Pumpkin Spice stages mini-revival – but more ‘Basic’ than ever

Pumpkin Spice stages mini-revival – but more ‘Basic’ than ever

  • FMCG
Alex Bryson 

6th October 2021

 

It's that time of year again.

 

 

Yes, Pumpkin Spice is back.

Back because Fall 2021 has seen a miniature revival in its fortunes. Social and search data reflect interest building again around the much-lampooned Starbuck's creation, as optimism and nostalgia flood nations taking tentative steps out of the pandemic.

 

 

Using Pulsar TRAC and TRENDS, we're able to chart how these cultural moments evolve over time. And one of the most striking things about the evolution of this particular trend is how very consistent Starbuck's share of voice is.

In each of the past four years, the percentage of posts to directly reference Starbucks has hovered between 6-8%. So strong is the coffee giant's brand, that the trend has remained closely identifiable with it even as the 'PSL' spawns its own subculture.

And most of those memes and jokes operate from the same starting point. Namely, that there's no actual pumpkin in a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but there is a Pumpkin Spice Latte in the hands of everyone 'basic'. 

It's a conception thats only becoming more entrenched.

 

 

'Basic' makes up a greater percentage of the conversation than it has done previously, with the ratio split between 'basic' and 'treat' up from 55-44 in 2018 to 85-15 in 2021 (to date).

However, only rarely is basic used in flat-out derogatory terms. For the most part, Twitter is full of individuals owning their 'basicness' and affirming what they like and who they are in the face of perceived mockery.

 

In that sense, the conversational slide towards 'basic' isn't necessarily a negative one, but rather signifies the growth of a self-deprecating strain of humor constructed around a single Starbucks product. 

But who is it making these remarks? 

Democratic dog-lovers lead Pumpkin Spice convo

For one thing, participants in this conversation are disproportionately likely to love dogs, follow Democrats and engage with mainstream 'nerd' culture, such as Marvel, Star Wars and NASA.

Digging a little deeper, beneath that first layer of cinnamon dusted froth, we see specific segments exhibit specific behaviors. Wrestling Fans, for instance, are most likely to factor the term into X-rated adult content, whereas Food/Beauty Lovers engaged en masse with a timely tweet: 

 

 

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