Menu at The Walk-In Coffee Closet. Photo courtesy of Sharon Van Meter.
The colorful foliage, noticeably colder temperatures, and emergence of sweaters has signified the beginning of autumn at Connecticut College. Additionally, the introduction of seasonal beverages at each of the campus coffee shops has ushered in arguably the best season of the year.
Autumn, in particular, is notable for its beverage options, marked traditionally by the pumpkin spice latte (PSL), a beverage so popular that Starbucks has started to offer it as early as late August. While the PSL has proven to be a notable fall beverage, I was curious as to what other seasonal beverages each of Conn’s three coffee shops would be offering this autumn. I decided to compare the menus, try a beverage from each shop, and share the highlights.
I started my tasting at Coffee Grounds. While the shop had the fewest amount of seasonal beverage options, it did offer pumpkin flavoring. Coffee Grounds’ cornerstone for seasonal beverages is a hot or cold apple cider from B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill, a drink that barista Clare Coyne ‘22 stated was her favorite fall drink. In addition to offering the locally made apple cider, their prices were the cheapest of the three coffee shops, with a small apple cider costing $2.50 and a large totaling $3.00. I opted for a small hot apple cider, which I enjoyed while reading an essay for my Feminist Philosophy class. While the seasonal drink options at Coffee Grounds may be more limited than the other two shops, the apple cider was reasonably priced and tasty, especially for a cold autumn evening. Additionally, out of the three coffee shops, Coffee Grounds has provided the greatest variety in fall-themed baked goods, with options such as a pumpkin whoopie pie highlighting the autumnal pastries.
Sohan Mewada working as barista at Coffee Grounds. Photo courtesy of Genevieve Kuhlmann.
My taste test next took me to Blue Camel Cafe, which, in addition to offering apple cider ($2.75 for a small and $3.25 for a large), also offered the option to add pumpkin spice and maple spice flavors to a drink for an additional 75 cents. The cafe also offered the most unique seasonal beverage I had ever heard of: the maple caramel freeze. While one does not often see the word “freeze” in the title of an autumn beverage, the drink proved to be an unexpectedly delicious and refreshing offering. It was reminiscent of a Starbucks Frappuccino, and the maple and caramel flavors did not overpower one another. I also opted to get the free shot of espresso in the drink, which helped make the beverage less sweet. I would recommend this drink as an occasional treat, as it was on the sweeter side and was the most expensive beverage I tried, totaling at $5.37 with the addition of sales tax.
I finished my taste test at the Walk-In Coffee Closet, which boasted the largest seasonal menu out of the three shops. They offered maple, cinnamon, and pumpkin flavor shots to all coffee and espresso drinks; apple cider ($3.25 for it hot, $3.50 for it iced); and a pecan pie latte for $4.00. I opted to try a hot pecan pie latte. Upon ordering, I was informed that the beverage’s primary flavor profile was butter pecan and was asked if I wanted to add another flavor. I decided to add cinnamon in addition to the butter pecan, which resulted in an excellent fall beverage. The cinnamon added an additional dimension of flavor that perfectly balanced out the sweetness from the butter pecan. One recommendation I have for those wanting to try the pecan pie latte is to have it with skim milk. Butter pecan and cinnamon together make for a very rich speciality latte, and drinking it with skim milk makes it lighter.
Overall, I was impressed by the diversity of offerings I sampled during my taste test. While maple, cinnamon, and pumpkin often serve as dominant fall flavors, I encountered a wide arrange of beverages, from the classic apple cider to the innovative maple caramel freeze and the rich pecan pie latte.
Even if traditional fall flavors aren’t your favorite, the beginning of fall is the perfect time to indulge in your favorite beverage from a campus coffee shop. When I interviewed Natasha Strugatz ‘20 about her favorite seasonal beverage, she informed me that she was not a fan of fall flavors, and prefers to drink a hot chamomile tea on cold days. Despite the colder temperatures, some Conn students prefer to continue drinking iced beverages. Year-round, the drink of choice for Jennifer Wilson ‘20 is an iced vanilla latte, although she did express excitement for the beginning of holiday seasonal beverages. Whatever your preference may be, you will be sure to find a satisfying seasonal beverage at any of the campus coffee shops this autumn. •
