The pumpkin one has two types of caramel, one of which is a carcinogen (according to an article I read online). Yikes! I'm making my lattes at home with cashew creme and some vanilla extract (five drops). For pumpkin flavor, I open a can of pumpkin and put approx 1/4 cup in and a tsp of pumpkin pie spice. I have an amazing blender so there is no residue. - 9/4/2014   5:50:39 PM

It's been a couple of years now that the "sparkle" of Starbucks wore off for me and I hardly ever stop there anymore... that is of course, once at the beginning of Fall when the Pumpkin Spice Latte comes out and then maybe once again before it's taken off the menu. I cannot drink a grande, its just too much for me but a tall does satisfy that yearly craving. This year I'll make sure to put in an extra hard workout and drink tons of water the day I enjoy it to offset the calories and delute the sugar ;-)

I am, however, going to look for a recipe to try the delicious flavor at home without all the extra calories and sugar. wish me luck! - 9/4/2014   11:06:12 AM

http://foodbabe.com
Read this enlightening story.
If Starbucks is not at the top of the blog, Google "foodbabe pumpkin spice latte" - 9/4/2014   7:51:01 AM

Starbucks is delicious but I grown to enjoy black coffee with just a hint of flavored creamer. Going to Starbucks now is definitely a TREAT, not the norm. - 9/3/2014   6:56:28 PM

For me I don't worry because coffee shop coffee is a TREAT. I have about two pumpkin spice lattes and two gingerbread lattes per year. I keep it special! Otherwise I drink my coffee at home with a splash of milk. - 9/3/2014   6:17:56 PM

Love my Starbucks Verisimo machine and I use it to make lattes as a treat. BUT I have found that Target's branch Archer Farms has a sugar free Pumpkin Spice syrup that I like better than the Starbucks version. The size that the machine makes and the sugar free syrup produce a 4 ounce (or 2 WW point) serving, so worth the points! I top mine with a bit of nutmeg and really enjoy the treat. - 9/3/2014   4:00:01 PM

I don't understand why anyone would drink a 250 calorie drink much less done of those that are over 500 calories - that's replacing a meal! - 9/3/2014   3:12:32 PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifes
tyles/food/sns-food-recipes-diy-pum
pkin-spiced-latte-story.html - 9/3/2014   1:36:04 PM

the pumpkin spice syrup is actually what we call a sauce. a sugar-free version of the pumpkin spice sauce does not exist anywhere. there is a size smaller than 'tall' for hot drinks called a 'short'. we do not 'pump' the aroma of coffee through the store. the aroma is present because we are always brewing or grinding coffee and the air conditioning/heating system circulates the air in the cafe.

yes, i work at starbucks. for a slimmer pumpkin spice latte eliminate the whipped cream, ask for non-fat milk and ask for less pumps of the sauce. a grande has 4 pumps - try it with 2 or 3 and see if it still works for you.

one more thing, for the poster recommending Seattle's Best as a better coffee than Starbukcks - Starbucks OWNS Seattle's Best. - 9/3/2014   11:48:32 AM

I believe there is not a "short" size but rather it is called "Tall." - 9/3/2014   11:15:26 AM

I can't do the pumpkin spice because of the nutmeg. Nutmeg gives me a migraine. - 9/3/2014   8:15:37 AM

Depressing. I love Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Lattes. but only occasionally. - 9/3/2014   12:56:05 AM

The pumpkin spice syrup also has milk products. It's a different syrup then the ones the put in the vanilla and other flavoured lattes. When I requested it made with soy and no whip cream once a intuitive barista informed me that it was still not lactose free. Oh well, no pumpkin spice for me. - 1/18/2014   2:33:12 PM

I request half the amount of syrup with Starbucks' hot espresso drinks. It still gives you some flavor without being so sickly sweet. (artificial sweeteners taste bad to me.) - 1/4/2014   12:08:31 PM

Starbucks isn't real coffee. Just avoid it all together. Its cheaper and better to make a coffee at home. Add more milk to give it that smoothe taste. Skim milk is your choice, but they keep you coming back, raising prices, and increasing your dress size. You're better off running to McDonald's and getting several burgers for the same result as 1 cup of starbucks. - 1/4/2014   8:52:51 AM

Wonder if all the 'Starbucks haters' (due to politics or other nonsensical stuff) shop at Walmart? Their human rights/employment policies should be considered by all businesses. But aside from that, Torani makes pumpkin spice SF syrups, along with dozens of other flavors for those of us who don't want to consume sugar. - 12/3/2013   11:18:56 AM

Order with Skim milk, no whip, and 1 pump of syrup and it's a nice treat!! - 10/26/2013   1:44:48 PM

