Have you ever been paying for a Starbucks run and thought, this is a high price for a drink? I have – mine usually come out to around 5-10 dollars for a drink that lasts me only 15 minutes.
I recently came across some “Starbucks dupe” recipes online and decided to try to recreate the iconic original fall lineup with ingredients I had at home. I didn’t follow a direct recipe; instead, I bought ingredients that I could use to get a similar taste to the original. Starbucks’s fall menu has always been a staple, but due to boycotts and price raises, dupes might be the future for people who love autumnal drinks.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Dupe
The pumpkin cream cold brew was less expensive by far. Homemade, it was only $2.50 per serving, compared to the six bucks for a tall that Starbucks offers. The pumpkin cream cold brew dupe was more of a direct comparison, but even a little better. I used the Stork brand cold brew in the original dark roast flavor and topped it with the Delight pumpkin cold foam creamer. This was way less acidic and slightly less sweet, which I liked.
Pumpkin Cream Chai Dupe
The pumpkin cream chai was not as direct of a comparison, however, it was still really good. It was less sweet and the chai flavor was more present. I used Tazo chai concentrate mixed with milk and topped with vanilla syrup along with the pumpkin cream cold foam from the cold brew. It was delicious and only about $3 for a serving, almost half the price of the bought one! The Starbucks one was more of a sweet treat and had its appeal, so if you are a person who likes a very sweet drink, you can exaggerate those elements when making your dupe.
Overall, for these two drinks, the dupes were worth the extra effort of getting the ingredients and mixing them. They are a delicious way to celebrate the season without breaking the bank. They were cheaper by far, delicious, and took way less time once I got the ingredients.
Another reason I found that I liked the dupe recipes was that they were more customizable. I know my favorite part of the drink is always the cold foam and always wish they put more. I lick the cap to get the last little bits, but when making them at home, I can add as much as I want.
One drawback to dupes, however, is that unless you own a Nespresso or other espresso machine, it is very difficult to recreate anything that uses espresso. Because of this, the Pumpkin Spice Latte remains something that most people can only get from Starbucks or another coffee shop.
If you are participating in the Starbucks boycott, want a little more drink and a little less ice, or just want to enjoy a daily drink at a lower cost, the dupes are definitely for you.
