Despite the ongoing seasonal joy and fall festivities, the best season of the year—subjectively—will soon come to an abrupt end. This marks the beginning of finals and the fast-approaching end of the school semester. 

As a fourth-year Science student, my university experience has often consisted of late nights and cheap coffee. But what I’ve failed to find is a fall drink that sparks joy: Something evoking the feeling of being covered with a fleece blanket next to a crackling fireplace. The type you would get while writing for leisure in the chill autumn air as vibrant leaves swirl overhead. Essentially, as close as you can get to a drink-ified pumpkin purée. And that is exactly what I sought during October 2024. 

If you’ve also been on a search for somewhere to go (or not go), I’ve done the taste-testing work for you. Here is a personal account of the seasonal beverages from some latte locations in Montreal, based on a 10-point rating scale: 1 is vile, 5 is neutral, and 10 is my dream drink.

Tim Hortons: Latte with Autumn Spice (Medium, $5.19 CAD)

I began detailing this journey at Tim’s, which retrospectively was not a great place to start. The acridity of the coffee was hidden by sugar and a hint of fall spices. Though I tasted cinnamon and clove most, it was almost as if they were afraid of being too flavourful. This barely-spiced latte was inoffensive, but five dollars for a Tim’s drink is…surprising, to say the least. 5.2/10

Tommy’s: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Regular, $6.90 CAD)

This highly popular café held promise. The advertisement featured an intimidating beverage piled high with colourful ingredients and explosions of flavour. The real drink was quaint with aesthetic latte art, and the foam itself was sweet, tasting predominantly of cinnamon. While the coffee was light and tasteful, the somewhat overpowering cinnamon topping prevented the pumpkin and seasonings from truly shining. 7.2/10

COMMODORE Café Montreal: Latte à la citrouille épicée (Medium, $6.33 CAD) 

Encased by glass walls and lush overhead foliage, COMMODORE—connected to HONEYROSE Hotel Montreal and its restaurant—seemed to represent “business” to a tee. The place was sleek and fragrant, and so was the drink. The latte’s foam was light on sweetness and heavy on cloves, and the coffee was earthy with a slight tang that made you keep going back for more. All in all, the drink was pleasant and tasted powerful and autumn-like, for lack of a better term, but I was still not completely satisfied. 7.9/10

Myriade: Small Latte Citrouille (Medium, $5.24 CAD)

This cozy café’s atmosphere was dark, moody, and inviting, which the latte reflected perfectly. The foam was sweet, with fragrant tones of nutmeg, allspice, an elusive pumpkin-like aftertaste, and a nutty aroma. While the previous lattes mostly resembled a coffee with milk and indications of autumn, this drink marked the start of the few coffees that nearly embodied the pumpkin and spice energy that I was so desperately looking for. But despite being flavourful, it was not my perfect drink, so my quest continued. 8.1/10

Milton B: Latte à Citrouille (Regular, $7.07 CAD)

Having spent many nights-turned-mornings at this 24-hour establishment, I was curious about Milton B’s take on a pumpkin spice latte. Being the most expensive drink on this list, I expected greatness. Though I personally feel the price is quite high for what it is, I was pleasantly surprised. The coffee was chocolatey and mellow, sweet and light with spice. The syrup was concentrated and tasted similar to pumpkin purée. Though this drink came nearest to what I was looking for, it may have just been that the sweetness enticed the taste buds more than the pumpkin itself. 8.3/10

Humble Lion: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Medium, $6.67 CAD)

Truthfully, this place is where my journey both started and ended—for now. Overall, I went back to my humble beginnings three times. Each time, my drink experience differed, and I couldn’t decide how I felt. During my first two visits, the mix of all the spices was strong, and the coffee was dark and rich with a light bitterness. But on my last, the coffee was deep, complex, and flavourful—a pumpkin purée taste topped with a light foam and sweet cinnamon. This last cup added an extra point to my original rating, and while it wasn’t completely my dream drink, this latest visit will certainly not be my last. 8.5/10

Subjectively, the journey to find my ideal drink was unsuccessful. After deliberating with my loved ones, we posited that perhaps the fall drink hype was all a ploy. Maybe pumpkin and autumn spice drinks just leave something to be desired, and that’s why they’re only around one season a year. So we can collectively forget how unremarkable they are when next autumn rolls around.

After further contemplation regarding my failed quest, I realized the common denominator was me. Maybe I’m not the right person to review this product. Perhaps what I’ve discovered in this autumnal adventure is that, despite my efforts and retries, I’m not who I thought I would be: A die-hard fan of autumn/pumpkin spice drinks. Though I started running out of caffeine tolerance—and money—near the end, they say that life is about the journey, not the destination. Ultimately, it’s okay that I didn’t find my perfect autumn drink. There’s always next year. Also, I may be allergic to nutmeg. 

Note: Prices included are what the author was charged after taxes and before tip. This may not reflect the accurate or universal price of the drink in other locations.