As far as restaurants go, Starbucks may be the king of the fall. The pumpkin spice latte has become a cultural phenomenon, but it’s not the only seasonal drink on the menu. This year, the Apple Crisp Macchiato was added to the menu in both hot and iced variations.
The Apple Crisp Macchiato joins the PSL and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew on the fall menu. It’s one of newest concoctions, and certainly one worth exploring.
According to the menu, the drink is 280 calories for a 16 oz. grande, but I consumed 380 calories drinking a venti. Needless to say, this drink is sweet. It’s milk-based (2% by default) and includes espresso and a “caramelized spiced apple drizzle.” It’s also mixed with an “apple brown sugar syrup.”
Like most drinks at Starbucks, the caramel drizzle sank to the bottom. I swirled my drink a couple of times, but that only impacted the espresso and milk. So, I set my straw in the middle of the cup and drank from there. Personally, I think this drink would be far less enjoyable if I drank straight from the lid. Everything it too layered to enjoy all the flavors at once.
The drink tasted a lot like brown sugar, which I personally love. It was very sweet, and the apple was secondary to the sweetness. If you’ve ever baked apple crisps at home, the flavor is akin to the sweet, sticky layer at the bottom of the mix. It tastes good, especially with all of the milk in the drink.
In a venti, there are three shots of espresso (two in a grande, one in a tall). Initially, this was all at the top of the cup. I like espresso, but the drink tastes much better when all the ingredients mix together.
Considering the fact that this was an iced drink, it didn’t feel like a fall beverage. It did taste like one. Starbucks nailed the apple crisp flavor, and it would likely feel more natural as a hot beverage.
But it’s 75 degrees in San Diego. I’m sticking to iced.
Should You Try the Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato?
The Apple Crisp Macchiato is a fun addition to the fall line up, but it’s definitely a treat. There’s a lot of sugar in the drinks, so you may want to limit your intake of these. However, it is pretty delicious. If you’re in the mood for a sweet coffee concoction, this will fit the bill.
I’ve tried the other fall drinks at Starbucks, and this one is probably my favorite. I don’t like cream in my coffee, so the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is too much cream and not enough coffee for my taste. Admittedly, it’s pretty delicious, just not my type of delicious. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are their own beasts. They’re also fattening, but I also find the Starbucks’s pumpkin syrup off-putting. Something about it tastes synthetic, which is not what I want from a pricey latte.
Regarding the Apple Crisp Macchiato, Starbucks might have a winner here. I anticipate this one returning, because it tastes like fall in a cup.