Confession time: I’ve never had a Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). Raised by self-proclaimed “coffee connoisseurs” for most of my life, I have stood firmly on the “real coffee only” pedestal, convinced anything else was just a capitalistic marketing scheme. But, earlier this week I walked into Dunkin’ to pick up my regular latte. Upon the first sip, I was shocked—it wasn’t what I ordered, but surprisingly, it wasn’t horrible. Albeit accidentally, I had tried my first PSL, and now I was hooked. So, I started researching all of the local PSLs to determine if they were all as good.

Originally developed by Starbucks® in 2003, the PSL’s popularity quickly exploded, and over the past two decades Starbucks® has sold 424 million worldwide, according to CNBC. A classic PSL contains espresso, steamed milk, a blend of spices, and a pumpkin-flavored base. My review criteria includes balance of pumpkin and spice, espresso strength, aesthetics, and price.

First up was Dunkin’. Their PSL was a bold, syrupy rendition with heavy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg but little espresso or pumpkin flavor, basically a full dessert. Despite the reasonable price, this was a middling drink, earning three out of five stars.

Next, we have Glenview Grind’s Pumpkin Pie Latte. The coffee, the color, and price were reasonable, but the spice was not; its aftertaste was faintly curry-like and lacked quintessential fall flavor, earning two stars

Moving a outside Glenview to Winnetka, the next PSL was from Tala Coffee Roasters. Their PSL, advertised as made from pumpkin puree and a specialty spice blend, was fantastic. Their aesthetics were simple yet cute, and the taste of bitter and sweet was balanced. Tala Coffee Roaster’s PSL earned a five-star rating and was my personal favorite.

Continuing to delve beyond Glenview’s bounds, I tried W Coffee & Tea in Niles. Their Pumpkin Spice Cream Latte was sweet, yet sharp, with the coffee notes shining through. The spices were on point, but the pumpkin flavor itself took the backseat in this drink. Despite this, I  loved this PSL overall and gave it a four-star rating.

Last but not least: Starbucks®, the PSL monarch itself. The coffee was solid, the spice level was balanced, and the whipped cream on top made their presentation stand out. The flavor lingers, a reminder of why the craze started. This one is definitely the best PSL overall, earning a five star rating, though I personally prefer my coffee to be slightly more bitter. But this PSL remains a fan-favorite for a reason.

So, what did I learn from my caffeine-fueled pilgrimage? PSLs may be basic, but when done right, they are beautiful. I would recommend everyone to try a PSL at least once next season, and see what journey it takes them on.