No.3 Starbucks's Fall Drinks: Which to Pick & Which to Skip - Women Compus - Women Campus
Pumpkin Spice Latte vs. Gingerbread Latte
Pumpkin Spice Latte: espresso (75-150mg), pumpkin, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove), steamed milk, sweetened whipped cream
Gingerbread Latte: Espresso with steamed milk, gingerbread-flavored syrup, sweetened whipped cream, nutmeg
Pick: Gingerbread Latte
Since the Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of the juggernauts on the Starbucks fall/winter menu, it makes sense to match it up against the Gingerbread Latte, another popular drink with a similar taste. The Pumpkin Spice Latte contains 210 to 470 calories (short to venti), while the Gingerbread Latte includes 180 to 390 calories (short to venti). Yet as Kris notes, there isn’t much difference among the ingredients in both beverages. “This one depends on which flavor you like better, or calorie content,” she says. So although the Pumpkin Spice Latte is my personal favorite, it looks like I might want to add the Gingerbread Latte into the rotation.
Tazo Chai Tea Latte vs. Caffe Latte
Tazo Chai Tea Latte: espresso (50-100mg), Spiced black tea, steamed milk
Caffe Latte: espresso (75-150mg), steamed milk, foam
Pick: Tie
Starbucks’s Caffe Latte ranges from 100 to 240 calories (short to venti), while the Chai Latte ranges from 120 to 300 calories (short to venti). However, each serving of the Chai Latte has ¾ less sodium than the Caffe Latte. “Once again, there’s the benefit of the tea,” Kris says. “But I wouldn’t be too heavy on one or the other. Go with your flavor preference on this one—tea lovers or coffee lovers can easily lean toward one or the other.” In this case, if you’re looking for a classic drink without a lot of fuss, the Caffe Latte is for you. But if you prefer something a little sweeter, spicier, and with less caffeine, the Tazo Chai Latte is your best bet.
So, where does that leave you…?
All of this information may seem to take the fun out of indulging in Starbucks, but you don’t always have to make an either/or kind of sacrifice every time you buy a drink. If picking and skipping doesn’t work for you, try substituting instead. It’s not uncommon to hear a Starbucks patron spouting off an order that would rival a Fall Out Boy song title, but selecting a healthier alternative doesn’t always have to be complicated
These are simple, but effective ways to make sure that you know what’s going into your cold weather brew:
- Have a latte with sugar-free syrup instead of standard syrup
- Try soymilk or skim milk instead of whole milk
- Combine the two substitutions above for a “skinny” latte (a latte with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup)
- Ask your barista to hold the whipped cream
