Pumpkin spice season arrives early in Pittsburgh
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The leaves may still be green, but America's favorite fall flavor is already brewing and ready in Pittsburgh.
Why it matters: The great pumpkin spice arms race is real.
What's happening: For people who just can't wait until fall, we are in "Augtober" and Summerween — when Halloween meets the summer heat and autumnal flavors creep into menus across the country.
Between the lines: Pumpkin spice isn't just a flavor — it's big business.
- Starbucks' PSL alone pulls in around $500 million every season, according to MarketWatch.
- Last fall, PSL demand spiked on Aug. 19, nearly two weeks earlier than it did in 2021, per DoorDash data.
When and where pumpkin spice is available
Starbucks' fall menu debuted Tuesday, four days later than last year's earliest ever release.
- Dunkin's fall menu dropped last week.
Zoom in: Commonplace Coffee rolled out a fall menu this week at its eight Pittsburgh-area locations that includes PSLs, apple miso matchas and salted maple cardamom lattes.
- Coffee Tree Roasters is selling pumpkin pie lattes.
- Nicholas Coffee & Tea Co. in Market Square sells pumpkin spice beans wholesale, and also offers a Pumpkin King latte at its coffee bar year round.
- Yinz Coffee got its PS flavor in stock the this week, the Bloomfield location tells Axios.
- Centered Coffee in Shadyside is rolling out PSLs starting September 1.
- De Fer Coffee & Tea won't have pumpkin flavors on deck, but they are rolling out a fall seasonal menu that includes a fall spice latte.
- Southern Tier Brewing's North Shore taproom is serving Pumking (and caramel Pumking) beers, Maple Warlock stout, and apple crumble brown ale.
- Pittsburgh Brewing Co. has a Block House Pumpkin Ale for sale.
- East End Brewing offers a Bourbon Barrel Aged Nunkin Ale available in draft, four packs and growlers at their Larimer and Mt. Lebanon locations.