Fall has officially arrived, which means it’s time for cozy sweaters, football, crunchy leaves and, most importantly, pumpkin everything.
So I decided to do what any dedicated fall enthusiast would do: hit a few Nashville coffee shops, order their seasonal pumpkin drinks and conduct a very serious taste test.
Was this an excuse to drink a ridiculous amount of coffee? Maybe.
Was it research? Absolutely.
Here’s what made the cut in my Great Nashville Pumpkin Spice Taste Test.
8th & Roast — Pumpkin Queen
First up: the Pumpkin Queen from 8th & Roast.
The star of this one was definitely the cold foam. It was really “fluffy” and unique. It added that creamy, fall-coffee-shop feeling without making the drink overwhelmingly sweet.
And honestly? I appreciated that.
If you like your pumpkin coffee with plenty of flavor but don’t want to feel like you’re drinking straight-up dessert, this one is worth trying.
Southerners — Pumpkin Campfire
This one was a standout.
The Pumpkin Campfire brings pumpkin together with graham cracker and marshmallow undertones, and somehow it tastes exactly like the fall bonfire drink I didn’t know I needed.
It has that cozy, toasted, nostalgic flavor that makes you want to put on a sweatshirt and sit around a fire — even if it’s still 90 degrees outside.
I absolutely loved this one, but I also tried the seasonal Banana Pancake and the Honey Maple Latte- all were equally amazing.
And can we talk about the presentation? Southerners serves its drinks in adorable Coke can-style cups with pop tops, and they are seriously aesthetic. The whole experience feels like a little treat, from the first sip to the last photo.
Scooter’s — Iced Pumpkin Cinnalicious Latte
Calling all cinnamon lovers: this one is for you.
The beverage brings some serious cinnamon flavor to the pumpkin party. It’s flavorful, cozy and exactly what you’d expect if pumpkin spice and cinnamon decided to become best friends.
If cinnamon is your love language, don’t skip this one.
Starbucks — Pumpkin Chai and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
You really can’t do a pumpkin drink taste test without stopping at Starbucks.
The Pumpkin Chai is delicious and definitely delivers on those classic fall flavors. Pumpkin, chai and sweet? Yes, please.
That said, this one is definitely on the sweeter side, so keep that in mind if you’re more of a lightly sweetened coffee person.
But…
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is the GOAT. I said what I said.
There’s just something about that cold brew topped with pumpkin cream that works. It’s creamy, pumpkin-y, coffee-forward and basically the reason pumpkin season exists.
No further questions at this time.
Prickly Pear Coffee Co — Pumpkin Chai
Rounding things out was the Pumpkin Chai from Prickly Pear.
Compared with Starbucks’ version, this one was a little less sweet, which I actually really liked. It still had all those cozy pumpkin-and-chai flavors without feeling quite as dessert-like.
But honestly, the drink isn’t the only reason to make a stop at Prickly Pear. The ambiance can’t be beat.
Located inside the adorable Albion Hotel, Prickly Pear is such a vibe. There’s a cool outdoor space with turf, cute tables and colorful murals that make it the kind of place where you actually want to hang out for a while instead of grabbing your coffee and heading out.
And here’s another fun bonus: they offer split cups, so you can get two different flavors in one cup. Which, for someone doing a very serious pumpkin drink taste test, is basically a dream.
So… Where Should You Go?
After consuming approximately an unreasonable amount of pumpkin coffee in the name of content I’ve come to one very important conclusion:
Nashville does not mess around when it comes to fall drinks.
Whether you’re team pumpkin cold brew, pumpkin chai, cinnamon everything or straight-up dessert in a cup, there are plenty of local options to keep your seasonal coffee obsession going.
And obviously, this research is far from complete.
So tell me: Where do I need to go for Round Two?
Because apparently, I’m willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of Nashville’s fall coffee community.
