As October ends and winter’s chill lurks around the corner, Starbucks season is in full swing. Starbucks season is my personal name for this time of fall when the weather cools down and the drink orders heat up. Fall is a time for colorful leaves, cozy sweaters and the delicious seasonal drinks only offered by Starbucks at this time of year.

So even when you’re trekking to class on an icy fall morning, the harsh wind is whipping at your face, your nose is running, and your ears are numb – know that there is still hope. A warm latte from Starbucks is waiting. You can wrap your fingers around your steamy seasonal beverage of your choice, sip and enjoy. The flavors are festive, the coffee is rich and the options are endless. Get them while you can.

Nothing warms my heart more than those three magic words: Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can’t go wrong with espresso, pumpkin-flavored syrup, milk and pumpkin pie spices. I usually dash mine off with some cinnamon.

Sweet or bold? People are often torn between which way to go with their drink order. Starbucks’ newest addition, the Salted Caramel Mocha, offers the perfect solution for this dilemma. This innovative mix packs a punch of sweet and salty with espresso and steamed milk, blended with mocha sauce and toffee nut flavored syrup. It’s topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce and a mixture of turbinado sugar and sea salt.

For all you dessert-lovers out there, the Apple Crumble Latte will satisfy your sweet tooth with steamed milk, espresso and caramel apple spice syrup topped with crumbled-style pieces. I usually add some vanilla spice to the top of mine. The Toffee Nut Latte with crunchy toffee sprinkles and toffee nut syrup is a more obscure treasure and one of my full-bodied favorites.

If you are not into coffee, try the Tazo Chai Tea Latte with spiced black tea blended with steamed milk. Starbucks also offers a rich, sophisticated hot chocolate that is smoother than a Hershey’s Kiss.

Even though Starbucks keeps their seasonal “red cup” Christmas beverages secret until they are officially launched in early to mid-November, there are several drinks that have been produced during Christmas for the last 13 years. Here are some delicious classics that you can expect to make your holidays extra jolly this year.

The Eggnog Latte has real eggnog, mixed with a bit of milk, espresso and topped off with nutmeg. Or you could forgo the cookie, and get a Gingerbread Latte that has shots of gingerbread syrup, whipped cream and nutmeg.

My favorite holiday drink is the Peppermint Mocha (and not just because it has red sprinkles). The Peppermint Mocha is the perfect blend of magic and mint. For an extra rich taste, order the Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

Here are some tips I’ve learned from my many years spent ordering Starbucks’ seasonal drinks. If you are a caffeine addict like myself then you can add a shot of espresso. Although the added shot costs a little bit more, it’s worth the extra pep in your step. Baristas usually add five pumps of flavored syrup to each drink. If you do not enjoy sweet drinks and find the syrupy flavors too overpowering, then ask for two or three pumps instead of five. Ask for skim milk and sugar free syrup if you want to take some calories off your drink.

The new Starbucks in the Ferguson Student Center is convenient with comfortable seating, a cozy atmosphere and good music. The lines can get long, so make sure you have at least half an hour. Starbucks is open from 7 a.m. to midnight on week days and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekend. They take Dining Dollars and Bama Cash. There is also a smaller Starbucks located on the first floor of Alston Hall.