I SAY ‘autumn’, you say… ‘Pumpkin Spice Latte’!
Though summer isn’t quite over, high-street coffee chains like Starbucks, Costa and Greggs are already releasing their seasonal menus for fall – and there’s cosy hot drinks and warming spices galore.
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But with generous dollops of whipped cream, syrups and sauces, some of these beverages may be shockingly high in calories – nearing 500kcal.
They can pack quite the sugar punch too, with a single drink in some cases containing more sugar than a packet of biscuits.
We reveal this year’s most calorific autumnal high-street coffees, as well as tips to make them a little easier on the waistline if you do choose to treat yourself.
Weight loss provider Zava analysed the calorie and sugar count of seasonal menu items from some of the UK’s most popular coffee chains released so far.
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At the top of their chart with the most sugar and calories was Costa’s Maple Hazel Hot Chocolate.
A takeout cup of the drink, topped with maple sauce and whipped cream, packs in 456 calories.
It also contains 54g of sugar, 80 per cent more than the max of 30g of sugar the NHS recommends we consume daily.
You might think having a drink is better than eating a sweet treat – but this seasonal hot chocolate contains more than a whole pack of Digestive biscuits, while tallies up to about 46g of sugar.
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The 404ml drink also accounts for nearly 22.8 per cent of an adult’s daily recommended calorie intake.
Women are advised to consume about 2000 calories a day, while men can have about 2500.
Coming in second is Costa’s Maple Hazel Frappé, with 374 calories and 52g of sugar per 467ml serving.
Close behind is high-street favourite Starbucks’.
Its Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, topped with whipped cream and a spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, rounds out the top three at 368 calories and 47.4g of sugar.
The chain also sells an Iced Apple Crumble Matcha Latte, which comes in at number five on the list.
Containing apple flavoured sauce, then topped with apple flavoured foam and a crumble topping, a serving will see you consuming 328 calories and 35.6g of sugar – still above the recommended sugar limit.
The only other chain that’s released its seasonal drink menu so far is Greggs, which has brought out a Pumpkin Spice Latte with Salted Caramel Drizzle this year.
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A regular serving contains 214 calories and 27g of sugar.
Kathryn Basford, a doctor at ZAVA, said: “Seasonal drinks and sweet treats can be a delightful part of enjoying the autumn season, but many of these options are high in calories and sugar.
“For those focused on weight management, it’s important to be mindful of how often these indulgences are consumed, as even one high-calorie drink can make up a significant portion of your daily intake.
“Enjoying them occasionally is fine, but balancing them with a healthy diet and regular exercise is key to supporting weight loss goals.”
Melissa Jaeger, Head of Nutrition at MyFitnessPal previously explained that we should think of seasonal coffees such as these as treats – a ‘nice to have’, rather than an everyday diet staple.
“These likely would not be my top recommendation as an everyday beverage, but as an every-once-in-a-while [drink], certainly that’s okay,” she told Sun Health.
“At the end of the day it’s not one meal or one drink or one snack that’s going to break your progress towards your goal,” Melissa points out.
“But if we start incorporating these more frequently and we’re not paying attention to what the rest of our diet looks like, it can make it a little bit more challenging to reach those goals.”
According to Melissa, “it’s always good to be armed with some tips to still enjoy [seasonal drinks] while making progress towards your goals”.
This can include opting for a smaller drink size, adjusting how many calories you consume in a day after sipping on a sweet coffee, nixing cream toppings and asking for fewer pumps of syrup.
If you are watching your sugar intake this autumn but can’t resist a seasonal pick-me-up, an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks might be a better pick with just 192 calories.
This iced version of the festive favourite has 67 calories and 2.4g less sugar than the hot version.
Meanwhile, the Maple Hazel Iced Matcha from Costa has 206 calories and 26g of sugar.
A Starbucks spokesperson told Sun Health: “We are committed to helping customers make informed and improved choices that work for them.
“Since 2012, we have worked to reduce sugar content across our product range, resulting in the development of sugar-free syrups – vanilla, hazelnut and caramel, evolving our recipes to bring down the sugar content of drinks, such as reducing sugar by 34 per cent in our Frappuccino® Coffee base syrup, and by 14 per cent across our baked goods since 2018.
“The Autumn menu is a seasonal offer, intended to be enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle.
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“Customers can access all of our nutritional information online or via QR codes in store.”
The Sun has also contacted Costa and Greggs for comment.