It’s the Great Pumpkin Spice Latte, Columbia!

With multiple Starbucks stores around the city of Columbia, it’s not hard to satiate that craving for fall coffee. Starbucks isn’t the only one getting festive this month, however; try out these four alternatives at different coffee locations in the city.

Drink: Pumpkin White Chocolate Mocha
Store: Caribou Coffee
Price: $4.45 for a large
For those who want to blend the fall taste of pumpkin spice with the holiday taste of white chocolate mocha, this is the drink for you. Just be aware that the largest size is a whopping 900 calories.

Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte
Store: Panera Bread
Price: $3.99
Panera’s latte is pretty identical to Starbucks’ drink of the same name, but only comes in one size. Still, this take on the fall favorite is only a bit more expensive than a tall Starbucks drink ($3.75). For a full pumpkin fix, grab one of their new pumpkin pie bagels with New York cheesecake spread.

Drink: Pumpkin Chai Latte
Store: Lakota Coffee
Price: $3.20
Lakota is a create-your-own kind of place, and barista Joanna Demkiewicz recommends ordering a pumpkin chai latte with pumpkin syrup. The chai gives it kick, but for more flavor order an additional douse of cinnamon. If chai’s not your thing, you can go traditional by simply asking for a “pumpkin latte.”

Drink: Maple pumpkin latte
Store: Kaldi’s
Price: $4.58 – $5.66
Kaldi’s take on the pumpkin spice latte may be the hardest on the bank account, but it’s also the most handcrafted. The baristas call it “pie in a cup” because instead of syrup they use a mixture of pumpkin pie filling, maple syrup and cinnamon syrup, and top off the entire thing with freshly shaved nutmeg.

Make-Your-Own Pumpkin Spice Latte

If you’re not interested in shelling out the cliché $5 for a cup of coffee, no matter how good it is, there’s always the make-your-own option. After a few trial runs, here’s a good single-serving recipe that can be made in the most personal coffee shop — your own kitchen.

It might not come in a Starbucks cup, but I think the orange is pretty darn festive.

Ingredients:
One cup strongly brewed coffee
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp canned pumpkin
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp brown sugar
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
All Spice

1. In a saucepan, combine milk, pumpkin, vanilla and a pinch of each spice. Heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture steams. (You can also whisk them all together in a microwaveable measuring cup).
2. Whisk the mixture until foamy, but be careful not to let it cool too much.
3. Pour the milk in with the coffee and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

For a variation, pour the whole thing over ice if it’s one of those 70-degree Missouri mornings. Also, you can make the milk mixture the night before and just heat it up to add it to your coffee the next morning as a pumpkin-flavored creamer.

Did we miss any? Leave your favorite pumpkin spice alternative in the comments so we know where to get our next autumnal coffee fix.

Recipe adapted from Matt Stopera’s recipe on BuzzFeed.com and RecipeGirl.com.