A pumpkin spice latte is a delicious beverage that many people can’t get enough of. It is made with ingredients such as milk, whipped cream, espresso, and pumpkin spice topping, which is a blended mixture of ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.

One of the best things about a pumpkin spice latte is that you can adjust the Pumpkin Spice Skinny Syrup in your at-home coffee if the regular blend isn’t your thing. On the other hand, you can easily elevate the taste of a pumpkin spice latte by adding an extra pump of pumpkin sauce to your latte to give it a heavenly taste; however, too many pumps of pumpkin sauce can make the drink too sugary and add to the number of calories in a pumpkin spice latte. 

Ideal Number of Pumpkin Pumps

Generally, the number of pumps varies depending on the size of your pumpkin spice latte, the barista making your drink, as well as your personal preference. For instance, a tall size at Starbucks gets three pumps of pumpkin sauce, while a grande gets four pumps of pumpkin sauce and a venti gets five pumps. When it comes to pumps of pumpkin syrup added to pumpkin spice latte, less can be better. Less syrup means you will consume fewer calories, and if you decide later it’s not enough flavor, you can always ask for more. 

For instance, three pumps of pumpkin syrup will give your drink approximately forty grams of sugar, which is not too bad. If you are buying your pumpkin spice latte at the coffee shop, you can ask the barista to use two pumps of pumpkin syrup, or you can even opt for one pump–this is the one way to keep up healthy eating habits while maintaining the delicious flavor of your favorite seasonal drink.  

Is Pumpkin Syrup Used for a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Coffee shops normally use pumpkin syrup to make their pumpkin spice latte, as this is what gives the pumpkin spice latte that quintessential pumpkin flavor. It also gives it its distinctiveness–the syrup is made using sugar, pumpkin puree, water, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. In the past, Starbucks used to make pumpkin syrup using artificial pumpkin flavors, but as complaints continued to rise and people started asking if pumpkin sauce is the same as pumpkin syrup, Starbucks started to use real pumpkin puree to make their syrup. 

How to Enjoy a Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte 

It is no secret that a pumpkin spice latte is a delicious beverage, but if it has excessive sugar and calories, it won’t be good for you. Here’s how to lower your sugar and caloric intake without sacrificing your favorite flavors:

1. Limit the Pump

While pumps of pumpkin syrup can elevate the taste of the pumpkin spice latte, too much of the syrup can make the latte very sugary. So, it is best to limit the number of pumps–the ideal number of pumps for a pumpkin spice latte should be three, and you can ask the barista to serve you one or two pumps to make the pumpkin spice latte healthier.

1. Skip the Whip

You can also skip the whipped cream–heavy whipping cream might make the drink tastier, but it also has a lot of sugar and preservatives. 

1. Order a Tall

Lastly, you can opt for a smaller size instead of a grande or venti. A Starbucks size tall will have approximately fifty milligrams of sodium, twelve grams of sugar, and ten milligrams of cholesterol. You will still enjoy the taste of the pumpkin spice latte, but without the extra sugar and calories. 

When it comes to pumps of pumpkin sauce, less is definitely more. Otherwise, you may end up consuming too many calories–which can be unhealthy, especially if you’re watching your diet. By moderating the number of pumpkin sauce pumps in your latte, you can have the peace of mind needed to fully enjoy your favorite cup of seasonal brew.