Starbucks changes the Pumpkin Spice Latte formula

August isn’t half over, but we’re gonna talk about Pumpkin Spice Lattes anyway (maybe because we never really stop). Starbucks just dropped some intel that could decide whether the holiday season is doomed, or brighter than ever.

On the company blog today, Starbucks announced that “we took another look at this beverage and why we created it so many years ago.” Now, I usually get existential over a cup of coffee, but existential about a cup of coffee?

The good news is, after reading their Teavana leaves (and the grumblings of the Food Babe Army), the powers that be decided that the formerly pumpkin-free PSL will now have real gourd as part of its ingredients, while ditching caramel coloring.

The reason for the early announcement? “[W]ith recipes and ingredients starting to ship to our stores, the buzz is building.” Aside from the coffee pun, are you implying that baristas can’t keep a secret? Or that someone was bound to sneak a photo of the ingredients label as if it were the schematics to a new iPhone?

We’re just saying, don’t act like you’re doing us a favor by adding the ingredient that’s right in the name. That said, we’re excited but reserving judgment until the taste test.

Here’s the new ingredients list. Still no love for vegans, but they hate the finer things in life anyway.

Espresso
Milk
Pumpkin Spice Flavored Sauce (Sugar, Condensed Skim Milk, Pumpkin Puree, Contains 2% or Less of Fruit and Vegetable Juice for Color, Natural Flavors, Annatto (Color), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Salt)
Whipped Cream
Starbucks Vanilla Syrup
Pumpkin Spice Topping (Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove)