Baristas Are Already Forming Online Support Groups to Prepare for the Onslaught of Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Sounds like autumn is a pumpkin-flavored pain in the a** for these baristas.
We know, OK? We know. It’s August. You’re still in summer mode. You’re thinking about the beach or the pool. You’re not thinking about autumn. You’re not thinking about leaves changing color or temperatures cooling off. And you’re certainly not thinking about pumpkin spice lattes. It’s TOO early.
But it doesn’t matter. Because no one can stop the Pumpkin Spice Express. It arrives whenever it wants.
And whenever it wants is soon, apparently. Starbucks locations across the country are beginning to receive their pumpkin spice syrups in preparation for September’s kickoff, which GrubStreet reports has led to baristas commiserating/lending support to one another on the r/Starbucks subreddit.
Their frustrations are easy to understand. Over the Pumpkin Spice Latte's 11-year existence, Starbucks estimates that more than 200 million PSLs have been sold. Which by any account means baristas are making ungodly numbers of the fall drink every shift they work between September and November.
But surprisingly, not every barista is upset about it. Many point out that PSLs actually take considerably less time to make then many other seasonal drinks.
Others are taking it a step further and actually embracing the return of the PSL—and the craziness that comes with it. One barista posted a sign they spent five hours creating in anticipation of the popular drink's return:
Whatever side of the fence you're on, you better enjoy the last few weeks of summer while they last. Because pumpkin spice mania is almost here.
