A Pumpkin Spice Quest: Crowning the Ultimate Seasonal Drink of Medicine Hat

The pumpkin spice latte, or PSL if you will, is a drink highly anticipated and adored by many. Though that is stereotypically white women, I believe the PSL is a delicious seasonal drink that everyone can enjoy.

Recently, I noticed that there is no one perfect recipe for a PSL, and just like snowflakes, no two seemed to be the same. One leans more toward spice, while another is heavier on the pumpkin. This made me curious about the differences in the PSLs offered by every cafe in town. Yes every cafe, which happens to be ten in total. Yes, ten. But now, you may wonder, who would be crazy enough to risk their health, well-being, and maybe even their sanity to try ten pumpkin spice lattes?

Well, that would be me (and a very supportive friend). So, strap in as I take you on my journey of guzzling latte after latte of seasonal spiciness to find the one and only "Best PSL in Medicine Hat!"

Zucchini Blossom Market & Café

My first stop on this peculiar quest was Zucchini Blossom. A favorite of mine for their fantastic sandwiches and soups. Their latte, however, left a bit more to be desired. 

The presentation was nice, complete with a little latte art, even though it was in a to-go cup (a nice touch). However, I found it very milky and watery, leaving the pumpkin and spice flavors washed away in the background. Despite this, I would recommend it as a very beginner-friendly latte, especially for someone who loves a milky coffee and wants to try dipping their toes into the PSL waters.

My Rating: 4/10

Friend's Rating: 5/10

Station Coffee Co.

Next up was the wonderful, well-known, and well-loved Station. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by Station's latte. It wasn't overly sweet or too bitter, and had a good balance of coffee and milk. I could taste the notes of pumpkin and the spice, and overall, it was a very enjoyable experience to drink. However, the aftermath was a different story.

I am aware that mixing pumpkin and spices with coffee and milk isn't the most stomach-friendly combination. But Station's PSL really did a number on me, in a way that none of the other lattes did. So, even though the taste was worth the aftermath, I had to deduct some points for that.

My Rating: 8/10

Friend's Rating: 9.5/10

nosh.

A fairly new and unique downtown cafe serving a variety of "Kawfees" and "Kokteyls" (their spelling). But I was there for one drink only, and one interesting drink I did indeed get. First off, their presentation was quite nice, with a quote written on the outside of the cup, "the best is yet to come" (bonus points for that). Though, unfortunately, the latte was not the best which was coming. 

It's hard to describe the exact taste of nosh's PSL because it was like no drink I have ever had before. It was very milky and watery, with a strong herbal spice flavor. Like traditional pumpkin spice mixed with... lavender? I’m unsure if it did contain tea, but the taste was a unique combination of herbal tea and coffee.

It wasn't my favorite, but after sipping on it for a while and getting over my initial confusion, it did start to grow on me. If you're looking to try something more unique that still gives those cozy fall vibes, I would recommend giving this a try.

My Rating: 4/10

Friend's Rating: 3.5/10

Country Crumbs Bakery & Cafe

Next up was Country Crumbs, my go-to spot for cronuts (if you haven't tried them yet, I seriously recommend doing so immediately).

Though their drinks menu is on the smaller side, they still had a PSL. The taste of their latte was quite unexpected. It smelled like strong espresso and tasted like it too, like an Americano. There wasn't much spice or pumpkin flavor, only a faint aftertaste. 

Also this one really got my heart pumping, although to be fair, I was four lattes in, but I hadn't felt the caffeine much until trying the Country Crumbs PSL.

If your go-to drink is an americano, but you still want to embrace the fall spirit by ordering a PSL, this is the drink for you.

My Rating: 2/10

Friend's Rating: 3/10

Poolhouse Cafe & Roastery

Poolhouse, formerly known as Madhatter Coffee Roastery, is a newly renovated cafe with a PSL that didn't disappoint. While it was technically a "pumpkin pie latte," I consider that close enough.

It was creamy with very prominent pumpkin and spice flavors, precisely what you would want from a pumpkin pie latte. It was slightly on the sweet side for my taste, but perfect if you want the experience of drinking an iconic fall dessert.

My Rating: 8/10

Friend's Rating: 8/10

Cafe Verve Inc.

Cafe Verve, like Poolhouse, offered a unique take on the seasonal classic, with a “pumpkin pie latte”. The presentation was very nice, with whipped cream and seasonally appropriate orange sprinkles. 

