It’s officially fall now, and we all know what that means – ads for pumpkin spice lattes (or PSL for short) will be filling our feeds for the next few months. Unsurprisingly, these conglomerates aren’t being frugal with their marketing budgets; Starbucks has partnered with Martha Stewart to campaign for what “makes us all a little more basic”, and the Spice Girls have announced their missing original sixth member, Pumpkin Spice, in their partnership with Dunkin. Of course we could get our pumpkin fix from one of the aforementioned chains, but a number of local cafes also offer their own spins on the seasonal drink.
Ludlow Charlingtons Coffee (https://www.ludlowcharlingtons.com/) shop offers a Pumpkin Pie Latte – capturing the essence of the iconic drink with natural ingredients. The shop is a twenty-minute walk from the Lincoln Park campus and is the perfect place to read, work, or relax with friends. Additionally, the shop is surrounded by a number of restaurants and local businesses to check out!
Sakrid Coffee Roasters (https://sakridcoffee.com/) is about twenty-five minutes from the Lincoln Park campus and offers a variety of coffee drinks, currently including a Sweet Potato Casserole Latte. The drink is similar to the PSL and is worth a try – the marshmallow topping and warm spices used give it a unique flavor profile that’s hard to resist. To make a trip of your visit, I’d recommend taking a walk through Oz Park and stopping into the Emerald Garden to enjoy this weather while it lasts.
While visiting Trader Joe’s, I stumbled across a canned PSL and, of course, I had to grab it to see how it compares to a fresh one! I found this version of the drink to be a little more subdued – but altogether satisfying. Unlike many variants, I could actually taste the coffee in this drink and found myself delighted by its bright natural flavor. If you find yourself needing a quick pick-me-up, the La Colombe Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte is a great choice. Additionally, La Colombe (https://www.lacolombe.com/) has a location 15 minutes away from the Lincoln Park Campus and more throughout the city.
A lot of our lives are defined by the decisions of corporations – marketing campaigns from before we were born become our seasonal traditions, but we aren’t obligated to shape our lives around what is convenient or laid out for us. If you get the chance this season, I’d strongly recommend making an effort to try out a local coffee shop – oftentimes, inconvenience is hiding something truly special.
About the Author
Violet Garitson is a Film & Television major and hopes to work in film production after she graduates. Violet loves spending all her money on fancy drinks which encouraged her to write this blog. In addition to her questionable financial choices Violet also loves reality television, game nights with friends/family, and movies that make her sad.
Read more on the Honors Blog.
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