Leaves change from green to red as a blanket of cold starts to wrap up the air. Seasons bring inevitable change, including a change in the Starbucks menu.
Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington’s Pike Place Market. In 1983 an employee named Howard Schultz took a trip to Italy and came back with ideas to bring the Italian coffee culture of warmth and artistry to the Starbucks menu. Starbucks is extremely popular for its fall and winter menus. The most popular seasonal item is the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which debuted in 2003. Starbucks continuously adds more items to the menu, including a new flavor this year, Apple. As the season continues and more people taste apple-flavored drinks, the question sets in, what flavor is better, apple or pumpkin?
Junior Cole Elsen is an Olympia High School and Starbucks employee. He works for 25 hours a week over 5 days. He started working at Starbucks because collecting mugs is a family tradition and he loves coffee. Elsen says his favorite part of working at Starbucks is “Making the drinks and talking to people [he] knows. Since it’s so close to school [he] gets to see a lot of [his] friends”. For those interested in working at Starbucks Elsen explains “It’s not hard to get accommodations. They are pretty chill.”
However, the most important question is if pumpkin or apple is better. Elsens’ personal opinion is that pumpkin is better but he adds that both are good. He even mentioned being excited to try more flavors Starbucks introduces during the holiday season. One of those new flavors is pecan.
Taylin Friend, Olympia High School’s attendance lady, a tried and true Starbucks fan who has been frequently visiting about four times a week for the last five years. Right off the bat, she said,“Pumpkin is better. Always pumpkin.” She is a huge fan of all the seasonal menus, especially the Sugar Cookie Latte off the winter menu. Friend loves Starbucks so dearly because it’s always a safe bet for her. She finds comfort in “knowing [her] order every time.” It’s safe to assume that the classic pumpkin is consistently a favorite amongst all.
With such a large number of students at OHS who regularly go to Starbucks, more insight into other perspectives is important. The response to the question: pumpkin or apple, was clearly given by Elsen and Friend with the winner being pumpkin. Interviewing two people doesn’t answer for all the Starbucks lovers though. To give your opinion, fill out the survey above!