What I found really enjoyable in this latte was the balance of sweetness. It wasn't overly sweet, and didn’t lack the comforting, dessert-like quality you’d want in a pumpkin pie latte. While it wasn't as heavy on the spice as I'd like, again, it was a pumpkin pie latte, not a pumpkin spice latte. So the lack of spice was understandable.

My Rating: 8/10

Friend's Rating: 7/10

MT Nest Cafe & Market

MT Nest, a relatively new addition to the cafe scene with a beautiful pink interior. Their PSL was fairly standard with a good balance in terms of sweetness. However, it was slightly on the milky side, which isn't my preference. It also lacked that hint of real pumpkin taste that I enjoy.

But what caught my attention the most was the slightly smoky aftertaste it had, which I am unsure of was intentional or not.

My Rating: 6/10

Friend's Rating: 6/10

Ooh la la! Coffee Shop

Ooh la la, a small Parisian-themed cafe, did live up to its name by delivering a truly delightful and flavorful PSL experience. It was an interesting adventure of the senses, offering a unique blend of spices that gave a twist to the classic pumpkin spice. The spices were fairly strong and overpowered any pumpkin taste, though it was still flavourful enough that I didn’t really mind.

It's a perfect choice for those who appreciate the bold, spicy side of a pumpkin spice latte, and want to try something new.

My Rating: 8/10

Friend's Rating: 6.5/10

Homestead Market

Homestead Market, a market and cafe located near the airport, really surprised me with their latte. I hadn't visited them much, only a couple of times, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But their PSL truly stood out.

The presentation was great, featuring whipped cream and the perfect blend of pumpkin spice and coffee flavor. Even though I was already eight lattes in, I easily drank the whole thing and honestly wished I had gotten a larger size.

What also made the experience even more memorable was the super nice barista who crafted this amazing latte, proudly showing me the beautiful presentation of whipped cream topped with cinnamon before she had to cover it up with the lid. I also really enjoyed that one of my favorite quotes was written on the outside of the cup, "progress not perfection."

If you want an amazing fall drink experience, do yourself a favor and visit Homestead Market.

My Rating: 10/10

Friend's Rating: 9.5/10

The Copper Leaf Cafe

Finally, my last stop was Copper Leaf Cafe, nestled in the Gaslight Plaza, and a favorite go-to place of mine for their amazing dill pickle grilled cheese. Their PSL was creamy and milky, and I was glad to find out it was made with real pumpkin! I could definitely taste the difference.

While it perfectly captured the pumpkin essence, the spice level was pretty subdued, making it a mellower PSL overall. If you want more authentic pumpkin flavor with a subtle hint of spice, this is definitely a latte to try.

My Rating: 7/10

Friend's Rating: 6/10

And now... (drumroll please), I present to you my final ranking and favorites in the categories of Most Classic, Most Unique, Best Spice, Best Pumpkin, and Best Overall.

Most Classic: Station Coffee Co.

Sometimes you just want a nice, predictable, balanced, delicious PSL, and Station's latte was just that.

Most Unique: nosh.

While it wasn't my favorite PSL, it did start to grow on me, and it was undoubtedly the most unique.

Best Spice: Ooh! la la Coffee Shop

I really enjoyed the flavor of this latte and how it paid homage to the iconic classic PSL, while still giving it its own unique spin.

Best Pumpkin: The Copper Leaf Cafe

It's probably no surprise that Copper Leaf’s latte, with real pumpkin, is definitely my pick for the best pumpkiny flavor.

Best Overall: Homestead Market

This PSL was a delightful experience in every aspect, and the light at the end of the tunnel on my latte-tasting journey. I really can't recommend it enough.

My Final Ranking

(Favorite to Least Favorite)

1. Homestead

2. Station Coffee

3. PoolHouse

4. Ooh la la

5. Cafe Verve

6. MT Nest

7. Copper Leaf

8. Zucchini Blossom

9. nosh

10. Country Crumbs

While I may not ever want to look at another pumpkin spice latte again, I can say this quest was a very fun, unique experience, from which I surprisingly learned a lot. And I hope you did as well.

Now, onwards! I encourage you to have a PSL quest of your own and celebrate Halloween by exploring which cafe’s latte sounded the most appealing to you, or try all ten! Though, I don’t recommend trying them all in one day.