The first day of fall is technically Saturday, Sept. 22. But we all know that the onslaught of fall-inspired paraphernalia starts showing up long before the leaves actually begin to turn (I’m looking at you, pumpkin display at Kroger), and Starbucks never fails to be one of the first to declare summer over.
This year, the coffee chain’s pumpkin spice latte — ever heard of it? — will hit cafes on Tuesday, Aug. 28. The sweet, espresso-based beverage featuring “notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove” has become available earlier and earlier each year; the release date in 2015 was Sept. 8, and it has crept up with each successive year.
A tall pumpkin spice latte with whole milk and whipped cream comes in at 330 calories and 75 milligrams of caffeine. Pro tip: If you want it to taste like an actual latte instead of a milkshake with someone whispering “coffee” in your ear, try it with just one pump of the syrup. It’s also pretty delicious served cold, if you can get past the cognitive dissonance of slurping down a pumpkin-flavored beverage when it’s 90 degrees outside.