Latte /ˈläˌtā/

Noun: A type of coffee made with espresso and steamed milk.

By Ella Nenadic

Photograph by Pranaya Bindu Buyya

The English dictionary has its definition of latte, but I, like any coffee connoisseur, happen to have my own, and it’s a pretty basic formula. I use my five senses to determine whether a latte is a quality product or not.

First, sight: your latte should be a deep brown color—think the color of brown sugar.Secondly, touch: picking up your latte, you should feel like the ice is working its magic.Next, taste: just like the color, the taste of your latte should have depth. You shouldn't just taste the milk, the espresso or the syrups—instead, they should all blend together in harmony.Then, smell: the espresso used should be quality espresso, and if that’s the case, you should be able to smell the coffee through the milk and other additives.

Of course, taste is subjective, so keep in mind this guide is coming from a critic who genuinely loves the taste of coffee over the taste of artificial sweeteners. So with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get into the best—and worst—Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSL) Boston University has to offer.

In terms of ranking this fall staple, I used what I felt were the most important aspects in determining which café to choose: convenience, proximity, atmosphere and of course, quality.

Where Not to Go: Dunkin’

For me, Dunkin’ didn’t check a single box. Specifically for the Kenmore Dunkin’, its location was the first turn-off—being east of Questrom, it’s on the outskirts of BU campus. On top of that, the atmosphere and service quality were not up to par with any of the other locations I tried. Not to mention, the latte was below average. 

This PSL was extremely one-dimensional; the coffee taste was overpowered by syrups, and yet somehow there was no note of pumpkin… This was an immediate no for me.

Somewhere In the Middle: Pavement

I had higher hopes for this one, but ultimately the coffee and pumpkin fell victim to the milk. To me, the perfect latte follows a 3:1 or 2:1 milk-to-coffee ratio, however, at Pavement, the ratio seemed to be way off. The pumpkin flavor was also non-existent. 

I did give them points for location, service and atmosphere, however, those things do not create your coffee experience—they can only add to it.

Second Place: Saxbys

Located in the heart of BU’s campus, it truly does have a fantastic location. Which leads me to one of my main complaints: you will be waiting for your drink for at least 15 minutes. Was my PSL worth the long wait? Unfortunately, not.

The latte came clearly divided into sections: syrup, coffee and milk. After some mixing, the drink does develop into the cozy fall classic. This is a good option, but for me, it was slightly oversweetened and the texture was not ideal.

The Winner: Starbucks (Questrom)

As much as I was hoping to stay away from your basic coffee spot, I realized that basic things become popular because everyone can agree—they’re good. For that reason, I’m hopping on the Starbucks bandwagon.

Specifically, the Starbucks in Questrom is my favorite. The baristas are efficient, kind and deliver quality. Not to mention, the location is great—with lots of seating in the cafe and a library in the same building.

As for the latte, it had a smooth, silky consistency with the perfect balance of pumpkin, spice and espresso. Definitely the winner!

So as the leaves change color and the coffee shops change their menus—you know fall has arrived. Boston University has numerous coffee shops to help you cozy up and study. That concludes my recommendation list, but overall, my best piece of advice is to try one local spot this season.