Are Fall Drinks And Food Worth Trying?
By Shania Henery
The Buccaneer explores fall-inspired drinks and treats at cafes and bakeries near Barry University. Students share their opinions on which seasonal flavors are worth the price.
Once fall starts, cafes and bakeries begin bringing out flavors such as pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, chai and maple—even in sunny Miami. But for college students, is it worth spending $5-$10, or is it just about whether something looks good on your Instagram feed?
The Buccaneer sought out which cafes and bakeries near Barry University offering fall-inspired drinks and treats are a hard pass and which ones are worth the “hype.”
Pura Vida
Firstly, the most popular recommendation was Pura Vida’s pumpkin spice cloud latte located at 9801 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores. However, the reviews were mixed, depending on how the drink was ordered.
Some students said that when they ordered it with regular milk or oat milk, they tasted more cinnamon than pumpkin. Others preferred adding a little extra syrup because they wanted the drink to have a sweeter taste. This made the $7.95 to 13 drink seem more customizable, depending on what flavors the person prefers.
Carrot Express
Pumpkin spice isn’t limited to drinks. Carrot Express, located at 9802 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores, offers a pumpkin chai donut, combining two flavors that are commonly associated with fall. The donut is both dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a good option for students with dietary preferences who still want to enjoy a fall treat. According to students and staff who tried it, the donut has a warm, sweet, and spicy flavor, giving it the cozy taste associated with the autumn season.
Amelia Thomas, a psychology junior, is one student who tried the donut and said, “It was really sweet, but I could also taste the spices. It definitely tasted like fall."
Fall flavors don’t always have to mean pumpkin, though. Banana, cinnamon and brown sugar can also create that warm, fall feeling.
The Matcha Edit
The Matcha Edit, located at 6610 NW 15th Ave., Miami Shores, introduced its banana bread matcha—oh yes, you read that right: “banana bread matcha.” The $9 drink combines banana, cinnamon and brown sugar with matcha for a sweet and creamy flavor. It is topped with a velvet cold foam that adds an extra rich and sweet taste.
Starbucks
For students who prefer a familiar coffee chain, Starbucks at 9488 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores also has several new fall-inspired options. This season includes drinks such as the iced pumpkin cream shaken espresso, pumpkin spice chai and iced pumpkin cream matcha. All are priced at $10-$17.
Starbucks also offers an iced banana bread latte, giving students another option beyond the traditional pumpkin spice flavor.
Oh Mamma
Another Barry recommendation was Oh Mamma, an Italian bakery and café, at 210 NE 82nd St., Miami. Rather than focusing on mainly pumpkin, Oh Mamma offers flavors that can reflect the harvest season, including its apple cake for $4.95. The cake is made with fresh apples and gives students another option if pumpkin is not their favorite fall flavor. Additionally, not only do they offer pastries but chai and matcha lattes ranging from $6-$8.
Nayra Aguilar, a sophomore biology major, visited Oh Mamma and said, "I really liked the apple cake. It was sweet and had a nice flavor, so it felt like a different kind of fall treat."
Blackbird Coffee
Blackbird Coffee at 14200 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami Beach is a nearby location known for its hazelnut and vanilla latte topped with whipped cream and powdered cinnamon. It is called the Nut-Hut, which costs $5.95.
Fall flavors can also be unusual depending on where students are from. For some international students, flavors such as pumpkin spice — a staple in American fall harvest —may be something they are trying for the first time.
"I had never really tried pumpkin spice before coming to the U.S. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I actually like the warm and sweet taste," said Rolaury Rojas, a junior from Dominican Republic who is studying biology.
With prices ranging from around $5 to $10 for many of these items, students can decide which flavors are worth trying based on their taste and budget.
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