Pumpkin Spice Latte
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Coffee Guide to Flavor and Nutrition
This fall favorite is espresso and steamed milk with pumpkin sauce, topped with whipped cream and spice. You can get it hot or poured over ice, and both versions use the same sauce. The cards show both, and the size table below gives calories, sugar and shots.
Hot or icedServed
2 shotsGrande shots
SeasonalSeason
$7.25+Cheapest pick
Fall latte quick picks
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is espresso and steamed milk blended with pumpkin spice sauce, then topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. A Grande has about 390 calories and about 50 grams of sugar, so it is a treat more than an everyday coffee.
If you want pumpkin spice coffee from Starbucks, this page covers what is in the cup, how the hot and iced versions differ, the numbers by size, and how to order it lighter. It also explains why the drink disappears and returns each year. For other seasonal picks, see the full Starbucks drink and food menu.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte Drink: What Is in the Cup
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is built from four parts: Starbucks Espresso Roast, steamed milk, pumpkin spice sauce, and a finish of whipped cream with pumpkin pie spices. The menu describes the flavor as a combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
The cards above show delivery-app "from" prices, which are not in-store prices. Cost changes with size, store and customization, so check the app before you order.
At a glance:
- Espresso: Espresso Roast, with two shots in a Grande.
- Milk: 2% by default, steamed for the hot version and poured cold over ice for the iced one.
- Sauce: pumpkin spice sauce, pumped by size.
- Finish: whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice on top.
- Season: returns each year, then leaves.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients and the Real Pumpkin in the Sauce
The ingredients are espresso, milk, pumpkin spice sauce, whipped cream and a spice topping. The sauce is made from sugar, condensed skim milk and pumpkin puree, and since 2015 the recipe has included real pumpkin.
The topping is a pumpkin pie spice blend, which brings the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger aroma. That aroma is what most people notice first. The milk matters if you have an allergy, because the drink contains dairy by default, and the sauce also contains milk. Ask for the full ingredient list in the app if you need to confirm anything.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup Versus the Sauce Baristas Use
People often say syrup, but in the cafe the flavor is a sauce, which is thicker and creamier than a clear syrup. The two words get used interchangeably, which is why searches for the syrup are so common.
Starbucks does not sell its pumpkin spice sauce in bottles to customers, according to published reports, though copycat recipes and third-party products exist. Starbucks has shared a home recipe that uses sugar, brown sugar, water, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree. Reseller listings may use the Starbucks name, so treat them as unofficial.
Calories, Sugar and Caffeine by Size
The numbers below come from published nutrition figures for the hot version with 2% milk and whipped cream. They can change when the recipe changes, so confirm in the app.
Calories, Sugar and Caffeine by Size
| Size | Ounces | Calories | Sugar | Espresso |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 8 | 210 | 25 g | 1 shot |
| Tall | 12 | 300 | 38 g | 1 shot |
| Grande | 16 | 390 | 50 g | 2 shots |
| Venti | 20 | 470 | 63 g | 2 shots |
The Short size is hot only and is not always shown on the board. The iced version follows a similar pattern, but its numbers differ with ice and whipped cream, and the iced Venti is 24 ounces.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Calories Compared Across Sizes and Milks
Most of the sugar comes from the sauce, not the milk. The Grande carries about 50 grams of sugar, and a Venti reaches about 63 grams. Each pump of pumpkin sauce adds roughly 25 calories and 6 grams of sugar, so cutting pumps is the most direct way to lower the numbers.
Milk changes matter less than sauce changes. Swapping 2% for nonfat or almond milk takes out a modest number of calories, because milk is not the main source. Leaving off the whipped cream removes its fat and sugar too, though the saving varies, so check the app for the figure on your order.
Caffeine in a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Caffeine comes from espresso, at about 75 mg per shot. A Tall has one shot, about 75 mg, and a Grande has two, about 150 mg. A hot Venti also has two shots, so it stays near 150 mg, and an iced Venti with three shots reaches about 225 mg.
For comparison, a Grande brewed coffee has around 310 mg, and a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew carries cold brew's caffeine, closer to 200 mg. Health guidance commonly cites 400 mg a day as a limit for most adults, so one PSL leaves room for the rest of the day.
Lighter Ways to Order a PSL
You can cut calories without losing the pumpkin taste. The most effective changes are fewer pumps, no whipped cream, nonfat or almond milk, and a smaller size.
- Ask for one or two pumps of sauce instead of the default.
- Skip the whipped cream.
- Switch to nonfat or almond milk.
