As temperatures fluctuate between warm days and cool nights, Auburn University students are embracing the fall season with a variety of autumnal treats and drinks offered at local cafes.
Auburn’s coffee scene offers a variety of fall treats, from warm pumpkin spice lattes to cozy pastries. Well Red: Second Story, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers and Coffee Mafia are serving their fall menus for those willing to embrace the changing of the seasons.
Kendra Webb, head baker at Well Red: Second Story, shared her love for fall treats and the inspiration behind crafting their fall menu.
Webb shared that once the seasons change, there is nothing like having a nice cup of tea paired with a sweet treat. The fall menu at Well Red: Second Story aims to fulfill the autumnal palette of their customers.
The pumpkin syrup made in-house is a popular choice amongst customers. Webb explained that the simple syrup is steeped with whole spices like cinnamon, clove, allspice and ginger then mixed with a pumpkin puree to fully encapsulate all the fall flavors.
“For fall drinks, pumpkin is huge. People will order chai with pumpkin or a cold brew latte with pumpkin, and those are super popular,” Webb said.
For those looking for specific recommendations, Webb’s favorite drink is the Pumpkin Mocha Oat Latte.
For those who might want to branch out from the traditional selection of pumpkin-inspired drinks, Webb recommended the Apple Cider and Caramel Apple Pie Tea.
“We just got a new tea in for the fall. It’s our caramel apple pie tea, it’s a black tea with ginger apple,” Webb said.
She played a large role in crafting the fall menu of baked goods for the cafe. The menu consists of pumpkin streusel muffins, pumpkin pie bars and a pumpkin cheesecake.
Pumpkin pie cheesecake featured at Well Red: Second Story on Oct. 10, 2024.
“The pumpkin streusel muffins are made from a blend of fall spices, filled with a pumpkin puree and topped with streusel,” Webb said.
The pumpkin pie bar contains a gluten free chocolate crust, pumpkin pie filling and is topped with cinnamon whipped cream. Similarly, the pumpkin cheesecakehas a gluten-free base and is loaded with pumpkin flavor along with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove.
All fall menu items are available through November. If a customer is craving a fall treat after the season ends, Webb recommends the snickerdoodle.
Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers is also serving up a cozy atmosphere with their fall-themed menu.
“Our Graves Glen Latte is dark mocha with maple spice and pumpkin,” said Robin O’Bryant, events coordinator at Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers. “It’s been really popular.”
O’Bryant explained that the latte’s name is based on the fictional town of Graves Glen from “The Ex Hex” series, which was written by Auburn local Rachel Hawkins.
The shop also has seasonal baked goods from Boulangerie French Bakery in Auburn, including a pumpkin loaf and cranberry orange scone.
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Another local coffee shop that is close to campus and popular amongst students is Coffee Mafia. Barista Gabby Gary introduced their fall flavors.
Gary noted a popular fall item called the Appletini, where customers can customize their teas from the vast tea selection at Coffee Mafia. The drink is made of half apple juice and half of whichever tea the customer chooses.
Gary urged customers to ask the baristas to smell the teas available to get a better sense of what they’re buying.
“I love the pumpkin chai tea. [There is] also one called Bonfire Nights, it’s like a smoky fall tea,” Gary said.
For those who aren’t fans of coffee, Gary shared a DIY fall drink inspired by the cafe’s own Red Bull mixers. She recommended pairing chai with a cinnamon-flavored Red Bull for an at-home fall experience since Coffee Mafia does not carry the cinnamon flavor.
The cafe also offers a selection of baked goods to pair alongside these fall drinks.
“We have a chai scone and an apple cinnamon scone. We technically have those all the time, but they are definitely highlighted during fall,” Gary said.
Coffee Mafia offers three fall-inspired syrups — pumpkin, caramel apple pie and brown sugar cinnamon — that can be used in a multitude of drinks, perfect for customizing one’s personal coffee order. Their fall flavors are available until supplies run out.
As the leaves begin to change and the air grows crisp, Auburn’s vibrant coffee scene offers a warm embrace. With a variety of fall-inspired drinks and treats, these local cafes are inviting the community to savor the season.
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Sam Vise, senior in journalism, is the assistant culture editor for The Auburn Plainsman. She has previously served as a culture writer and community reporter.
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