By Sabenah Abudu-Abrams
From Starbucks to Dunkin’ Donuts, as winter approaches, so do the seasonal items. Every store needs a little change every now and then and with the abundance of holidays we have coming up like halloween there is no shortage of inspiration for new items.
If you’re in the mood for a basic coffee with a twist of peppermint, you can try Elphaba’s Cold Brew. This new Wicked-inspired coffee contains a peppermint syrup that lies underneath a mountain of non-dairy matcha cold foam topped with mysterious candy sprinkles. It’s wicked, spooky nature might make it seem interesting, but at heart the drink is really just a slightly bitter and boring coffee. For those who like a flavorless coffee this is perfect for you! It lacks pizzazz and is the opposite of sugary even with the peppermint and matcha added. The additional flavors just provide a taste for the coffee instead of actually sweetening the drink. If you’re anything like me, you’ll pass on this drink because of the flavorless interior, but if that’s actually your thing, then go ahead and purchase Elphaba’s Cold Brew.
While drinks are the most important thing at Starbucks, the new Baked Apple Croissant is all the rage with its crunchy exterior as well as its warm apple interior. This baked good was the highlight of my day and the sweet, glazed crunch of the dough literally made me smile. The Apple Croissant is a 10 out of 10, and I 100% approve.
When it comes to coffee, Dunkin’ isn’t everyone’s first choice, but these seasonal options might just change the minds of those who doubt the popular chain–or it might just prove them right. The newly reinstated Apple Cider Donut is back for a second round thanks to requests from customers. The crispy donut rolled in cinnamon can only lighten up your mood for the rest of the day. This snacky dessert is a personal favorite of mine, and, let’s be honest, only a monster can ruin an Apple Cider Donut.
The flavorful Pumpkin Spice Latte might not wake your brain up because of the diluted coffee, but it sure will wake your taste buds. The sugary and pleasant latte will make you rethink every latte you’ve purchased in the past. The whip cream is the perfect topping for the pumpkin flavored coffee. You might not call yourself a pumpkin fan, but you haven’t tried this latte. The pumpkin in the coffee tastes more like the interior of a pumpkin pie put into a sugary drink for fall. Although the drink is good the spice latte may take a second to get used to and don’t be afraid to shake that drink up! Every coffee needs a little mixing time so seal that top and shake that flavor around.
Saving the most inventive for last. Although Dunkin’ attempted to successfully make the drink of the season, please don’t make the decision to try it. The Potion Macchiato from Dunkin’ attempt to separate from the stereotypical orange proves utterly useless since the purple color from the ube looks more white than purple. The ube should have color and flavor, but the Potion Macchiato has neither. This disappointing seasonal drink made me so sad I had to drive all the way to Starbucks just so I could make myself feel better with a Caramel Macchiato.
All in all, when it comes to food, Starbucks and Dunkin’ both tie at first with their 10/10 Baked Apple Croissant and Apple Cider Donut. The flavor is definitely there for these two sweet treats and truly makes you feel the fall season. However unfortunately not everything can make a person happy and Starbucks new Elphaba’s Cold Brew just made me sad. The flavor, for me personally is a -3/10 and the presentation, again for me personally, is a 0.5/10 mainly because the drink completely falls apart 5 minutes after its purchase. Similarly to Elphaba’s, Dunkin’s new Potion Macchiato was not my cup of tea. Its bland and underwhelming flavor and exterior put it at a 2/10 for me. Lastly, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was surprisingly pretty good. After a good shake the drink was a 6/10. I would definitely buy the Apple Croissant, Apple Cider Donut, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte again, but for the other items it’s a hard pass for me.
