Local Fall Coffee Drink Dupes
Starbuck-esque fall drinks with a local twist
Sawyer Hoff, photos by Andrea Paulseth
When you think of fall, you probably picture leaves changing color, big comfy sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything. While you could sit in a Starbucks drive-thru for some spiced fall drinks, why not check out the many local businesses with specialty fall drinks that are just as good (if not better)? Being a fall-drink enthusiast, I went searching for some of the best local Starbucks dupes, and here’s what I found:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
This is probably the most popular fall drink for obvious reasons – it’s like a pumpkin pie in a cup and Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte is famously delicious. Bridge Street Brew (114 N Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) recently released their playfully titled Cereal Killers fall menu, which features the Cinnamon Slasher – a pumpkin snickerdoodle latte with whip cream and cinnamon toast crunch sprinkles. Not only is this an amazing local Starbies dupe, but it also has an extra bit of crunch to go along with it.
Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
If you prefer your pumpkin spice blended with ice, check out the Raw Deal (603 Broadway St. S #2457, Menomonie) where they have prepared a pumpkin spice version of their famous S’connie. The Pumpkin Spice White Chocolate S’connie is a blended latte with – you guessed it – pumpkin spice and white chocolate flavoring.
Iced Pumpkin Chai
Our last stop on the pumpkin express is the classic pumpkin chai. For anyone that may not know, chai is a black tea of Indian origin infused with spices and typically made into a latte. The spices in the chai (usually cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, etc.) really add to the fall feeling you get when taking a sip. Swap out Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Chai with The Goat Coffee House’s (336 Water St., Eau Claire) blended chai with pumpkin spice syrup. It’s a crowd pleaser for a reason!
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Latte
For those that prefer apple flavors, Kahvi Coffee House + Cafe (3830 Talmadge Rd, Eau Claire) has an Apple Pie Chai that will make you feel as though you’ve waltzed right into an apple orchard. Make sure to ask for an oat milk substitution to get the same vibe.
Caramel Apple Spice Cider
Not a big coffee fan? Cozy up with some yummy apple cider at The Blind Munchies Coffeehouse (621 Wilson Ave., Menomonie), which recently created their new Caramel Apple Cider drink. It's basically a hug in a mug, but five times more Autumn-esque.