Ahh, the PSL. When I was working at Starbucks in 2006, the Pumpkin Spice Latte craze was in it’s infancy. At that time, there were no pumpkin spice latte scented candles, no pumpkin spice flavored Ford F150s, and absolutely zero memes about basic b*tches drinking PSLs while wearing plaid shirts, black leggings, and knee-high brown boots.
Fast forward almost 20 years and I’m sure even the most remote Amazonian tribes have heard legend of the PSL. Hop a plane back to American and you can see how much coffee is a staple in the morning rituals of countless Americans. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, this robust drink powers us from dawn till dusk, but which locales are truly head over heels for their brew?
Pumpkin Spice Latte Stats
Research Approach:
To pinpoint these trends, we turned to the Google Ads tool. Over the past year, we’ve been monitoring search terms like “coffee,” “local coffee shops,” and “find coffee near me” to gauge city-wise coffee interest. Additionally, September’s “pumpkin spice latte” searches gave us insights into the seasonal favorite’s popularity across cities and states.
Our research, based on searches such as “coffee,” “local coffee shops,” and “find coffee near me,” led us to list America’s top caffeine capitals.
Which cities have the most intense coffee aficionados?
Not shockingly, Seattle, with its renowned coffee culture and the home base of a leading global coffee brand, took the crown. Denver clinched the second spot, followed closely by the ever-caffeinated Portland. Minneapolis and San Francisco complete the top five.
But What About the Pumpkin Spice Latte Phenomenon?
Discussing coffee trends, especially during the autumn months, and ignoring the pumpkin spice latte would be like forgetting the icing on a cake.
A beverage of contention, the pumpkin spice latte polarizes the nation every fall. But regardless of personal tastes, its rise to fame is undeniable as the season changes.
This year, it seemed the pumpkin spice latte made its menu debut earlier than usual. This piqued our curiosity about where this seasonal sensation was most sought after.
September, it turns out, is the pumpkin spice latte’s prime time, boasting an impressive average of 141,625 national searches. And leading the PSL charge? Minneapolis, with 169 searches for every 100,000 residents.
You might not associate the sultry vibes of Miami with the autumnal allure of pumpkin spice, but the numbers tell a different story. Miami clinches the second spot, trailed by Atlanta. Even Seattle, America’s coffee mecca, and Denver make their presence felt in the PSL search stakes.
Broadening our scope, the state of Washington holds the record for the highest number of “pumpkin spice latte” searches. California, Illinois, Virginia, and Texas also have a significant PSL presence.
And in a world where the PSL influence has seeped into even the world of personal care (yes, pumpkin spice latte scented deodorant is a thing), it’s evident that this trend is here to stay.
