Starbucks has added a new flavor to its fall lineup.
The Apple Crisp Macchiato, an espresso beverage available hot or iced topped, debuted this week and joins the returning Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew on the seasonal menu.
The limited-time autumn menu also includes the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Pumpkin Scone. Pumpkin Bread is available year-round.
“Fall at Starbucks brings customers back to the nostalgic flavors of the season and our team used that inspiration to create a new flavor that celebrates those feelings of comfort and familiarity,” said Raegan Powell, senior manager on the Starbucks research and development team, in a statement.
The coffee giant said the inspiration for the apple beverage started with the idea of the fall harvest and builds on the popularity of its pumpkin flavor. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte – dubbed “PSL” for short – launched 18 years ago and started the pumpkin spice craze.
“Pumpkins are popular, but it was clear that apples were another prominent flavor that the team wanted to explore as they started concepting a new fall flavor,” Starbucks said in its statement.
In spring 2020, the company began testing and “tasting a bushel of apple-flavored favorites,” including apple maple syrup, a variety of apple pies, cakes and crisps.
“If the hot version is like warm apple pie, the iced version is like apple pie à la mode, with the warm flavors of apple and brown sugar combined with milk and ice, and also topped with apple caramel drizzle,” Starbucks said, noting the drizzle resembles the lattice on top of a pie.
Starbucks isn’t alone in featuring apple.
Dunkin’s seasonal menu, which returned Aug. 18, includes the Apple Cider Donut and two new drinks: Apple Cranberry Dunkin’ Refresher and Apple Cranberry Dunkin’ Coconut Refresher.
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