Starbucks's New Chile Mocha Is Like PSL's Hot and Spicy Cousin

Fall at Starbucks obviously means the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it also means the arrival of a brand-new drink. This year, on Sept. 6, Starbucks is debuting the Chile Mocha, and it's like the PSL's hot and spicy cousin. Going in, I wasn't sure I'd like this drink. While I love spice, I didn't really think it had any place in my coffee. All up in everything else I eat? Yes, I'm into that. But when Mackenzie Karr, a Starbucks coffee and tea education specialist, told me the drink is reminiscent of a Mexican hot chocolate, I started to change my tune. I have no idea why I didn't think of that, but I was suddenly way more intrigued.

The Chile Mocha is definitely spicy, but it's not intense. Because the drink is topped with a spice blend of ancho chili pepper, sea salt, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne chili pepper, and sugar, you get that flavor right from the first sip. And while that blend sounds like there's a lot going on, it all melds together seamlessly to give you the heat without being too much. And what's even better is that the spice is present throughout the drink. It starts with a blend of cocoa and spice steamed with milk — maybe the brand-new almond milk? — and is then layered on top of espresso. It's topped with whipped cream and the spice blend to give it the spice from top to bottom. Whereas the PSL screams Fall because of the pumpkin flavor, the Chile Mocha gradually brings you into cooler weather. It doesn't dedicate itself to one season and could easily be enjoyed from now until next Spring. Hear that, Starbucks? We want this one to stick around for a while.