Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte creator reveals original name

Pumpkin spice wasn’t always so nice.

The iconic pumpkin-spiced latte from Starbucks that went on to create a whole pumpkin spice industry almost didn’t make the cut.

In 2003, the coffee giant set out to create a fall-inspired drink that featured flavors that were comfortable and warm.

“We started to brainstorm different ideas that would resonate in the fall seasonal time period. We came up with hundreds of ideas,” Peter Dukes, the “father” of the PSL, told People.

He shared that there “were chocolate beverages and caramel beverages” in the mix — but pumpkin-flavored items weren’t popular at the time.

“[We] quickly whittled down to 10 concepts that we wanted to bring forward to our customers with some paper concepts,” he said.

For each of the 10 concepts, they had in-depth proposals with hand-drawn diagrams of the drink as well as a description of the flavor profile.

Market research asked customers two main questions — how unique the beverage is and how likely they are to purchase it.

The results found that drinks featuring chocolate and caramel scored the highest while the pumpkin-flavored drink scored the lowest in consumer interest, though almost everyone said it was a unique concept.

“This idea of pumpkin was rated as unique. What you need to keep in mind is that we’re going back to 2003,” Dukes said. “The only thing pumpkin you would find in the marketplace was the pumpkin puree cans in the grocery store that people would use to make pumpkin pies.”

Even though the feedback for the pumpkin beverage wasn’t great, Dukes and the team felt strongly about it, and after a lengthy debate, it became one of the four options they moved forward with along with a chocolate-based drink, a caramel one and a cinnamon one.

Part of the process included getting into the fall mood.

“One of the first things we did was we decorated the lab as if it were fall, even though it was springtime. We brought in leaves, pumpkins and anything else that would evoke a fall mindset,” Dukes remembered.

“Then we brought in pumpkin pies. We took a bite of the pumpkin pie, mixed it with espresso in a sample cup and ate it.”

Once they perfected the flavor and recipe, the team had to come up with a name for the fall beverage that didn’t instantly turn people away.

Dukes revealed that the Pumpkin Spice Latte was originally going to be called the “Fall Harvest Latte,” but they wanted customers to have an idea of what it would taste like.

“After discussions, we thought it was important that we were very clear and direct with our customers about what to expect when they taste it, because we knew that a potential hurdle was getting customers to try it,” he said.

“The spices played a crucial role: cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Adding the spice in that descriptor of the name was an important part of the development for the Pumpkin Spice Latte.”

When the Pumpkin Spice Latte was reintroduced to customers in a market test, the scores “went through the roof.”

“Nobody knew it was gonna become what it has become for sure. We were excited to have a beverage that our customers really liked,” Dukes said.

The PSL was first introduced on Oct. 10, 2003 as a test item in about 100 stores in Vancouver and Washington, D.C., officially launching in the U.S. and Canada the next fall.

It was a popular drink at first, but it wasn’t until a decade later that the iconic beverage became the sensation it is today.

According to Starbucks, the Pumpkin Spice Latte joined Twitter (now X) in 2014 with a dedicated account called @TheRealPSL. More than 3,000 tweets a day would include the #PSL hashtag during “peak pumpkin season.”

“There was a community that was starting to form around this beverage and @TheRealPSL gave the beverage a personality and it was fun. It didn’t take itself too seriously,” Dukes said. The account has returned to Instagram this year to share fall content.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is officially back on menus at Starbucks for the season, and Dukes is looking forward to seeing his creation back in the hands of customers.

“The weather’s starting to change, the cool crisp days. You got dew on the grass football; the kids are back in school, getting into their rhythm and routine. It captures all that in a cup,” he said. “It’s the warm blanket in front of the fireplace, sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table with family and friends. The Pumpkin Spice Latte captures all that.”

“Part of the beauty of this beverage is the excitement when it lands and when people can go get one and then they lament when it goes away,” he added. “That is part of the beauty of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.”

The coffee chain says the PSL is its most popular seasonal beverage, made with real pumpkin flavor, spices, Starbucks Signature Espresso and steamed milk. It’s available hot, iced or blended.