It's not always about you, pumpkin spice.
Since escaping the pie tin a while back and taking over fall, you seem to be getting more and more cocky this time of year. Really, now, pumpkin spice Spam? We've seen you hanging out at the Kroger cheese case lately, too.
But you've got competition at the coffeehouse this year. Other flavors of fall – apple, maple, honey, even cornbread and hot chili – have joined the list of seasonal lattes for 2026. And in a few Columbus-area coffeehouses, they've replaced you altogether.
At the risk of poking the pumpkin spice bear, here are 16 fall coffees that aren't you-know-what-flavored.
Date Cardamom Latte at Dumont Creamery & Cafe
There are a few limited-time drinks at the new-to-Columbus Indian coffee and ice cream shop. The Date Cardamom Latte is available
year-round, but its caramelly sweetness and subtle spice are perfect notes for fall.
Pumpkin spice? Yes! Try the Pumpkin Spice Mocha. Details: 8671 Sancus Blvd., Polaris; 614-585-2658; dumont.us
Spicy Cornbread Latte at Jennings Java
Nine fall drinks at the Merion Village roaster and coffeehouse cover all the bases – from apple to maple to one fall staple that's usually served in more savory settings. The Cornbread Latte is a one-of-a-kind sip that incorporates the flavor (but not the texture) of cornbread into its cold foam top. Make that two-of-a-kind: There's a Spicy Cornbread Latte this fall, too.
Pumpkin spice? Yes! Try the Hot Honey Pumpkin Latte or Brown Sugar Pumpkin Matcha. Details: 116 E. Moler St., Merion Village; 614-385-2326; jenningsjava.com
S'mortado at The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
They had us the moment they rimmed the cup with chocolate sauce. The S'mortado at Roosevelt's coffeehouses Downtown, in Franklinton and at Olentangy River Brewing Co. in Lewis Center also includes a graham-cracker crumble and toasted marshmallows. It's served only hot.
Pumpkin spice? For sure. You can add pumpkin to any drink for an extra $1. Details: 300 E. Long St., Downtown; 462 W. Broad St., Franklinton; 303 Green Meadows Drive S., Lewis Center; 614-670-5228; rooseveltcoffee.org
Cinnamon Draft Latte at Shibam Coffee
Draft lattes use smoother cold brew coffee as their base, and they're kept on tap (like beer). Shibam's Cinnamon Draft Latte pumps up the cinnamon and dials back the other spices in the pumpkin-spice mix.
Pumpkin spice? You bet! Try the Pumpkin Pie Latte or Pumpkin Chai Tea. Details: 8310 Sancus Blvd., Far North Side; 614-505-1445; shibamcoffee.com
Spice Jam at Royal Flamingo Coffee
They say the five-spice syrup in the fall latte is "super secret," but Royal Flamingo Coffee couldn't help spilling the metaphorical beans in an online post. (It's fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, clove and nutmeg.) It's topped with a sprinkling of black sea salt. Royal Flamingo is part of a Russian nesting doll of businesses in Columbus' Fifth by Northwest area; it's inside the I Like It Like That bar, which is inside Natalie's-Grandview.
Pumpkin spice? That's a no-go. Details: 945 King Ave., Fifth by Northwest; 614-233-1352; royalflamingocoffee.com
The Canadian at Begin Cafe
If it's good enough for Debby Ryan, it's good enough for us. During a recent appearance on the YouTube and Netflix series "Last Meals," the actor, who lives in Columbus with husband Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots, had The Canadian from Begin Cafe on her list. It's a latte flavored with maple syrup, brown sugar and butter extract.
Pumpkin spice? Nope. Details: 8 E. Main St., Westerville; 614-714-6980; begin-cafe.com
Salted Honey Latte at East African Coffee House
As it does with other flavors, a tiny bit of salt enhances honey's sweet and floral notes. East African Coffee House also is serving a Caramel Apple Latte (or matcha) for fall.
Pumpkin spice? You bet! Try the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Somali Shaah (tea), Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Spice Matcha. Details: 4359 Morse Road, Gahanna; eastafricancoffeehouse.com
Caramel Apple Pie Latte at Porter's Coffee House and Bakery
It's only fitting that a coffee shop-and-bakery combo would create a fall latte that's the best of both worlds. Porter's Caramel Apple Pie Latte has apple, cinnamon and caramel flavors, which are also part of its Apple Crisp Chai.
