During the fall season, pumpkin flavors storm coffee shops as seasonal drinkers come out for their pumpkin-spiced favorites, but what makes a great pumpkin syrup?
Pumpkin syrups commonly use artificial flavors to create that classic, sweet, and savory spiced taste often found in Pumpkin Spiced Lattes (PSL). Pumpkins are tough to mix into drinks naturally because the orange gourds have a thick outer skin, hard interior meat, and tons of pesky interior seeds. You can create homemade pumpkin syrup, but many consumers and businesses lean toward artificial syrup because of its great taste and convenience.
Pumpkin treats during the holidays likely contributed to pumpkin-spiced syrup’s meteoric rise. Keep reading to find the best pumpkin syrups, how to make your own, and how to best use your favorite pumpkin syrup.
Products reviewed in more detail
Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Features
A coffee shop classic, Torani Pumpkin Pie Syrup is widely available online and in stores where coffee and coffee products are sold. The widely used brand will take you right back to the flavors you tasted in your first PSL.
Pros
- Available everywhere
- Starbucks-quality flavor
Cons
- Artificial flavors
Torani Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Coffee Syrup
Features
Pros
- Sweetened with Splenda
- Rich creaminess of pumpkin pie filling
Cons
- May not be sweet enough for some customers
Monin - Pumpkin Pie Syrup
Features
While slightly more expensive than widely available brands, Monin’s Pumpkin Pie Syrup is worth trying out. Its sweet flavor and clear consistency will complement any coffee drink in your coffee shop or kitchen.
Pros
- Quality sugars
- Great spice flavor
Cons
- Artificial flavors
Jordan's Skinny Coffee Pumpkin Syrup
Features
This sugar-free option of Jordan’s Skinny Mixes will provide you a great flavor at a great price. This artificially flavored pumpkin syrup will last for a long time and never falter on flavor.
Pros
- Zero calories
- Sugar-free syrup
Cons
- Artificial sweeteners may impact the flavor
DaVinci Gourmet Classic Pumpkin Pie Syrup
Features
DaVinci’s Pumpkin Pie Syrup markets itself as a gourmet syrup that includes a much higher price. Using pure cane sugar, it boasts a perfect balance of sweetness but continues to rely on artificial flavors.
Pros
- Tastes like pumpkin pie
- Pure sugar cane
Cons
- Highest price on our list
1883 Maison Routin Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Features
The Maison Routin Pumpkin Spice Syrup evokes all the classic autumnal flavors you expect, but without overpowering your coffee drink. You can expect this bottle, straight from the French Alps, to smoothly pair with any latte.
Pros
- Great pumpkin and spice combination
- Artisan crafted
Cons
- Flavor may be too light for some
The Allure of Pumpkin Flavor
Pumpkin flavors are often sold in warm treats and drinks as temperatures drop before the harsh winter.
But that experience of warmth may have roots in a more rustic experience because pumpkins are traditionally harvested around this time of year. From American pumpkin carving with families to the smell of fresh-baked pumpkin bread and pies during this time of year, it’s easy to understand why people may have positive memories of pumpkin aromas and flavors.
Everyone’s favorite pumpkin flavors also benefit from spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s mixed with some sweetness from sugar cane or sweetened and condensed milk.
These flavors and seasonings perfectly complement a chilly day walking through crunchy yellow and red leaves.
The Benefits of Adding Pumpkin Syrup to Your Coffee
How do you take your coffee? Most people say cream or sugar, but in reality, many flavors pair with coffee’s acidic and bitter flavors.
The most common coffee roast people drink today is the medium roast, featuring acidic and floral notes in the bean and bitter and chocolatey flavors from the roasting process. To reduce the intensity of these flavors, you can add sweetness or creaminess to your coffee.
The greatest benefit of adding pumpkin syrup to your cup is its sweet flavor from the sugars in the syrup. The sweetness will balance the strong flavors of a black cup of coffee. If you’re looking to add more depth of flavor, there are a few extra options:
- Caramel — For a sweet tooth, a caramel PSL will add an unmatched, deep sweetness that will have you sinking into your cozy pants.
- Maple — Maple is an incredible flavor that mixes sweet and floral notes. We think it would make a perfect match with pumpkin syrup.
- Vanilla — A pure floral flavor, vanilla pumpkin spice sounds so bright and refreshing that your coffee might even begin to taste like tea. But it’s not, it’s coffee.
- Chocolate — If your chocolatey coffee isn’t enough, add more! A pumpkin-spiced mocha latte sounds like something they’d only serve in heaven.
But taste is subjective. Online, you’ll find all sorts of pumpkin syrup types like pumpkin cinnamon roll, pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin pecan. So get creative and try out some other flavor combinations.
(Maybe comment your favorite pumpkin flavor combination below?)
Pumpkin Syrup: A Taste of Autumn in Your Coffee
Homemade pumpkin syrup may sound great in practice, but if you’ve ever worked with pumpkin puree you may have a different opinion.
Store-bought pumpkin syrups are often clear with a copper, orangey color, compared to the dark and sometimes mealy texture of homemade pumpkin syrup. That’s because store-bought pumpkin syrup doesn’t require any actual pumpkin, and instead relies on artificial flavoring.
When considering the right pumpkin syrup for you, it’s best to consider things like sweeteners, quality of ingredients, price, and availability.
If you’re looking to make your own homemade pumpkin syrup, you’ll need a few ingredients. Use a mix of brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice to find the right blend of flavors.
Like most syrups, heat the ingredients in a small saucepan on medium-low and do not let it burn/boil until it gets to the right consistency. Strain the leftover bits from the syrup into a storage container and store it in the refrigerator.
Congratulations, your homemade pumpkin syrup should last up to a month!
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Conclusion
When finding the right pumpkin syrup for your coffee, luckily there are plenty of store-bought and homemade options for you to choose from. Additionally, pumpkin is such a popular syrup flavor there are nearly countless flavor combinations to spice up your morning coffee.
We recommend adding a classic pumpkin syrup to a latte or adding chocolate or caramel flavors to the mix to really add some incredible flavors. But of course, each cup of coffee is different, so do what sounds best for your palate!
Author
Scott's tasted his first cup of coffee in college. The sludgy cup came from the gas station closest to his apartment when he needed to stay awake during an all-night study session. Thankfully, this cup was not his last. He and his wife now enjoy a cup or two of home-brewed coffee with breakfast every morning and enjoy exploring new coffee shops and eateries. As a former journalist, he works as a communication manager for a local, art-focused nonprofit in Arizona most days and freelances the rest. As a writer at heart, Scott appreciates the union of his craft and love of coffee at Roast Love.
