Starbucks launches Pumpkin Spice Latte earlier than ever before (2024)

If you're growing frustrated waiting for summer to appear, you may do better to take a leaf out of Starbucks' book and skip forward a season.

The coffee giant today announced - just over a week into August - that autumn and winter favourite the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back in select stores across the UK.

While some media outlets speculated that the Pumpkin Spice range would return on August 22, Starbucks has surprised its fans by bringing it back earlier than ever before this year.

From August 8, Starbucks aficionados will be able to purchase three Pumpkin Spice beverages - provided they are signed up to the Starbucks Rewards programme.

Non-members, however, will have to wait another two weeks before they can buy either the Pumpkin Spice Latte, the Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte or the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, which is also available with a non-coffee base.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is made of signature espresso combined with a pumpkin spice flavour sauce and steamed milk, then topped with whipped cream and a spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

The chain's decision to reintroduce the range earlier this year is based on the growing popularity of the 20-year-old beverage, which was invented by US Starbucks beverage developer, Peter Dukes.

Starbucks will launch further autumn beverages and food from August 22, with a full autumn food menu coming on September 5.

For those who are keen to access the Pumpkin Spice range early but are not yet Starbucks Rewards members, it's possible to join up via the Starbucks UK app.

Back in April, Starbucks launched its summer menu, which is still available in stores.

Options include classically refreshing fruity flavours - the fan favourite Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresha made a comeback - and more indulgent sweet tastes.

The brand also created a Crème Brûlée Inspired Cold Foam that can be added to any ice coffee to give it a fresh and sweet twist, which is a star ingredient across many of its new items.

As an alternative to whipped cream, the new summer topping is available alongside the regular vanilla variant.

The chain created three initial beverage combinations to allow fans to experience the rich and creamy texture of the new foam at its best.

Starbucks recommended coffee drinkers first try it with a cold brew, an iced brown sugar oat shaken espresso or a brown sugar Frappuccino.

For the first of the three - the Crème Brûlée x Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso - a Starbucks Blonde Espresso roast is shaken together with brown sugar syrup and ice.

Then, it is topped with oat drink and finished with the cold foam and a dusting of fresh coffee grounds. The Tall size costs £5.00.

Priced at £3.85 (Tall size), the second Crème Brûlée x Cold Brew, sees Starbucks' signature cold brew sweetened with a touch of vanilla flavour syrup and topped with the Crème Brûlée inspired Cream Cold Foam. It's finished with a dusting of fresh coffee grounds.

The third of the newcomers, the Crème Brûlée x Brown Sugar Frappuccino blended beverage, is made with the Brown Sugar & Coffee Frappuccino base and topped with the foam - before being finished off with a dusting of fresh coffee grounds. The Tall size costs £4.85.

For those who fancy something fruitier, there were two new refreshing drinks for summer 2024: the Dragon Coconut Starbucks Refresha drink (£4.75 RRP for a Tall size) and Very Berry Starbucks Refresha drink (£4.35 RRP for a Tall size).

Texture is just as important here and the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresha fruit juice shaken with ice contains whole blackcurrants to pack a summery punch.

Similarly, the Dragon Coconut Starbucks Refresha contains dried dragon fruit pieces shaken with a mango and dragon fruit flavour base, coconut drink and ice.

Last but not least, the 2023 tropical favourite, the Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresha (£4.75 RRP for a Tall size), was also brought back this summer.