I tried Starbucks' new fall drinks and was surprised by how much I loved the new pumpkin flavor

This is an extra-special autumn for the coffee giant, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

But the PSL won't be getting all the glory this season. Starbucks is also releasing two new drinks for fall, in addition to bringing back the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato. 

I've been reviewing Starbucks' seasonal beverages since December 2019, and I couldn't wait to see what flavors the newest drinks would bring. 

This is the third year in a row Starbucks has released a variation on its apple crisp drink — which first debuted as the Apple Crisp Macchiato in August 2021.

This is also the third pumpkin beverage to join Starbucks' menu, and the first pumpkin drink it's released since the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew came out in 2019. 

The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso features Starbucks' Blonde Espresso shaken with notes of apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar and topped with oat milk.  

Starbucks' beverage developer Billy Altieri said the chain wanted to meld the "warm, gooey taste of apple crisp" with "a cup of coffee" to create the ultimate cozy fall beverage. 

The Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso has a very subtle flavor. While I definitely picked up some hints of cinnamon, I couldn't really taste any apple, which had a much stronger presence in the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato. 

The fall flavors just didn't jump out enough for me, and I think the beverage would benefit from a bit more sweetness. The taste of Starbucks' Blonde Espresso really dominated each sip, making it feel more like a regular iced coffee than a special autumn drink. 

Starbucks' Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte features a rich blend of spiced chai notes paired with pumpkin-cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice. 

"We're excited to celebrate the creativity of our baristas and customers by offering the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte on the official fall menu," Altieri said. "The warm spice flavors of chai and pumpkin seamlessly blend together, creating a creamy and comforting iced beverage." 

The Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte truly captures the essence of fall. The pumpkin flavor really pops, and it pairs so well with the chai tea, you'd think they were made for each other. 

Even though the drink is iced, there's so much warmth in each sip thanks to the pumpkin and chai spices. I also loved the latte's frothy texture, which was akin to drinking a delicious milkshake. 

I had my friends Kayla and Oliver try both the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, and the latter was their clear winner. Kayla compared the flavor to eating pumpkin ice cream. 

"It definitely tastes like fall," Kayla declared after taking her first sip. 

The fact that the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte was inspired by Starbucks' own baristas and customers makes it even more special, and I hope we get to see more of these creations on Starbucks' menus in the future. 

I've never been a big PSL drinker, nor have I ever really loved fall (we barely know what that is in California). But the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte takes me back to the autumns I spent living in New York. Much like a new season, a great drink often brings a whiff of nostalgia with it, and the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte helped conjure hazy memories of comfy sweaters, cozy bars, and the leaves changing from green to burgundy.  

I guess you'll finally have to count me as part of the pumpkin team.