Pictures of Kaylee Holsworth during her years as a barista at both Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee and Starbucks. Being a barista has been one of her favorite jobs and led to her love of coffee.
Photo courtesy and graphic by Kaylee Holsworth
By Kaylee Holsworth
While we may not get too many orange leaves or chilly weather here in Camarillo, the ending of September and the arrival of October means just one thing…fall drinks! From pumpkin spice, to apple, to cinnamon delights, baristas everywhere are crafting these beverages for those who look forward to them every year and those who are trying them for the first time. As a former barista myself, I wanted to talk to and get some recommendations from CI’s very own baristas on campus. This article talks about my journey as a barista, fall drink favorites and highlights the spots on campus to get your own sweet treats this
fall season.
After I graduated high school, I got my very first job at my local coffee shop: Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee in Simi Valley, California. Dr. Conkey’s is a local gem that’s been around since the 80s. I loved going in as a little girl, marveling at the vast array of candies and chocolates. As I got older, I fell in love with the drinks. Being half candy store and half coffee shop, meant that it was the perfect place to work as a girl who loves a sweet treat. I had the best time working there and stayed for about two years. I often compared it to working at a coffee shop in a Hallmark movie. Regular customers with regular orders who you know by name, decorating the store for every season, the annual Christmas raffle and coworkers who felt like family. It was so wonderful. I also worked at Starbucks a handful of years later, but the warmth of a small family-owned business can’t be beat!
My favorite season at the shop was always fall. The warm smell of pumpkin spice filling the air, the rare brisk breeze coming in the front door to say hello and seeing everyone’s favorite sweaters coming out of hibernation. Dr. Conkey’s has special drink menus for each season too, which brings me to my official fall drink recommendation. The absolute best drink, in my professional opinion, is called the Skeleton Blast. It is a pumpkin and vanilla chai. I order it iced, with whole milk and two shots of espresso. It is an absolute delight. I look forward to its return every season. I may have even had one earlier this week. If you have a chance to swing by Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee in Simi Valley this fall season, you won’t regret getting
the Skeleton Blast!
Coastal Cup, located in Gateway Hall, has their fall menu on display. Students have the chance to get pumpkin drinks
right here on CI’s campus.
Photos and graphic by Kaylee Holsworth
While it’s always fun checking out different coffee shops off campus, lucky for us, we have two coffee shops right here at CI. Ekho’s Cafe, located in the Dolphin Den in the Student Union Building, and Coastal Cup, in Gateway Hall, both offer amazing drinks to satisfy your fall cravings. There’s no need to leave campus when we have got pumpkin spice right in our own backyard. I had the absolute pleasure to meet and talk to baristas to get their fall recommendations for drinks on campus!
At Ekho’s Cafe, I met Donna. Donna is a junior anthropology major and was kind enough to chat with me during her morning shift. When asked what her favorite fall drink is at Ekho’s Cafe, she gave me two answers, her favorite to make and her favorite to drink. As baristas, our favorite drinks to make are often the easiest, providing a break from many complicated orders. For Donna, her favorite drink to make is the pumpkin cold brew. The foam is very satisfying when it is poured on top of the coffee, the orange melting into the brown. As for favorite to drink, her go to is the pumpkin shaken espresso. She said it takes like a pumpkin pie, thanks to the brown sugar syrup and sweet, pumpkin foam. So, if you’re craving the comfort of a holiday dessert, this is the way to go!
At Coastal Cup, Kaitlyn, a junior accounting major, shared her recommendation for students coming in for a taste of the fall season. Just like Donna, Kaitlyn’s favorite is also the pumpkin shaken espresso. So, now that both baristas have recommended it, you now know what your next drink will be! Kaitlyn, having now worked with Starbucks, has fell in love with it off campus as well. She finds herself going there outside of work hours and enjoying drinks such as a white mocha with caramel drizzle. Starbucks has been a great place for college students to study and relax for years and it’s a treat to have its coffee served
on CI’s campus.
In this photo released by Starbucks, the fall 2026 menu, including old and new favorites, is previewed to
create excitement for the fall season’s arrival
(Starbucks)
Finally, I had the chance to talk to one more fellow barista about her fall picks. Sam, a senior English major, has been a barista at Starbucks for years and always loves trying new drinks. When asked what her Starbucks recommendation is for fall time, she answered a cold brew with brown sugar syrup, pumpkin foam and cinnamon powder to top it off. But her absolute favorite fall drink is from Honey Cup Coffeehouse and Patisserie. Honey Cup has five different locations. One in Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and two in Oxnard, which means it’s a local spot for CI students who live on and off campus. Sam’s favorite drink is their cinnamon toast crunch latte. “Honestly, it’s the perfect fall flavor,” she said.
With October among us, it’s time to start enjoying all of the pumpkin spice and fall-themed drinks available. Check out Ekho’s Cafe and Coastal Cup next time you are in need of a sweet treat or pick-me-up between classes. Our baristas on campus are ready to give out great recommendations and provide even greater drinks. Even though I’ve left my barista days behind me, I will forever have a soft spot in my heart for coffee and am always looking forward to my next drink!
