The quintessential Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew are BACK at Starbucks for the 2021 Fall season! And while I always say, “YES PSLease!” as soon as the smell of #PSL hits the air, I noticed something this year…
There’s a fa-boo-lous new drink in town. And that’s the Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato. 🍎 (*GASP!*)
WHAT IS THIS NEW DRINK?! (📷: Starbucks / Chelsea Kyle)
I was a bit concerned… Would I like the taste of apples in my coffee? Did I want to spend $6 on an unknown drink when the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was already the apple of my eye?!
Well, when my husband said he was going on a Starbucks run and handed me his phone to put my order in the app, I added my Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew AND the new Apple Crisp Macchiato! (Mwwaaahahhaha!) I mean, this is JOURNALISM here people! I had to TRY IT so I could REVIEW IT! (Lol, thanks Jer… appreciate you. If you read my blog, you can request the money on Venmo.)
I knew the drink would at least be good because IMHO Starbucks rarely disappoints its customer base when it comes to seasonal drinks. (And by “its customer base”… I mean me. GIVE ME ALL THE PUMPKIN!!!!! 🎃🎃🎃)
Okay, so before we get to my thoughts… what exactly is the Apple Crisp Macchiato?
This new beverage aims to recreate the flavor combo you get when you eat a warm apple crisp with a cup of coffee. And like most Starbucks drinks, you can get it hot or iced. Here are the descriptions on the Starbucks website:
HOT: Notes of apple and brown sugar come together with espresso, steamed milk and a caramelized spiced apple drizzle.
ICED: The flavors of a gooey apple pie swirl into espresso, milk and ice. Topped with a caramelized spiced apple drizzle.
(📷: Starbucks)
And now… the moment you’ve all been reading for… what did I think?
Pro’s: The new Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Tastes like the inside of a warm apple pie paired with a cup of coffee
- Just the right amount of sweetness
- The flavor isn’t overpowering
- Smells really good
- Wasn’t as weird/gross as I thought it would be
- The flavors blended together way better than I expected
Con’s: The new Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato
- There are so many delicious seasonal drinks at Starbucks, I don’t personally think this is better than the others
- I would rather eat a piece of apple pie with my coffee
- It didn’t blow me away like other seasonal drinks do… I took a sip and was like, “Oh, okay! Not bad! Meh!”
Here is a picture of my Apple Crisp Macchiato with fake orange leaves next to it to add a touch of Fall whimsy and also because the rest of my Fall decor is in storage.
So, will the new Apple Crisp Macchiato squash the basic-ly perfect Pumpkin Spice Latte?
While I don’t think the PSL will fall out of the top spot in the Starbucks seasonal beverage lineup, I apple-solutely think that this new drink is a contender for any anti-pumpkin spice people. Did it rock me to my core? No. But it is a cozy combo that’s worth trying if you’re a fan of gooey apple pie, Starbucks coffee and espresso, and whimsy seasonal beverages.
Have you tried it? Will you try it? I want to hear YOUR thoughts! Sound out in the comments or on my Instagram and let me know your pick!
xoxo,