Pumpkin spice latte season reigns supreme in Salt Lake City, and we set out to find the best one this fall, judging each on four metrics: pumpkin flavor, spice, sweetness, and presentation. My order was simple: a 16-ounce iced pumpkin spice latte with regular milk and no extras.
Here are some of the best lattes I tasted in the city, along with their prices (including tip). Go try them before they’re gone.
Tucked inside a fantasy bookshop in the 9th and 9th neighborhood, The Legendarium served one of the best lattes of this journey: the Pumpkin Spice Kind of Kessel. While most coffee shops struggled to get the pumpkin-to-spice ratio right, this one nailed it flawlessly. Bravo. Total cost: $8.07.
If you’re downtown, try the Pumpkin Spice Spanish Latte, which is sweetened with condensed milk. If you like to taste the espresso in your drink, this one’s for you. It’s coffee-forward, with pumpkin flavor throughout, and not too sweet. It goes well with one of their cinnamon rolls. Total cost: $8.94.
A beautiful, creamy PSL that balances all the right things. The pumpkin is soft-spoken but present as it masterfully handles the blend of spice and sweetness. This latte reminded me why I fell in love with PSLs in the first place. While you’re there, grab some chilaquiles at either of its two locations in Salt Lake City or West Valley City. Total cost: $8.08.
Go for the cinnamon rolls, stay for the latte. The pumpkin cold foam greets you first and steals the show, with a soft pumpkin note carrying through the rest of the drink. It’s a perfect companion to one of their very sweet rolls. Total cost: $8.52.
One of our best coffeehouses in Salt Lake City, Loki delivers a well-rounded PSL with the right amount of pumpkin and spice, without being watered down by the milk. A no-frills latte that lives up to its reputation. Total cost: $7.72.
