drink, making the beverage feel quite one-dimensional.
If you ever order Cafe Jennie’s PSL, I would recommend sprinkling cinnamon in the drink for an extra dash of complexity. Peet’s delivered a solid pumpkin latte, but I’m not sure if you could call it a pumpkin spice latte.
2. Gimme Coffee
An iconic Ithaca coffee vendor, Gimme Coffee never disappoints. I thoroughly enjoyed the nuance of Gimme espresso with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. That being said, the pumpkin component of this PSL is extremely mild. Rather than tasting it as you’re drinking the latte, it’s merely an aftertaste left on the tongue.
This drink feels more like an iced chai than a pumpkin-spiced latte, but nonetheless, the quality of Gimme Coffee is unmatched – they have their latte recipe down to art. If you’re looking for a comforting spice with rich coffee shining through, Gimme Coffee’s PSL does just that.
1. CTB
I honestly did not expect to award Collegetown Bagels number one. I always thought CTB was overpriced and overhyped, but surprisingly, they delivered one of the best PSLs I’ve tasted. The combination of coffee and pumpkin was flawless – it wasn’t too decadent, but it had a nice cinnamon flavor that added a perfect touch of sweetness to the drink.
My only complaint was that the pumpkin syrup coagulated at the bottom as I drank, but I was seriously nitpicking. While $6.50 is on the steeper side, I’m willing to empty my pockets for a drink like this.
Sanika Saraf is a freshman in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She can be reached at ss4353@cornell.edu.
