[quote]By Alex Bosworth
News Writer
Graphic by Drew Danko[/quote]

Every fall, teenage girls make the pilgrimage to their local Starbucks in search of a Pumpkin Spice Latte. And every fall, so does everyone else.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a crowd favorite that comes back mid-August every year, and attracts so much attention that its verified Twitter profile, @TheRealPSL, boasts more than 116,000 followers. For many, the return of the drink is the sign that fall has finally arrived, and that the days of iced coffee and frappuccinos have come to an end.

As someone who loves fall and coffee, a latte that tastes like walking through a pumpkin patch on a crisp, colorful autumn day has a special place in my heart. I’ve been a Pumpkin Spice fan since the first time I tried it, and my love for it has only grown since.

However, this is my second Pumpkin Spice season working as a Starbucks barista, and my perspective has changed just as much as my coffee order. I used to view both Starbucks and the PSL as being “basic,” but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I’ve learned a lot while working at Starbucks, mostly about coffee, but I’ve learned one thing in particular: the love of the Pumpkin Spice Latte does not discriminate. Everyone loves Pumpkin Spice. It’s cozy, it has espresso in it, and it’s topped with whipped cream and spicy sprinkles that warm up chilly autumn days. These three things by themselves are some of the best things in the world, and when you add them together, the result is blissful.

Even with all of the goodness and whipped cream that comes with it, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is still looked down upon for being stereotypical.The PSL isn’t alone in the trend of being ridiculed just because certain people enjoy it. Pumpkin scents and flavors have always been a go to for the fall season, but are now seen as “basic” because teenage girls have brought these items huge levels of popularity in the past few years.  

The Pumpkin Spice Latte isn’t much different than a normal latte, but an added flavor that makes it more appealing to a lot of people is a turn-off for many others. People are avoiding these things and others that have been branded with the dreaded label of “basic” to make themselves seem more unique and complex.

But like I said before, almost everyone likes Pumpkin Spice. I’ve seen people from every race, gender, and religion order and enjoy this fall staple. You can ooze masculinity and also be counting down until the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. There are definitely people that do.

So the next time you think about calling someone drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte basic, go order one. And while you’re drinking it, consider why so many people love it. And when you feel cozy and caffeinated after that first sip, realize that the Starbucks creation you’re drinking is popular because of how good it tastes, not for any other reason.