Starbucks Seasonal Drinks: October 2025 Edition

It was a dark and stormy Tuesday evening, and we were crouched by the light of thirteen flickering candles, perspiration dampening our collars. By the time October arrives, Starbucks is more than a coffee house, it’s also an inviting ritual. The cool air, the leaves falling, early holiday vibes just something not quite right without one of those signature red or fall-themed cups in hand. And every year Starbucks never disappoints with the returning favourites and a couple new additions. So, let’s take a closer look at the lineup this season, what you might want to give a whirl, and which of these drinks just might be your new fall jam.

The Icon That Launched a Thousand Lattes: Pumpkin Spice Latte

Of course we can’t forget to mention the Pumpkin Spice Latte. More than 20 years after the fact, the PSL continues to enjoy a cult following. Flavored with a blend of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, it’s autumn in a cup. But here’s the thing: Starbucks has been adjusting it marginally year after year. And this October, the drink is a little lighter now that oatmilk is available as its default milk option for those looking to hold back on dairy. It’s not only nostalgia the PSL holds onto its crown because it genuinely does maintain that toasty, sweet-spiced equilibrium.

Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato Comfort in a Cup

If you’re not into pumpkin spice, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato is probably your best bet. Think of apple pie filling swirled with caramel and combined with a hit of strong espresso, that’s the essence it conjures. It’s sweet without being cloying, built in layers with brown sugar syrup and finished with that spicy apple drizzle that makes you want to take your time with every sip. The oatmilk base gives the drink a natural creaminess without seeming weighted down, and best of all: it’s dairy-free by default. For some, it’s the softer, cozier sub for a PSL.

Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai: The Cool Plot

Starbucks removed this drink from the menu last year, and it went viral overnight. Imagine a spiced chai latte poured over ice and capped with pumpkin cream cold foam. It’s part cool and part rich, which would be great if this October weren’t feeling more like summer. One of those roasted piles is a cheerful poppy-seed pie that is sold only for Thanksgiving; this year, it’s officially part of the seasonal menu again, and maybe truly the best bridge between autumnal flavors and warmer times. This is a must if you are someone who loves chai but, come fall, wants that twist.

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: For the Brave Coffee Connoisseur

If you know a coffee person, this is for them. Some people don’t enjoy sugary drinks and Starbucks is aware. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew has been a solution for folks who want something seasonal, but still coffee-forward. Thick, strong cold brew is sweetened just slightly with vanilla, and then topped with pumpkin cream cold foam. It’s creamy and caffeinated, and it gives you all of the fall vibes without drowning in sugar. In actuality, many fans say this is the “adult” version of the PSL. If you’re the type that needs your October pick-me-up without all the extra syrup, this is your archetypal.

The Newbie: Toasted Hazelnut Mocha (Debuts in October 2025)

So here’s the tasty info on this year: Starbucks announced an all-new seasonal drink on the October menu and it’s Toasted Hazelnut Mocha. Think of an old-school mocha, but with nutty, roasty hazelnut notes that simply belong in chocolate. It is crowned with whipped cream and a spurt of hazelnut sauce, rich if oddly balanced. If you’ve ever loved Nutella, it will seem to you the warm, coffee-infused cousin.

Don’t Forget the Bakery Pairings

It feels wrong to get a drink at Starbucks without a little something to eat. Here are some of the bakery items having a moment this October:

• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin: moist, sweet, spiced, and packed with cream cheese.
• Owl Cake Pop: pretty much as adorable as it sounds, dipped in chocolate with tiny candy eyes.
• Cranberry Bliss Bar: a bit more of a crossover dessert (and it’s not due to hit stores until later this month in some locations).

And pairing these treats with the seasonal drinks definitely turns your Starbucks run into a mini festive celebration.

Customizing Your October Drink

The great thing about Starbucks is everything is customizable, and that includes their Frappuccinos. Here are some tweaks people have been screaming about this season:

• Sweetening the Apple Crisp Macchiato with extra pumpkin cream cold foam to create your own hybrid flavor.
• Swapping syrups chai with hazelnut for nutty-spice.
• Ordering half-sweet versions of the PSL or Apple Crisp for flavor without the sugar rush.
• Opting for cold when the outside doesn’t look so much like what’s on the menu.

The seasonal menu is lovely just as it is, but Starbucks really comes into its own when you get in there and make it your own.

Why These Drinks Matter

There is more to seasonal drinks than just the liquids themselves. They’re part of the year’s rhythm. The PSL is back, which means it’s officially fall! Apple Crisp has the snug vibes of a lazy weekend at home. Cold-brew iterations are part of helping us get through the warm-(sweater)-days-that-don’t-quite-feel-like-sweater-weather-yet. Starbucks found a way to sell drinks that are not only about taste, they’re also about tradition. With one of these in hand, October is different, and it’s why, every fall, people rush to Starbucks when the menu drops.

Final Sip

October 2025 Starbucks Seasonal Drinks Menu brings a sense of balance like never before, something old, something new, and something for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard pumpkin spice fanatic, discovering an affair with apple crisp, or anxious to try the new Toasted Hazelnut Mocha taking the world by storm, there are plenty of heartwarming choices out right now. So next time you are heading past Starbucks, don’t just keep walking. Step in, sample something seasonal, and allow yourself a taste of tradition in a cup. And fall only returns to us once a year, and it tastes best in liquid form.