When Dunkin' And Starbucks Bring Back Pumpkin Spice In 2026

(KMDL-FM) Here's something for you to contemplate as you contemplate your morning coffee: when did pumpkin spice become a "thing"? Two major coffee retailers, Dunkin' and Starbucks, have announced when they'll be bringing back their popular lines of pumpkin-spiced drinks, but how long ago did news of the return of pumpkin spice begin to matter?

The earliest forms of pumpkin spice were first recorded in 1796. We didn't have Dunkin', Starbucks, or drive-thru coffee back then, so guess what they used those spices on? Yeah, they used them to make pumpkin pie, casseroles, desserts, and side dishes.

What Are the Spices that Make Up Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Up next, it's 1934, and McCormick & Company officially created a spice blend that they marketed as pumpkin spice. It was a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. It took the hassle out of measuring all of those flavors for the home cook. We still didn't have our drive-thru coffee, but we're getting there.

focus photography of coffee artwork — Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

It was during the 1990s that independent coffee shops first started flirting with the idea of seasonal spices for coffee drinks. By the time the 2000s hit, we were almost all in, and if you believe the Internet, we will say 2003 is the year when pumpkin spice found its place in the coffee-drinking consciousness.

Dunkin and Starbucks Will Unveil New Pumpkin Spice Drinks in August

If you want your "taste of fall" in the form of a latte, macchiato, or whatever other fancy names they use for coffee drinks these days, you will be able to pumpkin spice it up at Dunkin on August 19th. Starbucks will roll out its pumpkin lineup for fall on August 25th.

Starbucks will be offering The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. They also have some new drinks: the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.

man holding Starbucks cup — Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash

Dunkin' also has a laundry list of old and new pumpkin spice items that it will feature. You can see all of what's new for fall at Dunkin' here.

As far as what our local coffee roasters, brewers, and baristas have up their sleeve, I would imagine late August into early September is when you'll start to see what CC's and Jet and Scooter's and Dutch Bros are going to offer.

Let's just hope it won't be too much longer until we can actually enjoy our drinks "hot" instead of on ice in the air conditioning.

Tell Us What You Put in Your Coffee and We'll Describe Your Personality

Did you know that what you add or don't add to your morning coffee speaks volumes about your inner self? See if these coffee drinker profiles don't match up exactly with the personalities of people that you know. These observations might help you to understand people you're meeting for the first time as well.