Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Melanie Whyte
Step into any store in the next few weeks, and you'll likely be bombarded with "oh my gourd" puns, fall garlands, and other harvest-based decor. This, of course, means one thing: pumpkin-spice season is quickly approaching. As summer comes to a close and the seasons begin to change, people are looking forward to kicking off the fall season with pumpkin-flavored muffins, pumpkin-scented candles, and, most importantly, pumpkin-spice lattes.
But as someone who once worked as a barista, I have long turned up my nose at the tradition of ordering anything but black coffee — at least, until I saw Dunkin Donut's limited-edition fall menu that just dropped. The pumpkin-spicy lineup includes pumpkin-cream cold brew (made with pumpkin-cream cold foam), blood-orange refreshers, and a brand new nutty pumpkin coffee.
For the record, I'm not the only one super excited by the new drink options — many people are sharing their hype on social media, too.
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Sorry babe, fall starts when Dunkin releases their pumpkin spice, not when the calendar says so
— JavaSok (@javasok) August 15, 2022So in the name of being a team player, I bravely volunteered to taste some of Dunkin's new drinks and snacks. As someone who exclusively drinks black coffee, you can imagine my surprise when each sip and bite made me crave the drinks and pumpkin-y flavors all over again. Below is what you should try before the season ends.
Blood Orange Dunkin' Refresher
Image Source: Dunkin' Donuts
The blood-orange refresher is fresh on the menu this year with two ways to order it: with green tea or coconut milk. (I ordered mine with green tea because I read it's good for my skin.) When I tried it, I noticed the chilled seasonal drink brings together the citrus of blood orange, the tartness of cranberry, and the spiciness of ginger and cinnamon. Personally, I'm really happy Dunkin' launched this one because I need something cold to combat the current heat wave. (Sorry, Dunkin', dropping the fall menu unfortunately doesn't bring us closer to crisp autumn temperatures.)
While it was a tad sweet for a black-coffee drinker like myself, the cranberry flavor came through to add a sting of bitterness. I'm curious if I had opted for coconut milk, would it have cut down the sweetness? Or would it be closer to a vegan Thai iced tea? I'll definitely be back again to test out this theory. Either way, while the weather is still warm, this might be the drink I bring to a Labor Day weekend picnic.
Nutty Pumpkin Coffee
Like I said before, as a barista, I am all too familiar with the pumpkin-spice-latte craze, but Dunkin's Nutty Pumpkin Coffee is so much better. The drink is the original-blend iced coffee with pumps of pumpkin swirl, hazelnut, and cream. It's the traditional pumpkin-spice drink without the extra kick of espresso. I personally liked the use of cream rather than steamed milk because it gave it a different texture and worked better with the sweetness. I'm not the only one who fully enjoyed it, though.
On the drive home I stopped by Dunkin and they have the nutty pumpkin iced coffee out and y’all… delicious.
I may have been in a bathing suit while getting a fall drink but I’m ready for spooky season
