Starbucks vs. Tim Hortons: Fall Menu

The age-old Canadian debate is Starbucks vs. Tim Hortons, and I decided to test out their brand new fall menus to see which coffee shop truly is the best. I tried the same drinks from each store and compared them to see which one tasted better. Read below to see the winner.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

I have always been a fan of the PSL and I look forward to its launch date every single year. It symbolizes the beginning of Fall and the start of the new school year. This year is no different. The PSL tastes the same as always – nutty with hints of pumpkin and spice. It is extremely smooth and the pumpkin isn’t too strong. If I could get this drink every day, I would, but it is a bit too pricey. The Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks is $5.25 for a grande and can be made into an iced latte or a Frappuccino.

Overall, I’d give the Starbucks PSL a 5/5.

Tim Hortons Pumpkin Spice Latte

While I am Canadian, I always choose Starbucks over Tim Hortons. Their Pumpkin Spice latte has been around for a few years now to rival that of Starbucks, but it has been a few years since I have tasted it. The drink is $3.87 for a medium, so it is definitely a cheaper option compared to Starbucks.

I’ll be completely honest – I don’t like Tim Horton’s PSL at all. Compared to the Starbucks PSL it tastes all wrong. It’s very creamy, which is a good thing, but it tastes a little bitter and doesn’t taste like pumpkin at all. It almost tastes like a regular watered down latte.

I’m honestly not surprised though, as Tim Horton’s has been having a lot of criticisms thrown its way about the quality of its coffee and food lately. Maybe I just got a bad drink, but I probably wouldn’t try getting this drink again.

Overall, I’d give the Tim Horton’s PSL a 1/5.

Starbucks Cardamom Latte

At first sip, I wasn’t too overwhelmed with this drink, but at the same time, it wasn’t bad. The caramel espresso isn’t very strong, but it blends in with the rest of the flavours to create a perfect autumn taste. I’m not too sure how to describe it, but it is the perfect drink for walking through a pumpkin patch if the pumpkin spice latte isn’t quite your thing. The flavours aren’t as strong or spicy as they are in the PSL, but they’re richer.

The Cardamom latte is made with “caramelly espresso and steamed milk, infused with cardamom and sugar, sprinkled with fall spice,” according to the Starbucks website. This latte is also $5.25 and can be made into an iced latte.

Overall, I’d give the Cardamom latte a 4/5.

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

I decided to mix things up and get this drink iced instead of the regular hot latte. I really thought I would really like this drink because I often enjoy drinks with caramel in them, but this is too much for me. It doesn’t taste terrible, but the salted caramel taste just is not my thing. However, after a few sips, it is starting to grow on me.

I thought this drink would be kind of similar to the iced caramel macchiato, which it is in a way, but it is also different at the same time. I would recommend giving this drink a try if you’re looking to spice things up for fall because I feel like people will either love or hate this drink.

While this drink is on the Starbucks fall menu, it can actually be enjoyed all year round, which many people don’t know about. It has been around for a few years and is often a favourite for those who do not like the taste of the PSL. This drink is also $5.25 and can be made iced or into a frappucino.

Overall, I would give it a 3/5.

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

I absolutely LOVED this drink the first time I tried it. I am an avid iced coffee lover, but sometimes when I need an extra kick in my day, I’ll get a cold brew.

I love the pumpkin spice latte, but this drink is much smoother and creamier it seems. It’s creamy but gives you all the extra caffeine that you need to complete your day. It is the perfect iced fall drink.

The pumpkin cream cold brew is brand new to the menu this year at Starbucks and retails for $4.45 for a grande. If you usually get the pumpkin spice latte then you should definitely try this drink out.

Overall, I would give this drink a 5/5.

Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin

The pumpkin muffin from Starbucks is always the show-stopper of the season. Not only is it warm and delicious, but it also has a cream cheese filling in the middle. If you’ve never tried one of these bites of heaven before, then I highly recommend it. They are fairly large in size as well so they’re great for a snack or even as a small meal.

Overall, I would give the muffin a 4/5.

Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf

Loaves from Starbucks are my usual go-to when I’m in need of a quick snack when I’m out and about, so I was super interested to try the pumpkin loaf. While it doesn’t compare to the banana loaf, it is still pretty good. The loaf itself is pretty thick, so it can taste a little bit dry, but it is still pretty yummy. Does it compare to the other pumpkin snacks though? Maybe not.

Overall, I’d give the loaf a 2/5.

Tim Horton’s Pumpkin Donut

I love donuts, so I had pretty high hopes for this one as I love everything pumpkin. My expectation was that it would taste a bit like pumpkin pie, but the reality was much different. Not only was it dry, but it also didn’t taste like pumpkin at all. In fact, it mostly just tasted like sugar, which isn’t as pleasant as it may sound to some. For only $1.25 it is worth trying to see if you get a better made one, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Overall, I’d give the donut a 0/5.