Chestnut Praline Latte Vs. Pumpkin Space Latte

You've dreamed, wished, and waited — when on earth was Starbucks going to come out with a winter holiday drink that held a candle to its smashing Pumpkin Spice Latte? Well, that day may have arrived; Starbucks nationally released the Chestnut Praline Latte on November 12. Can this wintery holiday concoction stand up to its awesome autumn counterpart? What is showing up on #chestnutpralinelatte? How do they stack up, calorie-wise? This is the Chestnut Praline Latte vs. Pumpkin Space Latte showdown.

Round 1. Before the Pumpkin Spice Latte, pumpkins were those cute things you craved and Grandma made pies out of. They were a beloved tradition, but not the modern iconic gourds they are today. If you think about it, the chestnut is in the same boat the pumpkin was in, and thus is ripe for mega-star status; you may roast them over an open fire, but that's about it... but that may be about to change.

Round 2. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has its own acronym, the PSL. How does the Chestnut Praline Latte hold up? CPL; It's different, but in a good way.

Round 3. As we all know, the PSL is sugar-y, pumpkin-y, spice-y drink that has turned many into superfans, and turned some away completely. We've heard through the grapevine that the CPL is not as sweet, and has a nice "smokiness" and "nutty" flavor, which fits in great with the season.

Round 4. As much as the buzz of the PSL was gained by the sheer will of its many devotees (seriously, just look at all the #pumpkinspicelatte mentions), the CPL is the first "holiday handcrafted" latte to be released by Starbucks in five years. Considering that it was created two years ago, this drink seems to have been through more trails and tests than a FDA inspection. The hype is real!

Round 5. Calories. They're always our last thought (especially when standing on the scale), but how does the CPL match up to the PSL? Let's be kind and use the "short" (eight-ounce), made with nonfat milk and no whipped cream: yup, this is your extreme baseline folks. The PSL has been holding down the fort with 130 calories while the CPL comes in at 100 calories. Looks like, waist-wise, this one goes to the CPL.