Pumpkin Spice Lattes are, for sure, a staple on any Fall day. However, the sheer amount of coffee shops in our surroundings here in Long Valley is overwhelming. Which makes the best PSL?

According to randomly sampled West Morris Central students, the top three places to get the best PSL are Dunkin, Starbucks, and The Coffee Potter. All three coffee places offer the traditional favorite: the pumpkin spice latte.  

The best way to solve this is simple: taste all of them! So, I reviewed each PSL in Long Valley to find a clear winner! Hopefully, this review will influence your next decision when you choose where to grab your next PSL! And just for fun, some food items from each shop are included as well for some recommendations! 

First up is Starbucks. I ordered the pumpkin cream cheese muffin, baked apple croissant, and, of course, their pumpkin spice latte. 

The pumpkin cream cheese muffin was by far my favorite. This pumpkin muffin is delicious, and the cream cheese on the inside adds to the flavor. Remember to order this warmed up! I would rate this muffin an 8.5 out of 10.

The baked apple croissant was also delicious but did not measure up to the muffin. It had a cinnamon apple mixture on the inside, and it was a crispy croissant on the outside. I would rate this treat a 7.2 out of 10. Not bad, but Starbucks definitely could improve this one. 

Last but not least is the Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks, which never disappoints. It really does taste like fall, from the smooth espresso to the cinnamon/pumpkin spice/whipped cream topping. I rated this a solid 9.2 out of 10.

Next: Dunkin Donuts. Since it is included in the name, I had to review their fall favorite: their pumpkin donut. To rate it, I would give this treat a 9 out of 10. Nothing can compare to it in the fall!

The PSL from Dunkin was disappointing to say the least. First of all, I had ordered a hot PSL, and I received it iced. The first sip tasted a bit more like cinnamon than pumpkin, and the rest of the drink was no better. I rated this a 7.8 out of 10, and that is being generous. 

Lastly, we have The Cofee Potter. The only downside here was that TCP does not currently have any fall treats, so I just ordered a hot Pumpkin Spice Latte. It was delicious, yet tasted a bit more “natural”, and not as sugary as the Starbucks PSL. It may be a taste preference, but I still enjoyed the TCP PSL. I rated this drink a strong 8.9 out of 10. 

The winner is Starbucks, all around! Make sure you head over this fall season and try it out!