I live in New England, where summers are short and mostly mild. Still, by the time August comes around, I’m hankering for Maine fall, and national coffee chains are always happy to oblige. Usually, brands such as Starbucks and Dunkin' race to be the first to put out their fall displays and release cinnamon-laced beverages that are barely reminiscent of coffee.
For two decades, the autumnal juggernaut known as the PSL (pumpkin spice latte) has reigned supreme (you can read our taste test of PSLs here). But this fall, these brands have embraced a new flavor to lace their concoctions, both coffee laden and not: apples! Starbucks announced both the hot and iced Apple Crisp Macchiatos, with espresso, apple-flavored sweetener, a toffee-like “caramel apple drizzle,” and the milk product of your choice. Not to be out-appled, Dunkin went the coffee-free route, announcing the Iced Caramel Apple Cider. I decided to give them both a taste to see if they were worth it.
