Get Your Fall Flavor Fix at These Local Coffee Shops

PHOTOS BY OLLIE GRATZINGER

As of Aug. 25, the pumpkin spice latte is officially back at Starbucks. The famed — or infamous, depending on your taste — drink is the harbinger of all things autumn, marking a shift away from summertime refreshers and teas in favor of something more suited to chilly mornings and mild afternoons.

However, Starbucks isn’t the only player in the fall flavor game, and the pumpkin spice latte isn’t the only taste of autumn worth celebrating. Here are a few local coffee shops that have a pumpkin-flavored or otherwise autumnal drink worth writing home about; give them a try this fall.

1: Biddles Escape | Wilkinsburg

PHOTOS BY OLLIE GRATZINGER

Biddles is the definition of a hidden gem. Tucked away in a residential corner of Wilkinsburg, this coffee shop embodies the energy of a cozy cafe and an eclectic estate sale all in one. It serves specialty toll-roasted coffee from 19 Coffee Company, located right in Pittsburgh, as well as a rotating food menu. There are also bits and bobs for sale, from art and sculpture materials to jewelry, pins and other collectibles. 

Biddles’ Brown Sugar Cloud drink combines autumnal flavors of a brown sugar cold foam with refreshing cold brew, making it a perfect choice for those early fall days when the sun is still shining strong. The shop also boasts an impressive collection of teas. Even if you’re not big on coffee, you can grab a warm masala chai or a soothing ginger root tea to get into the fall spirit.

2: Ruckus Cafe | Shaler and Downtown

With two locations — one Downtown and one north of the city in Shaler — Ruckus Cafe has a vast food and drink menu, serving up breakfast and lunch classics in addition to a monthly menu of seasonal specials. 

For September, Ruckus’ Shaler location is going all in. Its September drink menu includes a caramel apple latte, a nutmeg mocha latte and a cin-a-bun shaken espresso. Pair your favorite fall drink with the cafe’s featured snack, a sweet potato and black bean wrap, for autumnual eats all around.

There’s also fall flavor at the Downtown location, which often has a slightly different menu than the Shaler flagship cafe. If you find yourself out on Liberty Avenue in search of a little pick-me-up, pop into Ruckus for an apple pie chai or a blueberry pie shaken espresso with brown sugar cinnamon. 

3: Groove Coffee Co. | Murrysville and Mobile

GROOVE COFFEE’S ICED S’MORES LATTE, IN THE SHOP’S SIGNATURE CAN

Groove Coffee Co. started as a fleet of vintage coffee carts, often found at local festivals, events and outdoor markets. While its carts are still big hits around town, the company also opened a brick-and-mortar location in Murrysville, where it sells its flavorful specialty lattes in its signature plastic can. 

Nothing channels those chilly autumn nights quite like s’mores, and no one does s’mores quite like Groove Coffee Co. The s’mores latte comes with a warm-and-gooey toasted marshmallow on top and chocolate and marshmallow drizzle, making it a perfect choice for a fall drink. Even if s’mores isn’t your thing, the shop boasts a rotating monthly menu of specials and a wide range of syrup flavors on tap year-round.

4: Dragon’s Roast Cafe | West View

This West View staple is a must-see for self-proclaimed nerds and board game enthusiasts. It offers an extensive library of board games that can be rented or borrowed to play while you’re there, and it’s attached to the Game Masters board game store, so you grab a latte and a new parlor game all in one stop.

The shop’s themed drink menu is massive, paying homage to fun characters and creatures from the fantasy realm while embracing fall flavors like salted caramel, ginger and marshmallow in both espresso and non-caffeinated beverages. The Djinn-ger Spiced Latte is a fall favorite, savored by fans of warm, spiced flavors. 

5: Caffe d’Amore | Lawrenceville 

Located in Lawrenceville, this cafe prides itself in being a woman-owned safe space. Its ingredients are all sustainably sourced, and the atmosphere inside embraces the idea of a third space — a place where people can gather and hang out within their community.

Its pumpkin spice syrup is vegan-friendly and delightful, especially when paired with steamed oat milk for a warm, spiced latte. If your sweet tooth is calling out for more, you can even get your pumpkin spice latte made with chocolate milk from Pasture Maid Creamery in New Castle for a richer, sweeter drink.

Even in pumpkin spice isn’t your cup of tea (or, in this case, coffee), you can grab a maple or salted caramel latte for a standard fall flavor profile, or try something new: the cafe offers house-made syrup flavors that you might not find elsewhere, including black pepper cardamom and ancho chili.

6: A’Brewed Awakening | Aliquippa 

This little shop nestled in Aliquippa offers a popular pumpkin spice flavor that customers rave about. Stop by on a Friday for a selection of Oram’s donuts and cinnamon rolls — both of which pair delightfully with a warm pumpkin spice latte. 

For a more traditional coffee experience, try the Cafe Con Meil; it’s a latte or coffee (milk is optional) with vanilla and honey, topped with nutmeg and cinnamon. It packs a punch of fall flavor without the sweetness some coffee connoisseurs dislike about pumpkin spice. 

Local Chains

While these cafes may be a little bit bigger than the hyperlocal shops listed above, they still offer some delicious menu items that are worth checking out.

1: 7 Brew | Moon Township (Multiple Locations)

Fall is on the menu at this drive-thru only coffee chain. Swing by for some on-the-go brews, including its original pumpkin blondie breve, a caramel apple pie macchiato or an apple butter chai latte. For those who are looking for a coffee-free burst of flavor, check out the Drizzled Apple 7 Energy Frozen Chiller or a pumpkin roll shake. 

This chain has locations in Moon Township, Pleasant Hills and Washington, as well as others spread out across Pennsylvania and other states. I visited the locale in Moon Township and can confirm, it’s a great option for a fast cup of joe.

2: Commonplace Coffee | Mexican War Streets (Multiple Locations)

This local favorite announced, “PSL season is upon us” on its social media pages last week, reintroducing its popular house-made pumpkin syrup. Available at all eight of the cafe’s locations throughout Western Pennsylvania, the pumpkin syrup can be made into a hot or iced latte, or combined with chai for an autumnal favorite. 

My favorite Commonplace Coffee location is on the North Side in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood. Its interior is on the smaller side, but there is plenty of outdoor seating across the street, making it a perfect place to plop down on a crisp fall day.

3: Sheetz | Multiple Locations 

Yes, this is technically a gas station. But hear me out: Sheetz has been doing great things with its food and drink selection, and its extensive fall menu officially dropped on Sept. 2. 

The pumpkin chai can be enjoyed hot, iced or frozen. The pumpkin cold foam, made with protein milk, can be placed on top of any coffee the store offers, and the signature Pumpkin Sh’pice Canned Iced Coffee gives you the chance to bring your fall festivities home.

You can also snag one of three new fall milkshake flavors: Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cheezecake and Cereal Chiller. Pair a sweet drink with one of three new treats added to the fall menu: The Gimme Sh’more Snack Tray has marshmallow fluff topped with mini chocolate chips paired with graham sticks for dipping. The Sh’pice Cookie is a molasses-based cookie spiced with fall flavors, and the Blueberry Açaí Smoothie Cup blends dragonfruit, açaí, blueberries, vanilla Greek yogurt and chia pudding with 15 grams of protein and seven grams of fiber for a more health-conscious option.