The PSL Almost Had a Different Name, According to the Creator
The Pumpkin Spice Latte, nicknamed the PSL, is a fan-favorite fall staple, but according to the drink's creator, it almost had a completely different name.
In honor of the seasonal beverage's 20th anniversary this year, Peter Dukes, who was in charge of the Starbucks espresso beverage team when the latte drink was created, shared the story of how its catchy branding came to be.
The journey to the PSL began when Starbucks sought to create a special drink for its fall menus, "We started with a huge brainstorm list and filled the wall with ideas," Dukes shared in a Starbucks press release.
He went on, "We probably had at least a hundred ideas up on the wall. And once we got those ideas, we started to whittle away at them and came down to a list of about 20 different flavors including chocolate and caramel – the most popular flavors to pair with coffee – and there was orange and cinnamon ... and there was pumpkin there as well.”
They surveyed customers on their favorite flavors, with pumpkin standing out for "uniqueness," and it quickly became the focus. The team reportedly spent three months perfecting the PSL recipe before they faced the big responsibility of coming up with a name.
Dukes recalled one of the names they came up with but didn't use: the "fall harvest latte." He noted, "There was a desire to choose a really unique name...We ultimately ended up landing on Pumpkin Spice Latte because the spices play a really important role in bringing out the flavors of pumpkin while also highlighting the espresso in the cup.”
After Starbucks added the PSL to the menu, it was super successful, but Dukes also revealed that the coffee chain discussed "discontinuing it." Of course, that didn't happen. "Fortunately, we kept bringing it back. With the arrival of social media, it just took off on a whole new level,” Dukes said.
Since the release of the coffee drink in 2003, many other companies have created their own version, while Starbucks has introduced a few variations, including the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte.
Every fall, fans of the PSL continue to count down the days until it returns to the menu, and hopefully, it will remain a staple for years to come.
Next: 16 Sweet Desserts and Drink Recipes for Pumpkin Spice Latte Lovers
