Easy Customizations to Transform Your Starbucks Order for a Cozy Fall Drink

Starbucks lovers can easily embrace fall by adding seasonal syrups, sauces, or cold foams to their favorite drinks. From pumpkin spice to apple flavors, these simple customizations elevate any coffee experience, offering a cozy, autumn-inspired treat perfect for chilly days.

Former Barista Haruka Shares Fall Drink Customization Tips for a Cozy Starbucks Experience

For those new to festive fall beverages, making minor adjustments to a typical coffee order is an easy way to embrace the season at Starbucks. With a variety of seasonal sauces, syrups, cold foams, and classic options, there are numerous ways to enjoy fall flavors, even if pumpkin spice lattes aren’t a personal favorite.

In a report by Tasting Table, former Starbucks barista Haruka reflects on how the seasonal changes in the menu always sparked excitement. Having once been on the other side of the counter, she fondly remembers how customers would eagerly incorporate seasonal ingredients into their favorite drinks. Now, as a regular, she enjoys experimenting with fall-themed customizations. Even minor tweaks, she says, can significantly enhance the seasonal experience.

Using the Starbucks app, you can easily make these customizations. After selecting a drink, the app provides a customization option where seasonal additions can be explored. Starbucks baristas are always available to assist those uncomfortable with the app in person at the counter.

While most people have heard of the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), it’s not the only way to enjoy pumpkin flavors. The pumpkin spice sauce can be added to any drink—hot, iced, or blended. Haruka recommends one popular, secret menu item, the Cinderella Latte, which combines a white mocha with half the pumps replaced by pumpkin spice. This drink is available hot or iced, though many find the warm version to capture that better autumn feel. However, for cold coffee enthusiasts like Haruka, switching to hot beverages might be difficult, though rewarding on a chilly day.

In cold drinks, milk is added straight from the jug, while in hot drinks, the milk is steamed, creating a velvety, smooth texture that adds warmth and comfort. Warm beverages are particularly ideal for cozying up during the cooler fall months.

Cold or Warm, Starbucks Fall Favorites Add Seasonal Flair to Any Drink Choice

Starbucks offers festive fall options like pumpkin spice cold foam for those who prefer cold beverages. This rich topping adds a touch of autumn to any iced drink and can be ordered easily at the counter or through the app. Haruka particularly enjoys adding it to her iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso. This combination surprises baristas due to its non-dairy milk mixture and dairy-filled topping. Despite her curious looks, it remains her favorite fall treat.

While pumpkin tends to take center stage in fall, apple is another classic flavor that evokes the season. Starbucks offers apple brown sugar syrup, which can add a nostalgic fall twist to drinks. Haruka suggests using it in a shaken espresso or adding it to chai or a caramel apple spice for a delicious autumnal touch. For an extra seasonal treat, steamed apple juice with added chai concentrate transforms a simple drink into a spiced delight.

Pecan-flavored syrups also appear on the fall menu, evoking warm, nutty flavors reminiscent of candied pecans. Haruka finds that pecan syrup pairs beautifully with espresso-based drinks, and for a more indulgent experience, adding pecan crunch topping can enhance the flavor and texture.

Though many customers may need to consider the type of espresso in their drinks, Haruka advocates for lighter blonde espresso, particularly when combined with fall syrups like pumpkin or pecan. The milder taste of blonde espresso allows seasonal flavors to shine more brightly.

Plenty of caffeine-free options exist for younger Starbucks fans to enjoy fall flavors. The pumpkin spice crème is famous for combining steamed milk, pumpkin spice syrup, and whipped cream. Caramel apple spice or a white mocha steamer with pecan syrup are also great alternatives for kids, offering a sweet and cozy fall experience without caffeine.

Chai and Secret Menu Treats: How to Elevate Your Fall Drink at Starbucks

Chai lovers can also embrace the season by adding fall syrups to their chai drinks. The spicy flavors of chai work well with pumpkin, pecan, and apple, making it a versatile base for seasonal drinks. For those seeking more caffeine, adding espresso to chai drinks creates a dirty chai, a perfect fall twist on a classic beverage.

Haruka describes a warm Breve espresso drink as the equivalent of wearing sweatpants—a cozy and indulgent experience. Made with half and half instead of regular milk, Breve drinks are rich and creamy, perfect for savoring on a crisp fall day.

Starbucks’ secret menu offers Halloween-inspired drinks like the Hocus Pocus Latte and the Vampire Drink for those looking to embrace the spooky season fully. The Hocus Pocus Latte begins with a pumpkin spice latte base, with added mocha and apple brown sugar syrup, making it a sweet, indulgent treat. The Vampire Drink, a layered Frappuccino, combines mocha sauce, whipped cream, white chocolate crème, and strawberry puree, creating a gory, photo-worthy beverage that will make a splash on social media.

With so many options, Starbucks fans can easily add a touch of fall to their favorite drinks, creating the perfect seasonal beverage to enjoy all autumn.