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As cooler weather returns and seasonal cravings kick in, fall is the perfect time for operators to roll out flavorful limited-time beverages. Whether you’re running a C-store, coffee shop, restaurant, bar, or college dining hall, tapping into fall flavor trends can elevate the guest experience, increase ticket size, and reduce menu fatigue. This season, five standout flavors are leading the way: Pumpkin Spice, Maple, Chai, S’mores, and Pecan. Each offers high satisfaction scores and versatility across both dispensed and made-to-order beverages.

Pumpkin Spice: The Fall Classic

Pumpkin spice continues to outperform expectations each fall, loved for its cozy, familiar appeal. According to Technomic, Pumpkin Spice Specialty Latte ranked 4th among Top LSR Hot Coffee LTOs by purchase intent, with a score of 1221.

How to Use Pumpkin Spice in Your Beverage Offerings:

  • C-Stores: Offer dispensed UPOURIA® or Cinnabon® Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino and pair with pumpkin-flavored bakery items to boost cart size.
  • QSR, LSR, FSR & Foodservice: Pumpkin Spice Syrup works across iced pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cold brews, pumpkin cold foam, and pumpkin-spiced hot cocoa with one added SKU.
  • Flavor Layering: Combine with Chai Syrup for a Pumpkin Chai Latte or Maple Vanilla Syrup for a Maple Pumpkin Cold Brew.

Maple: Nostalgic & Versatile

Maple delivers a comforting, elevated flavor that resonates with a wide audience. Technomic data shows Maple as a consistent fall flavor trend for LSR and FSR establishments2.

How to Use Maple Flavor in Your Beverage Offerings:

  • C-Stores: Dispensed Maple Vanilla Cappuccino drives seasonal sales.
  • QSR, LSR, FSR & Foodservice: Maple Vanilla Syrup is perfect in iced coffee, cold brews, frappes, or hot cocoa.
  • Restaurant & Bar: Restaurants and bars can create seasonal drinks like a Maple Vanilla Espresso Martini or Maple Old Fashioned.

Chai: Warm, Spiced, and Trending

Chai is gaining popularity as consumers seek globally inspired flavors. Technomic reports that Iced Chai is the #1 trending coffee beverage featuring flavored syrups at LSRs, with a 41% year-over-year increase in menu item incidence3.

How to Use Chai in Your Beverage Offerings:

  • C-Stores: Offer a dispensed Chai Latte for a quick seasonal favorite.
  • QSR, LSR, FSR & Foodservice: Build iced chai lattes, chai cold brews, or chai-infused hot cocoa with Chai Syrup.
  • Flavor Layering: Elevate with Pumpkin Syrup for a Pumpkin Chai Cold Brew or Maple Syrup for a Maple Chai Latte.

S’mores: Indulgent & Nostalgic

S’mores flavor hits the nostalgia sweet spot, combining chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker for comforting indulgence. Datassential reports that over 57% of consumers are drawn to nostalgic flavors like s’mores, cookie dough, and banana pudding4.

How to Use S’mores Flavor in Your Beverage Offerings:

Pecan: Nutty, Buttery, and Highly Flexible

Butter Pecan brings rich, nutty flavor that complements any fall menu. Technomic recognized Sweet Butter Pecan Cold Brew as a best-in-class LTO, citing its high purchase intent, unique flavor profile, and traffic-driving capability5.

How to Use Pecan Flavor in Your Beverage Offerings:

  • Menu Layering: Combine with Pumpkin for a Pumpkin Pecan Latte or Maple for a Maple Pecan Cold Brew.
  • C-Stores: Offer Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon Cappuccino and pair with bakery items to boost cart size.
  • QSR, LSR, FSR, Foodservice: UPOURIA Butter Pecan Syrup is perfect for iced coffee, cold brew, or hot coco. Transform any beverage into a seasonal treat!

Boost Sales This Fall

These top-performing fall beverage flavors are more than seasonal trends, they’re tools to drive excitement, loyalty, and revenue across formats. Whether through dispensed formats, or made-to-order beverages, operators can leverage Pumpkin Spice, Maple, Chai, S’mores, and Pecan to deliver flavors customers crave while increasing ticket size.

Ready to elevate your fall menu? Explore our beverage solutions and contact us to bring these trending flavors to your menu

Sources:

  1. Technomic Ignite Menu consumer-rated LTOs data, Q4 2023 – Q2 2025
  2. Technomic, Inc, Dish, 2024
  3. Technomic Ignite Menu National Food Trends Data, Q4 2023 – Q4 2024
  4. QSR Magazine, LTOs Satisfying Sweet Tooths Across Dayparts, https://www.qsrmagazine.com/sponsored_content/ltos-satisfying-sweet-tooths-across-dayparts/
  5. 2025 Technomic Ignite Menu, Current Trends in Beverage LTOs, 2025 Beverage Navigator Spotlight #1

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