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I love a pumpkin spice latte, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. When the weather cools down and I see it back on coffee shop menus, you better believe that I’m adding that pumpkiny, cinnamony sweetness to my lattes. I also work from home, and keep my fridge stocked with coffee drinks, so when I spotted Califia Farms’ Pumpkin Spice Latte during a recent Target run, I let out an excited squeal and immediately put it in my cart.
While this specific product was new to me (but has been around for years, per consumer reviews), I’ve tried and enjoyed some of their other ready to drink lattes in the past. I’m lactose sensitive, and I find their dairy-free drinks to be pretty tasty. While I used to be a La Colombe Draft Latte fangirl, I don’t love how they reformulated what was my favorite flavor, so I’ve been on the lookout for a replacement. And let me tell you, this almond milk pumpkin spice latte does not disappoint!
The flavor is subtle (not overly pumpkin-forward or spiced) and smooth, and when I serve it over ice in my favorite glass tumbler with a straw it feels like I’m drinking a handcrafted barista beverage—and I don’t have to leave my house to get it. The price is a win for me as well: I bought it at Target on sale for $4.25 (typically $4.99), and each 48-ounce bottle has four 12-ounce servings, which comes out to about $1 per serving. Compare that to a tall (also 12-ounce) pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, which costs around $7.50 at locations near me after adding in the almond milk upcharge.
But let’s face it. Pumpkin spice lattes can can pack in a lot of added sugar. While a Starbucks PSL doesn’t have as much as other chains we surveyed (the highest clocked in at 52 grams!), a Tall still has 34 grams of added sugar. That’s just shy of the upper limit of what the American Heart Association recommends we consume each day (no more than 36 grams). Califia’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, on the other hand, has only 16 grams of added sugar per serving—that’s less than half of what I’d get in my Starbucks order.
While I still enjoy a pumpkin spice latte every now and then from my favorite local coffee shops and the occasional chain store, it’s nice to have a cheaper, lower-sugar, dairy-free option in my fridge that I can easily grab when I’m working from home or enjoying a leisurely weekend breakfast.