Love Starbucks coffee and I especially love the Mocha Cookie Crumble. I don't drink it everyday so it is definitely considered a treat! - 10/25/2013   2:56:36 PM

It is horrifically over-priced and loaded with a million unnecessary calories.....and sinfully delicious. I treat myself to ONE every fall. :) - 8/18/2013   4:56:27 PM

Making your own coffee in the comfort of your own home - now that's a tasty & economically friendly idea :) - 3/2/2013   11:46:54 PM

Sooo much more healthful to make your own with pumpkin coffee at home. CHEAPER, too! - 2/28/2013   5:18:04 AM

A cheaper option (on both the pocketbook AND the waistline), is to just get a grande drip coffee of the dark roast, add a Tbsp of milk or half & half, a packet or two of sugar, and the sprinkle on the cinnamon and nutmeg. 50 calories or less!!! - 2/27/2013   7:19:42 PM

Not sure I go along with reqesting sugar free syrup. Through out different articles you tell us the bad about artificial sweetners then tell us to request something that contains sugar alternatives. Thanks but I will either not order or I will allow for the calories of sugar - 2/4/2013   5:43:56 AM

starbucks is way over priced. I don't care for coffee, but there are other coffee shops around which have much better drinks. - 1/29/2013   11:23:28 AM

http://www.seattlesbest.com /
http://www.cariboucoffee.com /
http://www.gevalia.com /

Here are just 3 different coffee companies you can make at home or drink locally - 12/30/2012   2:09:53 PM

I am sorry but if you like Starbucks I know there are better brands out there with better quality beans
This is a comment I heard from a past upper senior managment from that company

"I know we do not have the best coffee out there what makes our shops so popular is we pump the aroma of fresh roasted beans thoughout the store"

You can see why he does not work there anymore but I have been around and tried many different coffees and yes there are many that are so much better in flavor and aroma - 12/30/2012   2:03:40 PM

NO! Don't recommend artificial sweetener to reduce calories. That stuff is poison! How about just budgeting for the extra 60 calories? I pretty much only buy coffee from places like Starbucks in Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Otherwise, I just make my coffee or tea at home. So, going to place like this is a rare splurge for me. Considering this, the comparison between a Vanilla Latte & a Pumpkin Spice Latte doesn't work for me. I usually opt for a "Short" (smallest size) with nonfat or 2% milk, anyway. With whipped cream is really nice, too! : ) - 10/29/2012   3:57:08 AM

Been using Torani Sugar Free Pumpkin syrup in my home french press coffee with some cream - delicious, less sugar, less money. However, I still splurge on this Starbucks treat when I'm out and about - it's a season marker for me. - 10/21/2012   3:32:54 PM

The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of those things that you can not substitute something else for. Its a seasonal treat to wait for. I adore it! Tried the pumpkin coffees at other places and nothing compares. So I splurge once in a while on what I love. Calories can be shed elsewhere, but my Pumpkin Spice latte is going no where! - 9/17/2012   1:46:52 PM

I have found zero calorie flavors for coffee at Ollie's. (discount store)
- 9/15/2012   7:37:00 AM

I am trying to eat low carb but I love sweet and creamy. when I get coffee at Starbucks I use my own stevia and a little half and half. - 9/13/2012   10:38:00 AM

I cut the calories by ordering a grande non fat latte with just 2 pumps of the pumpkin spice. I also ask them to steam the milk with cinnamon and nutmeg mixed in. It has all the warm spiciness of fall with less sugar. If I want a bit more sweetness I add some stevia (which I always have on hand). Yummy! - 9/12/2012   4:15:10 PM

The other day, as a lark, I tried a pumpkin spice iced coffee. It was good and a nice way to get the quintessential fall pumpkin-y flavor while cutting out some of the calories, but was still crazy-sweet. The barista charged it as sauce, and I'm not sure if they add sauce on top of a flavored syrup or how that works with the pumpkin spice flavoring...it'll take some experimenting. Next time I'll ask to leave out syrup but add pumpkin spice and see if that does the trick. Also, once it cools down here I'll switch it over to hot coffee. Not nearly as indulgent as lattes, but flavoring coffees instead of drinking them plain makes it more interesting. Caramel iced coffees have been my staple summer drink on Starbucks runs. :) - 9/12/2012   1:01:58 AM

I love the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it is way too sweet the way they make it. I usually go for a tall, no whipped cream, only one pump of syrup. Even then I usually don't end up drinking the whole thing, as all the sugar seems to collect on the bottom. So I'm probably saving calories there too. - 9/11/2012   4:54:31 PM

