Starbucks Adds Chile Mocha To Fall Menu

The appearance of the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte on Starbucks menus might be the first official sign of fall, but this season that old favorite is being joined by some new hotness called the Chile Mocha.

"When we think about fall, often people think about warmth and spice, like cinnamon and apple pie," said Starbucks senior product developer MIchelle Sundquist in a press release. "We decided to take that idea in a new direction with chocolate and a bit of heat."

The Chile Mocha is made with espresso and steamed milk infused with cocoa and cinnamon powder, and cayenne and ancho chile pepper spices. The ancho chile pepper is a relatively mild pepper with a bit of spice and a sweet, fruity flavor that adds complexity to the pepper flavor, while the cayenne adds heat. The whole thing is topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with ancho and cayenne chile pepper, cinnamon, paprika, sugar, and sea salt.

The Chile Mocha is available as a hot drink and a Frappuccino. If it's ordered without the coffee, it becomes a spicy hot chocolate.

The Chile Mocha officially debuts on September 6, but members of Starbucks' rewards program who have "gold" status could have early access to taste the spicy mochas first.