The Water Behind a Pumpkin Spice Latte

It’s fall—whether the temperature outside feels like it or not. As much as we love to promote drinking water (because, after all, we are award-winning), we know that between hydrating sips you might indulge in a seasonal treat—possibly the ever-popular pumpkin spice latte.

It’s no surprise that without water we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this fall favorite. But how much water actually goes into that cup of autumnal bliss?

Every one of us creates something called a water footprint each day. According to the Water Footprint Network, it’s the amount of water used to make the goods and services we consume—for example, a PSL. Simply put, your water footprint matters because water is a limited resource, and we want to protect it for ourselves and future generations.

Getting to that final sweater-weather sip we need coffee beans; those require a lot of water. Far more than you might think. For just one cup of coffee, it takes about 34 gallons of water. That’s equal to half of a bathtub of water. Where does all that water go? It’s used to irrigate coffee plants, wash beans, and even in the drying process. And that’s just for one cup of coffee.

And wait—pumpkin spice seasoning doesn’t come free. Add in the milk, the spices, and even cleaning the espresso machine, and the water footprint grows.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t drink coffee or avoid pumpkin spice altogether. It’s simply a reminder that water is one of our most precious resources, and it affects us daily. So go ahead, sip that pumpkin hug in a mug—but remember, every drop counts. Check out our Water Conservation and Efficiency tips to see how you can make a difference at home here.