If hope springs eternal, autumn sprouts gourds aplenty, Thank heavens we put those gourds to good use. I'm on a mission to try a pumpkin spice latte from every vendor in Missoula and I've had the pleasure of sampling these five such drinks listed below while attesting to each experience here.

To be clear, there is no objectively "best" PSL in the city. To suggest otherwise would be smug and a discredit to the other vendors. To quote the oft-quoted psychophysicist Howard Moskowitz:

There is no such thing as a perfect Pepsi, there are only perfect Pepsis.

What he meant was that preference differs from person to person. In that spirit, I came to Drum Coffee on South Avenue in Missoula for my next trial run at autumn-flavored bliss.

Credit: Benny Edwin
Credit: Benny Edwin
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I could have gone to their other location on Broadway in East Missoula, but this one is closer to my apartment. Drum is a beacon of hope in the early morning. I noticed their inviting atmosphere first, and this sign second:

Credit: Benny Edwin
Credit: Benny Edwin
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Nice. The only other shop that does this in town is Break Espresso.

Credit: Benny Edwin
Credit: Benny Edwin
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The Price

I've been getting the 12oz PSL at every other location, however Drum serves up beverages in 10oz and 14oz, so we got to sample the $5.00 large. Comparatively, you get more bang for your buck versus some coffee shops in Missoula. See the previous articles below to compare for yourself.

Credit: Benny Edwin
Credit: Benny Edwin
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It would have looked even better for the 'Gram in a big ceramic cup, but I'm a binge pumpkin spice drinker on the go.

How It Tasted

The baristas gave me the option to have a little or a lot of the pumpkin sauce. I opted for a little, and if you do as well you'll get the same taste profile I did: a strong pumpkin taste that is sweet and pleasant but doesn't last long before the strong roast flavor takes over. Drum is the only coffee shop I've been to that sells its own brand of several different roasts, and their coffee aroma and taste are very present without more pumpkin puree to make it sweeter.

This was perfect for a daily black coffee drinker like me. Just enough autumn flavor to...spice it up.

Credit: Benny Edwin
Credit: Benny Edwin
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Many thanks, Drum Coffee!

Check out my other reviews of pumpkin spice lattes:

The PSL At Good Americano

The PSL at City Brew Coffee

The PSL at Break Espresso

The PSL at Cup Of Joy Stevensville

The PSL at Wheat Montana

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