There's a new Starbucks fall drink in town, and surprisingly it has nothing to do with pumpkin. Following the much-anticipated return of its Pumpkin Spice Latte, the coffee chain has just announced the addition of Apple Crisp Macchiato to its fall 2021 lineup.
Now available for a limited time, this fall drink starts with hot milk and espresso, then is flavored with apple and brown sugar. The Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato is topped with a caramel-spiced apple glaze — made with apple juice, apple puree, cinnamon and nutmeg — and basically tastes like a warm, delicious cup of apple pie. Oh, and good news for those of you who join the iced coffee team year-round: You can have your coffee hot or cold.
A Taste of Home editor reviewed both hot and iced versions of the Apple Crisp Macchiato, and actually preferred the cold version. “Ice drinks incorporate apple flavor better than hot drinks,” she writes, describing the macchiato as a “sophisticated apple drink.”
Turns out, Starbucks customers aren't just asking for a taste of the famous pumpkin flavor. "When developing the ingredient, one of the first things we heard was that customers wanted more apples," Raegan Powell, senior manager of Starbucks' R&D team, said in a press release.
Since PSL debuted in 2003, Starbucks has launched seasonal menus every fall to keep customers on their toes. Past favorites include maple pecan latte and salted caramel mocha. This year, in addition to the Apple Crisp Macchiato, Starbucks is also launching Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee for the third consecutive season, as well as Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and Pumpkin Scones.
If you really can't get enough of Starbucks' seasonal treats, you can pick up fall-themed products at your local grocery store. Pumpkin lovers can choose from two new blends: Pumpkin Spice Flavored Creamer and Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Concentrate. And then there are returning favorites like Pumpkin Spice Coffee K-Cup Packs with Roasted Grate, and Maple Pecan Coffee K-Cup Packs with Roasted Grate — all of which will transform your kitchen into a makeshift version of the coffee chain .
It may still be 95 degrees outside, but just one sip of Starbucks' new Apple Crisp Macchiato or PSL is enough to put you in the fall mood and almost make you excited for sweater weather.
