While we wait for the fall weather to catch up with the official start of the season, people are already beginning to enjoy fall traditions and activities. From apple-picking to carving pumpkins to anything fall-flavored, we all have our favorite customs. One trend that has taken the fall season by storm is the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Starbucks is the original inventor and distributor of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, creating its signature flavor and launching the invention in 2003 as part of the company’s special seasonal flavors. At first, the drink was only released at the Starbucks locations in Vancouver and Washington D.C., but it was an immediate hit with the customers and was soon expanded to their other locations. 

20 years later, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has become Starbucks’ most successful seasonal drink with hundreds of millions sold over the past 20 years during the fall seasons. Their menu has also expanded to include their Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, which are available during the fall season as well.

Before the creation of the Pumpkin Spice Latte by Starbucks, the pumpkin spice flavor and scent was not yet present in the marketplace. Now in 2023, you can’t walk into a store during the fall season without seeing a pumpkin spice-flavored drink, candle or a variety of other products emulating the signature combination. 

The extreme popularity of the Pumpkin Spice Latte took off with the arrival of social media sites Facebook and Twitter in 2006. Media exposure through celebrity endorsements, viral videos and more brought the Pumpkin Spice Latte to its current status as a cultural symbol of fall. The original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has also been copied by innumerable coffee shops and can be found in almost every store that you visit in the fall. 

In Liberty and nearby areas, some of my personal favorite places for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (hot or iced) include:

Starbucks: There are various locations around Liberty. You can never go wrong with the original.

Hammerhand Coffee: Located near Downtown Liberty, Hammerhand offers their delicious Spiced Pumpkin Latte and Spiced Pumpkin Chai drinks that have a perfect blend of fall spices.

Paisley Perk: Located in Kearney (a short 15 minute drive from Jewell). Their Pumpkin Pie Latte has a rich flavor that doesn’t overwhelm the espresso.

Make sure to take advantage of these indulgent flavors before they disappear at the end of the season!

As a new student at William Jewell College, one of the first things I noticed was the popularity of The Beak. For those who don’t know, Jewell offers a coffee shop on campus — usually open during normal academic hours — on the third floor of the Pryor Learning Commons (PLC).

Officially being on campus for only a month, I’ve already spent my fair share of Cardinal Dollars on The Beak’s delicious drinks. I prefer their coffee drinks, as tea has never been my cup of tea. Iced coffee — a sweet, sugary and caffeinated beverage — became a favorite of mine way back in high school, and it has since become a big craving throughout a typical day in my life. I guess I could live a day without a coffee, but I won’t be happy about it! 

Now that I have daily access to The Beak, here are my three favorite drinks, how I order them and what makes them stand out to me.

Iced Crunched For Time

Crunched for Time — a macadamia nut latte — is my favorite by far. I can, and will, drink this all day every day. The drink is not too sweet, but also not bitter like other iced coffees can be. White chocolate is added in just the right amount so that the flavor doesn’t overwhelm the drink; the coffee taste is still present, despite the add-ins, and is actually enhanced by the macadamia nut and milk. I usually order the drink with oat milk, which makes the taste lighter overall.

Iced Sweet Mocha Madness

Another favorite of mine is the Sweet Mocha Madness, a white and dark chocolate latte — though this one is more of a treat than coffee to me. A decadent combination, the white and dark chocolate come together to create a chocolate-y pick-me-up that I can enjoy if I am craving a really good chocolate milk-type drink. The Sweet Mocha Madness can also tolerate milk substitutes well, so don’t be afraid to add oat milk like I do.

Iced Cardinal Grind

This was the first signature drink from The Beak that I tried — mainly because it was the first recommended to me. The combination of the mint and espresso always hits in just the right way, even though I’m not a big fan of mint. The drink boasts a minty-fresh aftertaste that combines well with the strong chocolate milk flavor. Although I wouldn’t drink it every day, I think once or twice a week is a good compromise. Since the Cardinal Grind is made with chocolate milk directly, adding a milk substitute takes away some of the signature flavor of the beverage. The Cardinal Grind, iced and hot, is a favorite at Jewell, and for good reason.

I still have a long way to go before I graduate, but until then, you will absolutely see me ordering these drinks and maybe trying new ones.