- Order a Tall instead of a Grande.
A skinny version is no longer a standard menu item, and the pumpkin sauce is not sugar-free. A dietitian-written guide shows that a lean build with one pump of sauce, sugar-free vanilla and almond milk can land near 95 calories. Treat that as a rough guide, not a promise.
Customizing Your Pumpkin Latte From Starbucks
This drink can be changed in almost every way. You can add an extra shot, switch to blonde espresso for a smoother taste, change the milk, adjust pumps or skip toppings.
Common changes include oat milk for a creamier feel, almond milk for fewer calories, and an extra shot for more coffee flavor. Some people ask for the spice topping on a different drink, or for extra spice on top. Mobile orders let you set each change with a tap. Add the drink to your cart, then adjust the options before you pay.
Pumpkin Cold Foam and Cream: how they differ from the PSL
Starbucks pumpkin spice drinks come in two styles: the latte, which blends the sauce into the drink, and the cream drinks, which float a pumpkin cold foam on top. Here is how they differ.
- Latte: pumpkin sauce is mixed through the milk and espresso, so every sip tastes of pumpkin.
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and a pumpkin spice dusting. The coffee is smoother and less sweet, and the foam provides the pumpkin.
The foam is the key difference. It sits on top and mixes slowly as you drink, so the first sips are sweet and creamy and the last sips are mostly coffee. Learn more in cold foam types and how they are made.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte FAQ
Does the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte have real pumpkin in it?
Yes. Since 2015, the pumpkin spice sauce has included real pumpkin puree along with sugar and condensed skim milk. The flavor still comes mostly from the spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. The pumpkin is present in the sauce, but it is not the main reason the drink tastes the way it does.
How much caffeine is in a tall, grande and venti pumpkin spice latte?
Caffeine comes from the espresso, at about 75 mg per shot. A Tall has about 75 mg, a Grande about 150 mg, and a hot Venti about 150 mg. An iced Venti has an extra shot, so it reaches about 225 mg. Check the app for the latest figures.
How many calories and how much sugar are in a grande PSL?
A hot Grande made with 2% milk and whipped cream has about 390 calories and about 50 grams of sugar, based on published nutrition figures. Most of the sugar comes from the pumpkin sauce, at roughly 6 grams per pump. Fewer pumps, no whip and a lighter milk reduce both numbers.
When does the pumpkin spice latte come back each year?
It returns in late summer and stays into the holiday season, but the date shifts from year to year. Starbucks announces it ahead of time, and the app shows it once it is live. Check the app instead of relying on a past date, since the schedule can change.
What is the difference between the hot and iced pumpkin spice latte?
The hot version uses steamed milk and holds a creamy texture. The iced version is served over ice, so it dilutes as it melts and tastes lighter. Both use the same sauce and are topped with whipped cream and spice. The iced Venti also has an extra shot of espresso.
Is there a sugar free or skinny pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks?
Not as a standard item. The pumpkin sauce is not sugar-free, so the drink always has sugar. You can lower it by asking for fewer pumps, nonfat or almond milk and no whipped cream, or by mixing one pump of pumpkin with sugar-free vanilla.
Can I buy the pumpkin spice sauce or syrup to use at home?
Starbucks does not sell its pumpkin spice sauce in bottles to customers, according to published reports. Third-party sellers list similar products, and copycat recipes are widely shared. Starbucks has published a home recipe using sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree.
How do I order a less sweet pumpkin spice latte?
Ask for fewer pumps of sauce. One or two pumps makes a noticeably milder drink, and a Tall or Grande with half the usual pumps is a good starting point. Skipping whipped cream also helps. You can add an extra shot to keep the coffee flavor strong.
What is the difference between a PSL and Pumpkin Spice Chai?
A PSL is made with espresso, so it tastes roasty and has more caffeine. Pumpkin Spice Chai uses black tea with warming spices, so it tastes spicy and rounder with less caffeine. Both use pumpkin sauce and steamed milk, and both are topped with spice.
Can I get the PSL with oat milk or other dairy-free milk?
Yes. You can swap 2% for oat, almond, soy or coconut milk. The sauce and whipped cream contain dairy, so the drink is not dairy-free unless you also skip the whip and check the sauce. Plant milks change the taste and calories a little.
How much does a pumpkin spice latte cost at Starbucks?
Prices vary by city, size and store. In our menu data the delivery-app "from" prices are $7.25+ for the hot PSL and $7.75+ for the iced one, and those are not in-store prices. Extra shots, milk swaps and toppings can add to the total.