How to Prepare Starbucks' Top Fall Drink at Home, with Expert Tips from a Barista

As the chill of fall settles in across the country, Starbucks is already celebrating the season. While the official first day of fall is at the end of September, many people mark the season's arrival with Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte debut.

Starbucks clearly understands its hold on the autumn vibe, making waves every year with the release of its seasonal menu and any exciting new fall drinks. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is always a fan favorite, but another fall beverage gaining a loyal following is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.

More specifically, it's the rich Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam topping that elevates this drink to a whole new level.

What Exactly Is Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam?

The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, introduced in 2019, quickly became a hit with its blend of smooth cold brew coffee, sweet cold foam, and a dash of pumpkin spice. Its success led to its return every fall, and it also paved the way for customers to add Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam (and pumpkin spice) to nearly any Starbucks drink.

You can top off hot and iced coffees, as well as tea lattes, with the delicious cold foam. The pumpkin spice topping is also available for nearly all handcrafted beverages on the menu. Keep in mind that there is an extra charge for adding these special toppings.

According to a former barista, the base for Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam is the same as Starbucks' Sweet Cream. To create the fall-inspired flavor, pumpkin sauce is mixed in. Starbucks typically makes their sweet cream in large two-liter batches, but for this recipe, we’ve scaled it down to about two cups, which makes roughly five servings of cold foam.

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam at Home

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons vanilla coffee syrup
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin sauce
• Pumpkin pie spice, to top

Instructions

1. Create the sweet cream: In a pitcher or jar, combine heavy cream, milk, and vanilla syrup. Keep it chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
2. Blend 3 1/2 ounces of sweet cream and pumpkin sauce together until frothy.
3. Top your drink with the cold foam and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice for extra flavor.

Cost Breakdown

The pumpkin sauce is the priciest ingredient, but instead of purchasing it, you can easily make your own.

This recipe is simple and straightforward. Prepare a batch of sweet cream at the start of the week, then just add the pumpkin sauce and froth it when you're ready to brew your morning coffee. Honestly, it’s probably faster than waiting in the drive-thru line at Starbucks.

How to Prepare Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee

For those who want to fully embrace the Starbucks fall menu, here's more good news: you already know how to make the cold foam topping. A former Starbucks barista also revealed the secrets to the cold brew base. All you need is cold brew coffee and the same vanilla coffee syrup used for the cold foam.

• For a venti cold brew, add 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla, 16 ounces of cold brew coffee, ice, cold foam, and pumpkin spice topping.
• For a grande cold brew, add 1 tablespoon vanilla, 10 ounces of cold brew coffee, ice, cold foam, and pumpkin spice topping.
• For a tall cold brew, add 1/2 tablespoon vanilla, 8 ounces of cold brew, ice, cold foam, and pumpkin spice topping.

Now you can indulge in Pumpkin Cream Cold Brews from the comfort of your own home all fall long. And since you have the recipe, you can enjoy this seasonal treat anytime you like—sorry, Starbucks, you can't compete with that.