By: Alyssa Wismar

From shows like Gilmore Girls, to new flavors and pumpkin spice, and the temperatures dropping, it is officially the time to switch from iced to hot coffees and teas. Among the many things to do, see, and eat around us, coffee is truly something that can always be on the menu, and that almost anyone can enjoy, whether you are a teenager enjoying the taste, or an adult needing the boost to get them ready to start the day. Or, in some cases, vice versa!

As an avid coffee and tea drinker myself, I have been searching for my new favorite fall drinks at almost every coffee shop around the Eisenhower area. From the Arbor House in Warren, to the Starbucks in Lakewood, I believe that there are fun drinks for everyone to enjoy around here. So, without further ado, here is a complete review of the best fall flavors, from someone who’s tried them all.

Starbucks

From Starbucks, I ordered two different drinks from their fall menu. The first drink I ordered was a Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte. This was not a legitimate coffee, but a tea, as the name indicates, and, as the weather has already started to cool, I ordered it hot instead of iced. I personally adored this drink. I felt that it had the usual spice of a Chai Latte, but the extra flavor from the pumpkin cream itself just elevated the taste, and it truly tasted as if I were walking through a pumpkin patch in the middle of October. Coming from someone who has a sweet tooth, I thoroughly enjoyed the taste and the sweetness of the foam, but I would be wary to try this drink if you are not a huge fan of sweet beverages. Other than that, I would highly recommend this drink to tea and coffee lovers, as it tasted relatively similar to a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

The second drink I ordered was the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. I purchased this drink iced, and I thought that this drink was perfect for fall as well. With the coffee and the pumpkin cream mentioned above paired together, this drink still had elements of the sweetness that I love in my drinks, but it also had the strong taste of coffee, which I enjoyed. I would not recommend this drink to anyone who prefers their coffee to taste sugary (although I sometimes fall into that category myself), as it does just have the plain black coffee underneath the sweet foam, but to those who enjoy the coffee taste and are looking for a fun fall-themed drink, this one might be for you!

The Arbor House Café and Tea Room

Located in Warren, The Arbor House Café and Tea Room has become an adored coffee shop with a variety of drinks and food options. The fall-themed beverage I have to share about is the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte. I absolutely loved this drink. Along with my sweet tooth, another thing that might sway my reviews is that I love pumpkin-flavored drinks, but am not a fan of many other pumpkin-flavored items (with the exception of Pumpkin Roll). So, an aspect of the fall menus of Cafes that I look out for is whether the pumpkin flavor is too overwhelming for my taste. However, this did not cause an issue at the Arbor, as I found the Pumpkin Spice Latte to be a perfect blend of coffee and the sweet pumpkin taste. I would highly recommend this to coffee drinkers alike, as I feel as though drinkers who love and hate sugary drinks will find this to be a pleasant and happy medium.

 White Cane Coffee

The final fall-themed drink I have for you from this local café in Warren is White Cane’s Pumpkin Coffee. Because I have, as I have mentioned, a sweet tooth, I did order this drink with cream and sugar, but I still loved it. The pumpkin flavor was not too strong, but it was not drowned in the coffee taste either. It was a plain and simple drink, and I really loved those elements of this drink. As I was at White Cane, I spoke with the barista who took my order and gave me my drink, and he gave me insight on the business. He said that the most popular blend of their coffee is the Dragon Roast, and, because the business is taking steps to move internationally, they actually have that as their most popular brand throughout the country. What makes that thought even more interesting is that they are based right here in Warren County. He said that the owner, Erin, started this business four years ago, because she, as a blind person, found it hard to find stable jobs that people with disabilities could keep, and wanted to give herself and others like her a stable workplace. Serving as inspiration for the name of the business, she mentioned that she felt as if other business owners only saw her for her white cane, and assumed she was unable to perform the job well. The Squire wishes them all the best in their move to go international, and I do recommend this coffee for anyone in Warren, as it is accessible, locally made by the workers at White Cane, and tastes delicious!

As you’re looking for the best coffee options this season, check out these Squire-approved fall-themed drinks around Warren. I hope that this helps you with your decision making the next time that you are at one of these locations!