It occurs every year around the time when summer find its end, when coffee chains release their fall menus. And every time we can guarantee that pumpkin spice is on the list.
It’s boring.
And that may be controversial to say (especially for the soccer moms and finance bros who pounce at the opportunity to acquire their PSL the very day it’s released at Starbucks).
But it’s true. We’ve become so accustomed to the pumpkin spice latte release that it’s become ordinary and expected. What’s the fun in that?
Whatever happened to branching out? To trying new things? It might be a stretch to say “go outside your comfort zone” when it comes to coffee. But seriously, let’s move on from the pumpkin spice latte craze.
For those of you asking, “Okay then, what do you suppose we try?”
The Maple Pancake Iced Latte
Specifically, Foxtail Coffee Co.’s Maple Pancake Latte—an iced (or hot) syrupy masterpiece that tastes like a Sunday morning in a cup.
It’s like your grandmother’s famous pancakes made from scratch are layered in syrup… but in liquid form.
Sure, it may not sound enticing at first… the taste of pancakes in a drink?
But trust me, it’s quite the popular order.
We asked Kaylee, a barista at the Foxtail in Grandville, Michigan, for her insight into what the most popular order is from the fall menu.
A round of applause, please, for… the maple pancake latte.
She said, “Our best fall drink and most popular one is the maple pancake—I literally have one right now as I’m driving.”
So perhaps pumpkin spice has a close competitor.
Let’s Ditch the Mainstream Pumpkin Spice
Foxtail, even with having the ever-so-popular pumpkin spice on the menu, opts to take time to perfect the recipe.
“Our pumpkin spice is like a pumpkin purée—it’s handcrafted,” Kaylee explained.
This is a stark difference from the mainstream coffee companies who just passively press a button and assume the coffee is “good.”
“Most of our drinks are handcrafted for the espresso. We personally taste our espresso every morning and make sure it’s good,” she described.
So even though you might indulge in the pumpkin spice latte, at least you know that here it is crafted with intention and specificity.
But, that maple pancake…
The first sip hits like a drizzle of syrup over a stack of buttery pancakes, and suddenly you’re asking yourself: Why did we ever pretend pumpkin spice was the pinnacle of autumn flavor?
While the mainstream coffee chains are stuck on repeat, local cafes are having a lot more fun with fall—swapping pumpkin for maple syrup.
The Corporate Symbol of “Fall-In-a-Cup” Has Lost Its Spark
The pumpkin spice latte has become predictable.
But those other fall flavors like maple syrup, apple, and cinnamon, feel new and homegrown. (And perhaps a bit more Midwestern.)
They capture the essence of slow mornings, plaid shirts, and actual trees turning orange—not just the artificial idea of fall that Starbucks has been selling since 2003.
So this year, skip the pumpkin spice burnout… order a maple pancake latte instead.
Sierra Ozolins is a West Michigan native, currently a student at Hope College. As an athlete, she is passionate about fitness—from running to weightlifting. With a interest for politics and lifestyle, she is intrigued how local culture, community, and everyday events shape the world around her—often with an iced coffee in hand and her dog by her side.
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