However, if you are not worried about calories and you are instead focused on carbs (I have chosen a low carb lifestyle for both weight loss and managing diabetes), if you choose the sugar free syrup it is a difference between 2 and 4 net carbs.
- 9/11/2012   11:14:42 AM

I don't really care for Starbucks, personally. I don't drink coffee very often, and when I do, I make my own or grab a cup at a local cafe. However, I do have a weakness for the Salted Caramel Mocha. But I hate the idea of ruining my whole day by ordering one drink! My solution? Get the short (8oz., which is the correct serving size anyway!!), with nonfat milk, and ask for about half the whipped cream. :) Does anybody else out there share this weakness?? - 9/11/2012   11:00:47 AM

I love Pumpkin Spice Lattes, but now only treat myself to them on occassion during the fall season. I found a clean eating version that I can make at home, or just add pumpkin spice to my coffee with a small amount of pumpkin spice creamer - good to go! I did indulge myself in one over the weekend, but drank some while it was still hot and then poured the remainder on ice after it had cooled for an afternoon treat. I am very aware of the nutritional information (great for Starbucks to have that online!), and just watched what else I ate that day so I could get my PSL! - 9/11/2012   8:42:28 AM

Try Wawa pumpkin spice coffee. The coffee is flavored so there are no extra calories from sugar and it tastes very good. - 9/10/2012   2:56:29 PM

Last year both Dunkin Donuts and Tim Hortons had a pumpkin spice flavoring for their coffees. Most of their coffee flavorings are not only sugar free, but totally unsweetened. Since I don't like sugar in my coffee, but do enjoy flavored coffee this totally works for me. For those people who do like sweet coffee, sweetner could be added to make it to taste. Just an alternative... that is if they bring back that flavor this fall! P.S. Be sure to ask if it is the unsweetened flavor bc they do have some, such as mocha, that have sugar in them. - 9/10/2012   2:22:15 PM

Starbucks is awfully expense - on ocassion i will treat myself to a pumpkin latte - however my fav is the skinny vanilla latte and i only ever get it as a tall - I am accutely aware of fat and sugar in it .. so I have cut down having a latte to about 1 to 2 a week -- i was having them nearly every day (expensive treat, huh?) - 9/10/2012   11:42:38 AM

Or you could just make your own. Well, I've gotta be honest, what I make is not a genuine latte. In fact, I call them Faux-lattes. lol I don't have an espresso maker, but I make a stiff cup of coffee, add a couple spoonfuls of pureed pumpkin into a big empty cup (big and wide enough to fit my immersion blender- or you could use a regular blender), a dash of each- cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger. Sugar to taste ( I use coconut sugar- YUM!). Pour about 1/3 of your cup of coffee into the cup (or blender) with other ingredients. Use your blender and mix ingredients. While blending, add your cream to taste (I use coconut milk). Pour mixed ingredients into a mug and add the rest of your coffee. viola! Pumpkin spice faux-latte'. XD - 9/10/2012   10:34:33 AM

I am not a coffee drinker and I have never liked Star Bucks because of their politics. They are not truly American. - 9/10/2012   5:17:34 AM

I would never waste money on Starbucks. - 9/9/2012   10:58:00 PM

Just as an FYI - I used to work for Starbucks, and as of when I quit (May 2011) they didn't make a sugar-free version of the pumpkin syrup. - 9/9/2012   10:51:45 PM

No Starbucks for me. - 9/9/2012   9:12:20 PM

I have found that I can satisfy my craving using pumpkin pie spice and a dash of pumpkin when I brew my own coffee. Saves tons of money and avoids some of the not-so-healthy aspects of the Starbucks stuff.

It does take a bit of experimenting though, as the pumpkin and the spices can clog the brewer up. But now I know at just what point in the brewing process I can add to the basket to get the flavors, but avoid the problems. Or, one can add directly to the coffee, but that does alter the texture of the brew. - 9/9/2012   5:31:49 PM

I am a former barista (though not at Starbucks), I have always found it easy to make my favorite drinks at home myself. However, every now and then I will stop in someplace and grab something when they have my favorite "special flavors"...now if I DO head to Starbucks this fall I know how much "damage" I will do or not do! - 9/9/2012   3:53:44 PM

Sometimes its the spice we are looking for, not even the pumpkin itself. Try a sprinkle of 'pumpkin pie' spice, and see if that doesn't do the trick for you. You can buy it at the dollar store. - 9/9/2012   3:50:28 PM

Love fall and pumpkin latte but I might just have one instead of overindulging in many this year and really enjoy the flavor!!!! One is better than none. - 9/9/2012   3:38:52 PM

I only go to Starbucks once or twice a year. I'm not going to worry about the calories when I do go. - 9/9/2012   2:55:10 PM