- Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte almost had a very different name.
- Peter Dukes, the “Father of the PSL,” told Insider it was almost called the Fall Harvest Latte.
- Starbucks also considered calling it the Pumpkin Brulée Latte.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a cultural icon closely associated with the fall season.
However, this beloved drink was nearly given a different name.
In a recent interview with Peter Dukes, known as the “Father of the PSL,” Insider uncovered the drink’s origin story as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Dukes and his team embarked on the task of creating a new fall beverage for Starbucks after the success of the peppermint mocha during the 2002 holiday season.
They brainstormed 100 ideas in the “Liquid Lab,” the previous name for Starbucks’ research and development space in Seattle. From those ideas, they narrowed it down to four flavors that were further developed into drinks with the assistance of Starbucks’ food scientists.
According to Dukes, there was a lot of debate over the fourth flavor, and pumpkin was one of the contenders. At that time, pumpkin was only found in pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie topping in grocery stores, with no other pumpkin-based beverages available.
Dukes and his team took a risk by focusing on pumpkin as a flavor and experimented by pouring espresso shots over pumpkin pies to develop the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s taste.
He remarked, “We knew we had something that was pretty unique. And the rest from there is history.”
However, before the PSL could be launched, it needed a suitable name. Dukes revealed that there was much deliberation. The team briefly considered calling it the Fall Harvest Latte to pay homage to the season but realized it wouldn’t convey the actual taste of the drink.
Another option was the Pumpkin Brulée Latte, but the team wanted to highlight the importance of other spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon in enhancing the espresso flavor.
Dukes stated, “So we landed on Pumpkin Spice Latte.”
The PSL quickly became a hit, and Dukes, who still works at Starbucks, expressed his amazement at how the Pumpkin Spice Latte continues to gain popularity.
“Fall is my favorite time of year. I love how the leaves are changing colors. It’s that time you’re getting back into your rhythm and routine,” he said. “And the Pumpkin Spice Latte helps capture that in a cup a little bit — it brings a smile to my face.”
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