October coffee: a pumpkin spice alternative that is just coffee

The simplest pumpkin spice alternative is a plain cup of good coffee made a little warmer: No. 1 Common Sense with warm milk and brown sugar, No. 6 Hegemony as an overnight cold brew for the afternoon, and No. 4 Conjuncture as a bright pour-over when you want October to taste crisp. No syrup and no pumpkin, just coffee and what is already in your kitchen.

Which coffee fits which October mood?

How do you make a cozy cup without pumpkin spice?

Start with Common Sense. Its label notes already read like a fall pantry: cocoa, red apple and brown sugar. It takes milk without falling apart, so you do not need to add much to it.

1. Brew a pot by drip or French press at 60 g per liter, using water just off the boil.
2. Warm the milk on the stove or steam it. Do not boil it.
3. Pour the coffee first, then the milk, about half and half for a latte-style mug.
4. Stir in a small spoon of brown sugar if you like, and finish with a pinch of cinnamon from your own spice rack.

For the French press version, our 32 oz French press measures tell you how much coffee to weigh out.

If the mug is for the afternoon, use less coffee and more milk, and keep the sugar to a small spoon so the coffee still tastes like coffee. A larger batch for guests works the same way: scale the 60 g per liter up and keep the milk warm in a small pot on the lowest heat.

What about a cold afternoon option?

October afternoons can still be warm in much of the country. Hegemony is the bag we use for cold brew: low acidity, heavy body, very hard to ruin. Use 1:8 coffee to water by weight, coarse grind, steep overnight in the fridge or on the counter, and strain. Serve over ice or warm it gently for a smooth mug.

Because it is smooth rather than sharp, it also works as the base for a spiced drink: add milk, a little maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon.

Is there a good coffee for a crisp fall morning?

Conjuncture, from Othaya in Nyeri County, Kenya, grows at 1,700 to 1,890 m and is fully washed. The label notes are orange, lemon and floral. Brew it as a pour-over, a touch coarser than usual, at 94 °C (201 °F). Kenya is acidic on purpose. If it tastes sour rather than bright, grind finer. There is a full walkthrough in the No. 4 Conjuncture brewing guide, and tasting notes in what No. 4 Conjuncture tastes like.

If you want a cinnamon-flavored bag, No. 5 Canela is the one with a cinnamon roll note, and you can see it with the rest on the page of all ten coffees. September readers may also like the return of hot pour-over. For a bag that arrives on a schedule through the fall, our subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click.

FAQ

What can I drink instead of a pumpkin spice latte?

Brew No. 1 Common Sense, add warm milk and a spoon of brown sugar, and top with cinnamon from your spice rack. It gives you a cozy mug from coffee that already tastes of cocoa and brown sugar.

What is the best coffee for fall?

It depends on the mood. Common Sense for milky and warm, Hegemony for cold brew, and Conjuncture for a bright pour-over. All three are $28 for 12 oz with free US shipping.

Does cold brew work in October?

Yes, and it is easy to make ahead. Steep Hegemony at 1:8 overnight, then keep it in the fridge and pour it cold or warm it for a mug.

Pick the mood, pick the bag, and let October do the rest.