Fall Means One Thing in SOMA, Seasonal Beverages.

I love autumn. I think it’s because I grew up on the East Coast where the fresh autumn air replaces four months of hot, muggy and thick weather. When the season changes back East, it’s a completely refreshing feeling that cleanses your bones of the midsummer stickiness. It’s something I find many people out here don’t have much sentiment about. (FREE BEVERAGE COUPON BELOW THE JUMP. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL DOWN)

I’m even planning to spend a weekend up in wine country because I need to feel the crisp weather, but also see the turning leaves. Plus, I hear this is the time of year when the vineyards do their harvesting.

A couple weeks into autumn, I’ve noticed that, in South of Market, the weather feels the same if not warmer than it did this summer. Other than the date and some Halloween decorations popping up in stores, the only thing that reminds me the season has changed are seasonal beverages at Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee.  

This past week has seen some of the closest weather to Fall in New York. The temperature has been in the crisp 60′s, and the first thing I thought of was a pumpkin spice latte. I used to love going to Dunkin Donuts and getting a pumpkin spice latte on a crisp, cool day. Even Starbucks makes ‘em very good. I just have so many personal issues with Starbucks, and the fact that Dunkin Donuts doesn’t seem to exist in California made me think I’d have to swallow my pride and jump on their bandwagon… until I saw Peet’s seasonal menu.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Freddos- whatever that is (Note: the barista told me it’s a frozen beverage with the same pumpkin spice flavor). Apparently everyone in the neighborhood had a similar idea this week because it took me three days of going in and harassing the coffee crew before they replenished their pumpkin spice stock. They were sold out for three days!

The barista who happened to assist me on all three attempts, informed me that this is the first year that they’d sold out because the demand seemed to be higher. I asked her if it was because of the ‘fall like weather’ we’ve been experiencing, and she told me that this is actually more like winter, only without the rain.

In any case, I finally got one, it was tasty, and I’m happy that I don’t have to go to Starbucks when I’m craving a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Get over to Peet’s to see what I’m talking about. Just don’t buy them out, or I’ll be very annoyed.

Here’s a coupon for Buy One Get One Free, so now you and that special someone can enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Beverage for the price of one. Just print this out…