Fall is around the corner, which means the return of the season's fan-favorite drink: pumpkin spice lattes. But this year, other autumn-inspired flavors are taking over coffee shop menus nationwide.
Starbucks' seasonal fall menu returned to stores across the country on Aug. 25. Alongside the chain's signature Pumpkin Spice Latte, or PSL, the menu features pecan and banana bread-flavored drinks and food items.
But Starbucks isn't the only chain expanding its fall lineup. This year, McDonald's introduced a new line of caramel apple pie coffees, while Dunkin' is offering matcha and tiramisu beverages.
Does that mean pumpkin spice is losing its grip on fall? Here's what we know.
Is pumpkin spice over? A look at fall's new coffee trends
Pumpkin spice continues to be the dominant fall flavor, but consumers are
increasingly experimenting with alternatives such as matcha, chai, banana bread and caramel apple varieties.
According to a Google Trends report published Aug. 26, pumpkin spice latte remained the most-searched latte in the United States over the previous 30 days. Cardamom, banana bread, peanut butter and hazelnut lattes rounded out the top five. Searches for "When do pumpkin spice lattes come out?" also increased during August.
However, the report found that PSLs led searches in only three states last week when compared with matcha and chai drinks, "a sharp drop from 32 states at this point in 2025 and 48 states in 2024."
"People are looking for new twists on their everyday drinks, leaning into new routines over standard seasonal habits. Search interest shows growing curiosity around different options and unexpected fruit flavors," the report reads.
Matcha lattes currently lead search interest in 29 states, ahead of both chai and pumpkin spice lattes, according to Google Trends. Meanwhile, searches for "banana coffee syrup" have surpassed searches for "pumpkin spice coffee syrup" over the past two years.
But that doesn't necessarily mean pumpkin spice is fading away.The Washington Post reported that pumpkin spice lattes, which debuted in 2003, have "simply crossed over into the territory of a classic."
Where to get banana coffee drinks
Here's a list of national chains and local Cincinnati coffee shops serving banana-flavored coffee drinks this fall:
- Starbucks: Iced Banana Bread latte, Iced Banana Bread Chai. Multiple locations.
- Lola's Coffee + Bar: Banana Nut Bread Latte. 24 West Third St., Downtown.
- Chasing Cali Collective: Banana Bread Chai Latte. 418 West Benson St., Reading.
- Dutch Bros.: Banana Bread, Banana Cream Pie and Banana Split lattes, cold brews and more. Multiple locations.
- Blondie Brews: Banana Moon Pie Latte. Rotating locations.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Is pumpkin spice over? New fall coffee trends take over cafe menus
