When the temperature drops and the leaves start to change, many of us start to anticipate the official start of the fall season. As time draws closer and closer to September 23rd, the more antsy we become for our fall favorites to make their return. On August 24th, 2023, Starbucks’s fall menu returned, bringing the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte along with it. 

With pumpkin being a fall staple and an overall favored flavor, its comeback was highly anticipated. According to the Food Institute, “In just the last five years, pumpkin spice product sales have increased about 47%, reaching $236 million in the 2021-22 season alone.” As consumers, we typically don’t think about how the return of the beloved drink affects the baristas. Luckily, Autumn Stewart (12), has a firsthand account of the dilemma. 

As a Starbucks barista at the Farragut location, Stewart has dealt with the uproar personally. The increase in customers never dissipates when it comes to the Pumpkin Spice Latte as Stewart elaborates on the effects of the crowd.

“Honestly…we [always] get a really big influx of people at the very beginning [of the return of the fall menu]…every single year it comes back, there’s more and more people coming,” Stewart said. 

When the number of customers skyrockets, it can be an exhausting adjustment for the baristas. Stewart explains how the mob influences her and her team’s performance. 

“Whenever we don’t have enough labor hours for nights…and because of the really big influx of people, we end up stretching ourselves really thin,” Stewart said.

Since the Pumpkin Spice Latte is significantly popular, the majority of orders include the beloved drink. After making the same drink day after day, you’d think it would become unappealing. But as we know, the Pumpkin Spice Latte never fails to draw everyone in!

“I like the latte, it’s just a little too sugary for me,” Stewart said. 

The long-awaited return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte is exhilarating for people all around the globe! If you want to amp up the fall feels, stop by your local Starbucks and grab yourself a latte!