Written By: Mackenzie Watkins, Staff Writer
DELECTABLE: Support local small businesses and enjoy a classic fall treat.
Once August ends, the world is ready for Fall. With the end of summer comes the infamous pumpkin spice lattes. A coffee drink that has taken the world by storm ever since Starbucks released it in 2003. Starbucks is not the only one who has delicious drinks on the menu, many local small businesses make the prime treat even better than the big corporations. I went to Starbucks, Condron, Crave, and Molinos, all of which are located in Riverside, to see which coffee shop had the best pumpkin spice latte. I ordered an iced pumpkin spiced latte with oat milk at every coffee shop.
First stop, Condron, located at 3696 Sunnyside Drive. This coffee shop has an aesthetic interior with exquisite plant decor that really sets the mood in the building. The taste of the pumpkin flavor was similar to the taste of the pumpkin spice Frappachino at Starbucks. Its flavor was incredibly sweet, and can be too much for some palates. Although the espresso was bitter, the overall drink was creamy and smooth, which is exactly what one would want their coffee to be like. The drink in total costs $6.00, which is a fair price for the quality of the drink. On a scale of 1-5, the Condron pumpkin spice latte is a 2.5/5; simply because of how sweet the drink was, and the fact that there was more pumpkin than spice in the latte.
Condron Coffee’s Pumpkin Spice Latte
Next up is Molinos, located at 3660 Mission Inn Avenue. The coffee shop is connected to the antique mall next door, which is the perfect spot for some thrifting and a refreshing drink. The interior is industrial with accents of wood, which gives it a cozy touch. This drink was not bitter in the slightest and had an incredible buttery finish. The pumpkin syrup here was the perfect amount of sweetness and spice; however, the spice might be too heavy for most. There was so much spice, in fact, it lingered at the bottom of the plastic cup. In total, the coffee costs $6.25; on a scale, of 1-5 the coffee is a ⅘, due to the excessive amount of spice added.
Molinos Pumpkin Spice Latte
This next coffee shop has the best pumpkin spice lattes known to man, or at least the city of Riverside. Crave Coffee and Tea, located on 3590 Central Ave, has a pumpkin spice latte so phenomenal that it should win an award. The shop’s interior is rustic, giving it a homey feel with wood decor everywhere. The espresso was rich, and the drink overall was fantastically velvety. Pumpkin flavor was booming and working alongside the spices in perfect harmony, resulting in a masterpiece of a beverage. The total cost of the drink is $6.91, and is worth every last penny. On a scale of 1-5, this pumpkin spice latte is a 5/5, making it the reigning champ of Riverside.
Crave Pumpkin Spice Latte
Starbucks has been beaten. Their pumpkin spice lattes are way too sweet and taste like an artificial pumpkin puree. A tall latte is $5.95, and compared to Crave or any of the other local small businesses, it does not come up to par with the rest.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
So this fall, support these local small businesses and enjoy the amazing fall delight that is the pumpkin spice latte.