If you’re an Autumn lover, you’re ready for the temperature to drop, the gloves to come out, and to enjoy the sweet taste of a Pumpkin Spiced Latte.
But we know hot drinks don’t come cheap, with Pret fans still mourning the loss of their subscription, and some cafes in London charging more than £5 for a cup of coffee.
But thankfully, the numbers have been crunched, and now, we know exactly where to go for that PSL, that won’t break the bank.
Where is this magical place, we hear you ask? Everybody’s favourite bakery has done it again, as Greggs serves the cheapest PSL on the high street.
At just £2.20 (yep, that’s 20p cheaper than last year), their regular pumpkin spice latte is not only a seasonal must-have but also an absolute steal.
In fact, it’s 53% cheaper than what you’ll pay at Pret A Manger and Starbucks, both at £4.65.
The research, conducted by SumUp, analysed this year’s autumn menus at the four leading coffee shops: Starbucks, Costa, Greggs, and Pret a Manger, to reveal which seasonal menu offers the best value for money.
At the pricey end of the spectrum, is Costa. They actually don’t serve a Pumpkin Spiced, instead offering drinkers a Maple Hazel Latte.
Costa’s maple alternative is 6% more expensive than the pumpkin spice offerings from Starbucks and Pret A Manger, and if you’re a regular Costa-goer, you’ll notice it’s also £1 more than last year’s starting price. Ouch.
It’s also worth noting, that while not included in the research, Caffè Nero also offers a PSL on the more expensive side, at £4.35. Meanwhile the beloved McDonald’s McCafe doesn’t serve a PSL.
It seems the UK was plunged into pumpkin spice fever even earlier this year, as many of the big coffee players launched their autumn menus as early as August.
Just two years ago, we were waiting until September to sip our spiced coffees, but clearly, the demand for cosy flavours is growing earlier every year.
And as well as having the cheapest PSL out of the big four, Greggs was also the only chain that dropped their price.
Meanwhile Pret’s PSL saw a 37% increase, and Costa’s jumped by 25%.
Bart Visser, POS Lite Mission Lead at SumUp, a card payment system company, explains, ‘Coffee shops in the UK can be expensive due to factors such as high operating costs, quality of ingredients and supply chain issues.
‘Seasonal menus frequently see a markup in price due to their special ingredients and limited availability. Customers are willing to pay a premium for these items, and seasonal menus often come with targeted marketing campaigns, themed decorations, and special promotions. These efforts can be costly, and businesses may recoup these costs through higher prices.’
So, as the autumn approaches, get Gilmore Girls lined up on Netflix, and head to Greggs for the most cosy drink of all.
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