Starbucks has announced the return of its Pumpkin Spice Latte, with the seasonal favourite set to appear on menus across the United States and Canada from 26 August. The drink, widely seen as a marker of autumn, remains the coffee chain's most popular limited-time offering.
Since its launch in 2003, hundreds of millions of the espresso-based beverage have been sold. Initially tested in just 100 stores in Vancouver and Washington, it was rolled out nationally the following year and is now available in 79 markets worldwide.
The drink's success has prompted many imitations, with rival chains introducing their own pumpkin-flavoured alternatives over the years. Its cultural impact is reflected in a 33.8 per cent increase in pumpkin spice mentions on US menus between 2014 and 2024, according to industry data.
Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte as its third seasonal beverage, following the Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha. The on-sale date has moved earlier over time: in 2015 it arrived on 8 September, while last year it launched on 22 August, boosting US store foot traffic by 24 per cent that day.
The company also created a private Facebook group called the Leaf Rakers Society in 2018, which now has 42,000 members, to celebrate autumn throughout the year.
