PSL Returns, But Apple Crisp Is Missing

The official start of fall is here, according to Starbucks. The company confirmed in a July 21 social post that its Pumpkin Spice Latte and the broader fall menu will return nationwide on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Their accompanying fall menu announcement also revealed a new pecan-based drink and food item, but the glaring absence of another fan favorite immediately captured the attention—and frustration—of fans online.

2025 Starbucks Fall Menu: At a Glance

• Launch Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
• Returning Favorites: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte
• New Items: Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, Italian Sausage Egg Bites
• Missing From Announcement: Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
• How to Order Early: Check the Starbucks app after ~5 a.m. local time; it often updates before in-store menu boards

On last year’s launch day, Thursday, August 22, 2024, Starbucks foot traffic jumped 24.1% above its recent Thursday average and stayed elevated all weekend.

When Do Fall Drinks Actually Go Live?

August 26 is the national launch date, but the menu’s availability comes down to technology, not chalkboards. Seasonal syrups and menu buttons load into Starbucks’ point-of-sale system overnight; once that sync happens, fall drinks appear in mobile ordering—historically before 6 a.m. in most time zones.

If you don’t see the fall menu in your app that morning, you’re probably near a licensed store (airports, college campuses, Target cafés). Those locations run on different inventory schedules and often lag a day or two behind company-operated stores.

What’s on the Official 2025 Fall Menu?

While PSL grabs the headline, Starbucks built a full supporting cast. According to the company, customers can expect the following fall menu lineup:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte: The 22-year-old icon that started it all.
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: A top performer since its 2019 debut.
• Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte: Last year’s TikTok darling, now an official staple.
• Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte: Back for those who want fall without pumpkin.
• New Pecan Oatmilk Cortado: An espresso-forward way into the pecan profile.
• New Italian Sausage Egg Bites: A savory addition to the food case.

That confirmed roster makes one omission even louder: the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato. It wasn’t mentioned, and its syrup isn’t showing up on early internal lists. Until Apple Brown Sugar syrup appears in stores—or Starbucks says otherwise—its status stays unknown.

What Happened to the Apple Crisp Macchiato?

A quick scroll of the comments under Starbucks’ announcement shows the loudest reaction isn’t “Welcome back, PSL!”—it’s “Where is the Apple Crisp?!” Starbucks hasn’t addressed it publicly.

If it’s truly gone for the season, you can approximate the flavor: order a macchiato with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Dolce syrups (or a hot chai with extra brown sugar and a caramel splash). At home, an apple–brown sugar syrup folded into oat milk and espresso gets close. If Starbucks does a “second wave” this fall, a quiet late-September add-on is not unheard of; it’ll surface in the app first.

How Long Does the Fall Season Last?

Officially, fall drinks stick around until red holiday cups arrive in early November. In practice, the season ends when syrups run out. Smaller markets or high-traffic stores often lose Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew first—sometimes by Halloween. Watch your Starbucks Rewards app the week of August 26; the company reliably nudges trial with Double-Star Days or targeted fall drink offers.

Even as consumers count pennies, the PSL bump held steady year over year; visits on launch day matched 2023’s already impressive gains, and states like North Dakota (+45.5%) and Kansas (+42.6%) led the surge according to Placer.ai.

Why the PSL Endures as a Cultural Marker

PSL is more than a latte; it’s a metronome. It signals a pivot to “cozy” even while temperatures say otherwise. In a year of unpredictable routines and rising costs, a predictable flavor ritual feels like control. That’s why the Apple Crisp absence lands like a personal slight for some.

When a drink becomes part of someone’s fall script, losing it isn’t just a menu tweak, it’s a broken ritual. Whether Starbucks brings it back this fall or not, the public demand is a reminder of how deep these seasonal cues run. Watch Starbucks’ July 21 PSL announcement reel below.