With the arrival of fall comes the return of the all too familiar pumpkin spice flavoring, one obvious choice being the Pumpkin Spice Latte served by the coffeehouse chain Starbucks. For some, the drink is a must-have in the fall. If you’re like me, though, you would rather spend your money on a more flavorful, worthy drink.

No offense to my pumpkin spice fanatics, but I don’t think there’s anything special about the drink. When I hear the words “Pumpkin Spice Latte,” I think of a vibrant, memorable coffee that well, tastes like pumpkin spice. The drink I was given at Starbucks most certainly did not live up to my expectations. It was pretty bland and had a faint taste of cinnamon, but that’s about it.

Aesthetic-wise, I completely understand why people are so eager to get their hands on a Pumpkin Spice Latte — it’s a warm drink that has the word “pumpkin” in its name. In theory, it is the perfect drink for October. In reality, however, it’s lackluster. Don’t get me wrong, I really wanted to like the drink. I’m the one spending money on it, after all. After finishing a whole serving of it, I just can’t bring myself to embrace it as others have.

A big part of it is probably due to the fact that I’m more of a strong coffee fan. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is pretty much the opposite of what I usually drink, putting it at a disadvantage already. Still, I was willing to give the drink one last try in honor of fall greeting us once again. Every other time I have gotten this drink, I was pretty disappointed with what I got.

My conclusion…pumpkin spice is not worth the hype if it’s from Starbucks, at least. I am sure there are people out there who are able to make a tastier version of this drink, but from what I have experienced, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is not what most people make it out to be. In my opinion, there are a lot of other drinks you could get at Starbucks to satisfy both your flavor and caffeine needs. Sorry, pumpkin spice enthusiasts, but this is one drink from Starbucks I can’t see myself liking.