Pumpkin Spice Drinks Return Early as Starbucks, Dunkin' and LA Cafés Roll Out Fall Menus

Starbucks brought back its Pumpkin Spice Latte on Aug 25 and Dunkin' on Aug 19, while dozens of independent Los Angeles coffee shops launch their own pumpkin creations.

Los Angeles coffee lovers can start sipping autumn now. The two national chains announced that their signature pumpkin drinks are back this month, with Dunkin' leading the charge on Aug 19 and Starbucks following on Aug 25. Both companies shared the dates in an Instagram post and a press release, noting that the early rollout reflects a shift toward a longer fall season in the city’s warm climate. NBC Los Angeles reported the exact dates and highlighted new items such as Starbucks’ Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso and an Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.

Beyond the chains, a growing roster of local cafés has already added pumpkin-spiced beverages to their menus. A 2024 guide from Food GPS catalogued sixteen Los Angeles coffee shops offering everything from classic pumpkin lattes to inventive pumpkin-pie and pumpkin-horchata drinks. The guide shows that neighborhoods from DTLA to Echo Park, West Hollywood and Pasadena are all participating, giving Angelenos a neighborhood-level pumpkin parade that rivals the corporate offerings.

Starbucks confirmed that its iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte will return on Aug 25 as part of a broader fall lineup. The menu adds new pumpkin-flavored drinks, including Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, and Pumpkin Spice Chai, while bringing back fan favorites like Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. The company also introduced seasonal food items such as a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket and a Hedgehog Cake Pop, according to the same NBC Los Angeles report.

Dunkin' announced on Instagram that its pumpkin-spice drinks will be available starting Aug 19. While the chain has not detailed additional menu items beyond the Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, the early launch makes it the first of the two giants to offer pumpkin flavors this season. The same NBC Los Angeles article noted that Dunkin' has yet to reveal other fall additions.

Food GPS identified sixteen independent coffee shops across Los Angeles that have pumpkin drinks on their menus. Highlights include Andante Coffee Roasters, which serves a classic PSL in DTLA, Echo Park and Mid-City; Be Bright Coffee’s Pumpkin Pie Latte on Melrose; Bonsai Coffee Bar’s Pumpkin Cream Latte in West Los Angeles; and Cafe 86’s Pumpkin Spice Ube Latte at eleven county locations. Other notable entries are Dayglow’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Espresso Profeta’s Pumpkin A Go Go, Go Get Em Tiger’s Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Heavy Water’s Signature PSL, and Kumquat Coffee’s seasonal Harvest blend. The full list appears in the Food GPS article.

These independent offerings give Angelenos a diverse palette of pumpkin flavors that reflect local tastes and neighborhood identities. From a pumpkin-spice horchata latte at Tepito Coffee in Pasadena to a cranberry-infused pumpkin latte at Stereoscope Coffee Company in Echo Park, the options span sweet, spicy, and even fruit-forward profiles. The early arrival of chain pumpkin drinks amplifies the seasonal buzz, but the depth of the local scene ensures that residents can explore pumpkin creativity well beyond the corporate menu.

Los Angeles’ unusually warm climate pushes fall flavors into summer, and the early chain releases give local cafés a chance to compete on timing and creativity. Highlighting the breadth of independent pumpkin drinks shows how the city’s coffee culture can personalize a national trend, keeping neighborhoods distinct while feeding the seasonal hype that drives foot traffic and community buzz.