Pumpkin spice? For sure! Try the Cinderella Pumpkin White Mocha Latte or Pumpkin Spice Latte. Details: 194 W. Church St., Pickerington; 201 Clint Drive, Pickerington; 36 E. Depot St., Pataskala; porterscoffeeandbakery.com
Mont Blanc at Espresso Air
The Mont Blanc, a relatively new coffee drink making its way around the world, is available at a few central Ohio coffee shops. It's a sweetened cold brew with cold foam, topped with nutmeg and orange.
Pumpkin spice? Yes! Try the Pumpkin Dirty Chai. Details: 25 N. State St., Westerville; 34 S. Sandusky St., Delaware; 614-392-2944; espressoair.com
The Bonfire at Queer Beans Coffee & Tea
A bonfire sounds cozy, right? The drink is, too. It's a latte with brown sugar and vanilla syrups, plus marshmallow creme.
Pumpkin spice? You like it, you got it! Try the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Details: 1160 N. High St., Short North; instagram.com/queerbeanscoffee
Brown Butter Cookie Latte at Coffee + Cone
If you're hanging onto summer, Coffee + Cone has ice cream. If you're ready for fall, there's a Brown Butter Cookie Latte that comes with a gooey brown butter cookie on top. If you're straddling seasons, get an affogato.
Pumpkin spice? Yes! Get a Pumpkin Spice Latte with pumpkin spice cold foam. Details: 1966 N. Mallway Drive, Upper Arlington; coffeeandconeco.com
Tiramisu Latte at Koffee Paradise
If anything is remotely close this year to challenging pumpkin spice as a latte flavor, it's tiramisu. The Italian dessert's flavors of coffee, cream and cocoa are featured in four drinks at Dunkin', and they're on a few local menus as well.
Pumpkin spice? Definitely, but only as an added flavor. Details: 6308 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg; 2285 W. Dublin Granville Road, Northwest Side; 1333 N. High St., University District; instagram.com/koffeeparadisecbus
Sharp Shooter at Callin' Your Bluff Coffee
As Callin' Your Bluff prepares to open its own shop in Clintonville, its weekly pop-ups at Land-Grant Brewing currently feature fall flavors and spices in creative, original drinks. Our favorite so far is the Sharp Shooter, an espresso latte with the subtle heat of ginger and black peppercorn.
Pumpkin spice? Yes! The Smoke Show is an espresso latte with black tea, pumpkin, allspice, cinnamon and charcoal. You can also add a maple pumpkin cloud to other drinks for $2 extra. Details: 458 W. Chapel St., Franklinton; callinyourbluffcoffee.com
Holy Mole at Bada Bean Bada Booze
This Mexican chocolate-adjacent drink is a simple one: cold brew, vanilla, oat milk, cinnamon and cacao. It's available at all four locations.
Pumpkin spice? Negative. Details: 231 E. 1st Ave., Italian Village; 527 W. 5th Ave., Harrison West; 710 Grandview Crossing Way (at The Little Grand Market), Grandview Heights; 2157 Quarry Trails Drive, San Margherita; badabeanbadabooze.com
Hug in a Mug Latte at Freedom a la Cart
The addition of tahini to maple syrup mellows out the sweetness and adds to its warmth. We liked this one hot, which adds to its hugginess.
Pumpkin spice? Definitely! Pumpkin syrup is available for any drink. Plus, pumpkin scones, cake and dessert bars are available. Details: 123 E. Spring St., Downtown; 614-992-3252; freedomalacart.org
Zanzibar Spice at Black Kahawa Coffee
If you're a bigger fan of coffee than coffee drinks, this one won't leave you wondering if they forgot the main ingredient. Black Kahawa's Zanzibar Spice is lightly sweetened and subtly spiced with cardamom and cinnamon. When it's cocktail time, it comes in an espresso martini version, too.
Pumpkin spice? Nope. Details: 2 E. Broad St., Downtown; blackkahawa.com
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Maple, marshmallow, caramel top list of pumpkin spice alternatives
