[REVISION HISTORY]

Seasonal autumn beverage launches and consumer reception

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-15 10:41 UTC → 2026-10-23 21:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In August 2026, major food and beverage brands launched seasonal autumn menus. In Mexico, Starbucks released its Pumpkin Spice lineup and named Christian Alexis Ortiz Hernández as its Barista Champion 2026. In the United States, McDonald’s introduced a seasonal McCafé lineup featuring apple pie and caramel flavors, such as the Apple Pie Caramel Latte and Frappé, as an alternative to traditional pumpkin spice. These offerings received significant negative feedback on social media, with some customers describing the taste as being reminiscent of ‘drinking a candle’ due to artificial scents. Starbucks also announced the return of its seasonal autumn menu, headlined by the Pumpkin Spice Latte and including new items like the Maple Pecan Macchiato and Iced Apple Crumble Matcha Latte. In Romania, the seasonal range was scheduled for release on September 1. Retailers like Target and Starbucks have been launching these autumn-themed products as early as mid-August, despite summer temperatures persisting in regions such as Lisbon and Southern California. Nespresso expanded its seasonal market with a 2026 autumn coffee collection, and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo launched a menu featuring domestic pumpkin and seasonal fruits. By early September, McDonald’s confirmed it has removed its Pumpkin Spice Latte from its seasonal menu for 2026, ending a tradition held since 2013. The company is pivoting toward flavors like caramel, apple, and cinnamon, specifically utilizing a Caramel Apple Pie flavor. Industry data from Datassential suggests this move aligns with shifting consumer preferences, noting a 99% increase in sales of Apple Pie flavors and a 49% increase in Caramel Apple sales compared to the previous year, while pumpkin spice latte sales grew by only 37%. Emerging trends also show increased interest in banana latte syrup, blueberry coffee, and marshmallow cold foam. ~~By mid-September, Starbucks announced further seasonal expansions.~~

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