Food Showdown: The Truth about Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Fall is in the air, which means that the coffee shops are starting to roll out their pumpkin-flavored treats. Starbucks' infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte officially hit stores this past week, much to the joy of orange squash aficionados everywhere. Though this seasonal latte may be tasty, how does it stack up to a plain old Starbucks Vanilla Latte in terms of nutrition? Both lattes (size ''grande'') are made with 2% steamed milk and flavored syrup. So, is there really that much of a difference? Is there a winner in this battle of the bean, or do both drinks stack up pretty equally?


The Winner: Vanilla Latte!


 
Although both lattes are made with essentially the same ingredients, the vanilla comes out on top! A ''grande'' size, made with 2% milk and no whipped cream, clocks in at 250 calories and 6 grams of fat, with 35 grams of sugar. The ''grande'' Pumpkin Spice Latte, also made with 2% milk and no whipped cream, weighs in at 310 calories, 6 grams of fat, and a whopping 47 grams of sugar—that's 12 more grams of sugar than the Vanilla Latte, which is equivalent to three whole teaspoons! If you absolutely must indulge in this seasonal treat, slim it down by requesting skim milk and sugar-free syrup (if available at your store), or order a "short'' 8-ounce size for just 160 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 24 grams of sugar.