As the fall season rolls around, there’s one flavor on every street corner and coffee shop billboard: pumpkin spice. With the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, the Caramel Pumpkin Brûlée Breve from Dutch Bros, the traditional pumpkin pie, and more, everything pumpkin is in season. The question is, is pumpkin spice overhyped? 

“I think it’s overrated,” said Mr. Miletich. “It’s just become this marketing thing where because it’s limited time, people think they gotta have it when they can.”

Militech is not the only one who feels that pumpkin spice and the hype surrounding the seasonal flavor are over-exaggerated.

“It’s alright, but we don’t have everyone talking about mint every time Christmas comes around,” said Camas High School (CHS) senior Toby Jefferies.

On the contrary, many others love the hype surrounding pumpkin spice in the fall months. Senior Emma Sadewasser said, “I love it, it reminds me of the fall and it’s good.”

Similarly, Amelia Merritt loves the flavor of pumpkin spice.

She said, “I love pumpkin spice everything except coffee.” Despite her dislike of pumpkin spice coffee, she still loves pumpkin pastries or an iced pumpkin spice latte during the pumpkin spice season.

Despite disliking store-bought pumpkin spice, Mr. Chessin believes that pumpkin spice has the potential to be good, but is just too boring. “They never include cardamom!” said Chessin. “Pumpkin spices are more varied than people think.” Although he enjoys pumpkin spice, he enjoys his homemade spice that includes ginger, all-spice, and cardamom for more warm, citrusy flavors. 

With all the different opinions on pumpkin spice, there are many different favorites that include pumpkin spice. Of course, one of the most hyped and talked about drinks is a Pumpkin Spiced Latte by Starbucks. This is made with espresso, steamed milk, as well as the flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

But, despite this being the most talked-about seasonal beverage, most prefer other, less hyped drinks. 

“Pumpkin spice milkshakes sound so good,” said junior Kristianna Vaznaugh.

The Burgerville Pumpkin Milkshake seems to be a popular alternative for non-coffee drinkers. Their Pumpkin Milkshake consists of vanilla ice cream, or non-dairy Cosmic Bliss, blended with pumpkin butter.

“[The] Burgerville [pumpkin shake] is so good,” said Jefferies.

Mcginty said, “I like the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks.” The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is described as a sweetened cold brew dusted with pumpkin spices and vanilla syrup with pumpkin cold foam.

“The Pumpkin Cream at Starbucks is probably my favorite drink,” said Sadewasser.

Pumpkin spice seems to be a flavor that only comes around in the fall months but certainly stirs up drama. The push surrounding certain drinks seems to be overhyped, but there are so many variations involving pumpkin spice that the flavor seems hard to not like.