Pumpkin Spice Season: My Fall Must-Haves

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I have a complicated relationship with pumpkin spice. I love what it represents, the first real cool morning, the excuse to slow down, the whole “this chapter is starting” feeling, but I don’t love spending $7 and sitting in a drive-through line for it. So a few years ago I started building my own version at home.

Here’s what’s in my kitchen right now to make pumpkin spice season last longer than the seasonal menu does.

The syrup that makes it taste like the real thing

Most sugar-free or “healthy” pumpkin syrups taste like nothing. A splash of this in coffee or steamed milk and it’s genuinely close to the coffee-shop version.

Something to froth it with

I didn’t think a milk frother would change my life, but a good one turns regular coffee into something that feels like an event. This one works well and is pretty if you leave it out on your coffee bar.

The mug it all goes in

I think this striped mug is adorable. I love how it feels in my hand. Somehow the right mug makes the whole ritual feel more intentional instead of rushed.

And the candle that smells like it, minus the calories

There’s a whole new wave of pumpkin spice candles this year that lean more “espresso and caramel” than “pie filling,” a little more grown-up. This WoodWick Trilogy Café Macchiato candle nails it: three warm layers that melt together as it burns, so the scent actually changes throughout the day.

Pumpkin spice gets a lot of eye-rolls, but I’ve stopped apologizing for loving a season this much. If a $6 syrup and the right mug makes a random Tuesday in October feel a little more special, I’m in.

And if you are looking for a new espresso maker, this Nespresso is my favorite, it’s yellow, say less. To top it off, these pods will smell up your entire kitchen every time you make a coffee.

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