Wednesday, September 14, 2011

On Pumpkin Spice Frappuccinos

I was tired.

Maybe even too tired to enjoy shopping at Target.

I know.

Le gasp.

It’s just, some days drag on more than others. And this day was definitely dragging on.

I yawned as I touched the belts in front of me. I wanted to find a nice belt because I had read that belts accentuate your pants. Or something. I’m not really into fashion. I thumb through my Redbook that comes in the mail each month and try to follow some of the fashion advice but this doesn’t always go over so well. Sometimes the magazines want me to believe that wearing ultra furry boots is the THING. No thanks. I’m not going to go out wearing something that looks like my cat has been skinned.

I found a belt I thought I liked—and then I saw the price. $26. For a belt. Then I saw it was made of real leather but still. I plucked that belt back and found one for $6.99 that looked and felt pretty much the same as the overpriced one.

I did perk up a bit when I found school supplies at 75% off. I got a few notebooks—one with a picture of kittens on the front because awwwww….

It was nice to be able to shop in peace. Both kids were in school so I didn’t even have to look at the toy aisles. I could look at the bra section without someone going, “This one is big enough to put my HEAD in the cup!”

I headed for the checkout and after I paid I dug through my purse to find my keys.

“Here’s a free sample!” I heard a perky voice say in front of me.

I glanced up and saw a young girl clad in a green Starbucks apron with a splash of freckles across her checks. She was holding out a small plastic cup with a perfect ring of whipped cream on top.

“Uh?” I answered.

I think I baffled her. She’s probably used to people gushing with excitement over free samples.

“Free sample!” she repeated. Slowly this time so I’d be sure to comprehend what she was saying.

“Thank you,” I began. “But I don’t like coffee.”

I expected the entire store to gasp in surprise.

Instead the barista gave me a big smile. “You’re in luck. This is a pumpkin spice FRAPPUCCINO so there IS no COFFEE!”

(Clearly she had been sampling the coffee drinks though.)

I hesitantly reached for the cup. What if she were lying?

“There is NO COFFEE,” the barista vowed again.

I brought the straw to my lips and took a tiny sip. I expected to wince in disgust.

But…

…instead my mouth started to sing.

The drink was fabulous. It was like I was swallowing pumpkin pie.

“I love this,” I gushed.

The barista smiled, happy that she had the proper reaction out of me. “See? Delish!”

I stared at the cup. “So in the future, I just ask for the pumpkin spice frappuccino?”

She nodded. “Yup. Just stress no coffee because some workers might accidentally give you the latte. Which tastes like coffee.”

I finished my sample quickly. I was very close to ordering a big one to go.

But I’m trying to watch what I eat. And drink, in this case. (TRYING.)

Then again, how fatty can it be?

It’s pumpkin, right?

(But seriously, if you don’t like coffee but love pumpkin pie, go to Starbucks and ask for a pumpkin spice frappuccino.)


(I was not compensated by Starbucks for this post but if they want to pay me to try frappuccino drinks, I’d do it…)

43 comments:

  1. I love the Pumpkin Spice Latte and I'm not a coffee person and my new love is the Salted Caramel Mocha Latte, sweet happiness in a green and white paper coffee cup is that some amazing stuff!

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  2. In and odd way your post made me think of UP ... the animated flick with the old man and the balloons. NO COFFEE ... somehow I envision the little fat kid the dogs kept calling a small mail man saying that.

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  3. Oh I can't wait to go to Starbucks now! I love their pumkin spice drinks but didn't know they were back yet. YUMMMMMMMM

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  4. My favourite is the Pumpkin Spice Latte. But I keep meaning to try the salted Caramel one that everyone is talking about.

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  5. It took me a long time to like coffee... Frappuchinos helped with that. I do love the pumpkin spice latte, though :)

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  6. Yeah, definitely emphasize no coffee. Down here, a pumpkin spice frap has coffee in it (not a strong coffee flavor, but enough caffeine), and a pumpkin CREAM frap is coffee-free.

    Seconding the vote on the salted caramel mocha fraps...I had, like, five in Seattle this past weekend. It was ridiculous.

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  7. Do they do one in either a cider or wine flavour??

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  8. I haven't tried that one but I'd want the coffee in mine. If I'm gonna consume the calories, I want the caffeine to go with them!

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  9. i don't like pumpkin.. but hubs does, i must remind him to try this.. i think he'd LOVE!!

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  10. Really? Really and truly? I do not like coffee either (LOVE the smell, hate the taste...I don't get it either). But I LOVE LOVE anything pumpkin spice, as long as it well, you know, has no coffee.

    I must try one now that you've educated me on the fact that frappuccino means no coffee. Or I'll blame you when I become addicted to it and my husband demands I enter rehab.

