Pumpkin Spice Latte showdown: Starbucks vs Dunkin

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back on a seasonal return. This time, the competition is between Starbucks and Dunkin’ as both have introduced their fall menus for this year.

Dunkin’ is first in the race after releasing its fall menu, which kicked off on August 20, 2025. The signature classic Pumpkin Spice Latte is part of the spread.

There is a bunch of other stuff on the card, like Chipotle Loaded Hash Browns and Cereal N’ Milk Latte.

An article from Allrecipes stated about Dunkin’s early release, “Ok, sure, the coffee chain has likely been planning its August 20 release for months, but it’s pretty serendipitous that the first day of pumpkin spice season would also bring cooler temperatures.”

Starbucks is a little bit late in introducing the fall menu. The food chain released the cart on August 26, 2025, with the popular PSL and other fall drinks.

They also have some new drinks and food items on the table, such as Italian Sausage Egg Bites and Pecan Oatmilk Cortado.

Tressie Leiberman, Starbucks Global Chief Brand Officer, said the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte and other items is “cultural touchstones that spark connection, nostalgia and excitement.”

The return of PSL signals that fall is about to come, even though the sun is still cranking up the heat. There’s a seasonal competition kicking in between coffee shops to see who launches their fall menu first.

What is a Pumpkin Spice Latte made of?

The PSL contains a traditional fall spice flavour mixture (clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg) and coffee ingredients (espresso and milk).