"Each year, I pride myself on waiting until the crisp days of October to indulge in the unofficial drink of fall: the pumpkin spice latte. I attempt to squeeze out every last drop of summer that I can (can you tell I'm a warm-weather person?) and hold off as long as possible. But lately, that's been harder to do. PSLs are creeping back onto menu boards earlier and earlier each year."
"Mostly for the sake of research - but perhaps on some level to keep up with the trend - I have already sipped on not one, not two, but four autumnal lattes this season. And no, it wasn't the OG PSL from Starbucks' fall menu that did me in. My lapse centered around other fast-food giants, dedicated to answering the burning question: "Who has the better PSL? McDonald's or Dunkin'?""
"For years now, both chains have made the pumpkin spice latte their fall headliner. In both hot and iced forms, they introduce it alongside other seasonal fall treats like pumpkin donuts, loaf cakes, and pies. Ingredient-wise, the drinks are very similar - espresso and milk laced with pumpkin, spice, and everything nice. But who stirs up the most satisfying and cozy cup between the Golden Arches and Dunkin'? Break your own PSL hiatus and let's find out."
Pumpkin spice lattes are appearing earlier each year, tempting seasonal indulgence before October. Several fast-food chains offer PSLs; four were sampled this season to compare McDonald's and Dunkin'. McDonald's launched its 2025 McCafé pumpkin spice latte on August 29, available at participating locations for a limited time. Both chains market hot and iced PSLs alongside pumpkin pastries. Ingredients are similar—espresso, milk, pumpkin, and spices—prompting a taste and availability comparison between McDonald's and Dunkin'. The McCafé pumpkin spice latte has returned nationwide since 2016 but remains subject to local participation and limited supplies.
Read at Tasting Table
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