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  11. I absolutely love the comment, "Then again, how fatty can it be?

    It’s pumpkin, right?"
    Cracks me up! If the public only knew how many calories!! But they are good.

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  12. i'll take coffee anyway it comes ;)

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  13. i'll take coffee anyway it comes ;)

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  14. Target for women is like a hardware store for men.

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  15. How very timely. I just had my first ever Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks yesterday while visiting our local Barnes and Noble. It didn't knock my socks off, tasted too much like coffee!!! Guess I will be going back for the frappucino. :)

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  16. This reiterates why I love my online shopping!!! Great post. Love your writing.

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  17. I love it when EVERYTHING goes to pumpkin and spice flavors for the autumn. Yum!

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  18. I need to try this, because I HATE coffee, and I didn't know frappuccino didn't have any! So excited about this!

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  19. Not every frappucino doesn't have coffee, as an fyi to your readers. ;) This post totally makes me want one, now, though. Whatever kind. I don't drink coffee, but sometimes I have caved and bought the Stbx fraps in the bottles, and those definitely DO have coffee. As do many of the frosty ones at the store, but yes. I would stress the no coffee part and enjoy. :P YUM. Did I mention I want one now? Yeah, I so do.

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  20. I love pumpkin anything. I love the Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks. I haven't tried the frappuccino though because I believe they are about 9.7 million calories per cup...

    And I am not big on fashion either. I wear belts if I need to keep my pants from falling off.

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  21. I am dying for a pumpkin spice latte. I do after all LOVE coffee.

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  22. I'm a straight-up black coffee gal myself. Never add a thing. But you've made me want to come to the dark - uh - light side. Cheers!

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  23. Sounds wonderful and very fattening! I had a quad mocha on my way to work for ten years. Now that I'm not working I limit myself to weekends. Still. What a delightful decadence!

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  24. Oh I am beyond excited that pumpkin spice lattes and frapps are back!!! I allow myself ONE a week. LOL. They are divine!!!

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  25. I was just at Target today and yes I did enjoy a nice pumpkin spice frappuccino light grande- so yummy !!! Love them, I need to get a part time job there cause I am racking up frappuccino debt. Blessings

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  26. I'm a coffee girl and LOVE Pumpkin Spice Latte!! It's my favorite. I love it when it comes back every year. I don't know why they keep it seasonal. I would drink it all year long.

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  27. Funny!!!
    I was on a BIG kick a few years ago with those gas station cappuccino's - the pumpkin spice. I was obsessed- and ANY size for 99 cents! OH! I was getting one every single day!
    OH MY!!!!!! At about one million calories and a million grams of sugar and fat!
    Now- I limit myself to ONE a year. Yes ONE!
    Have a pretty day!
    Kristin

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  28. i had a pumpkin spice latte today, yummy!! (that does have coffee). :)

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  29. I was too tired to shop at Target today too. But I did anyway.

    And I really thought frappuccinos had coffee in them. But then I don't know the difference between all the different drinks at all.

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  30. I'm drinking a pumpkin spice latte right now. So much for that diet. I'm trying also...

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  31. You know, I have never been to Starbucks. I think something must be wrong with me. I do like pumpkin pie, though. Hmmm...

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  32. Pumpkin spice hot chocolate is to die for. I had no idea there was no coffee in a frappuccino. Wow.

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  33. My grocery store just opened a Starbucks... and the barista asked my husband if he wanted a sample.. but not me... skank. Okay. I wasn't with him.. But still, I have never been offered a free sample. Rude. ;)

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  34. I don't like coffee either, but I'm still glad we don't have a Starbuck's here because the kids and I would be addicted to their double chocolate chip frappuccinos! That pumpkin one sounds sooo good too!

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  35. Sweet happiness in a green and white paper coffee cup is that some amazing stuff! Great post!

    Personal Trainer Mayfair

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  36. okay, odd question here, but I am from Canada and have no idea what a Target store is (although I did hear on the news last night that we are getting some)...could someone please fill me in? thanks :)

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  37. I hate coffee too but usually get the hot chocolate or the Caramel Spiced Apple drink (with whipped cream of course!). I might have to try the pumpkin frap!

    And by the way, some of us do have boobs/bras big enough to stick your head in the cup....and have had friends do so while in college. LOL.

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  38. Oh, I hate coffee too! The smell is divine, but the taste- bleck.

    I had no idea they made none coffee drinks at Starbucks!

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  39. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are my absolute favorite thing about Fall! And since I can't have caffeine anymore, I don't feel so bad getting a tall decaf latte--not so many calories right?

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  40. The Man is a huge fan of the pumpkin spice latte - with a ton of shots for energy, maybe?! I don't know - I've never figured it out. Glad you found a favorite!

    wm

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Thanks for the comment!

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