As the autumn equinox creeps up, it’s fun to look for excuses to sneak the seasonal flav fav pumpkin into all sorts of jazz. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte unarguably reigns supreme (have you checked out your Facebook’s feed recently?). But does this fallish hot beverage come with an unlisted topping of frilly femininity?

Starbucks Critique posed the question recently: “Should a guy be embarrassed to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte?” So is a dude afflicted with PSL cravings looked at the same as if he thought glitter eye-shadow might be a fun twist to his Friday night? Or if he lingered in the “Just For Fun” section in Hallmark for over five minutes? The opinionated comments following the SC piece were divided.

“No. Getting a soy, no whip PSL will get your man card revoked,” one reader remarked. “Otherwise, no problem.”

Another reader commented on the pride (or lack thereof) a man might have in ordering one. “I have noticed when men order a fru fru [sic] drink, they are more likely to lower their voice. Now, if they are ordering extra shots, everyone in the store hears them.”

I feel like a shameless sweet tooth doesn’t necessarily take a scoop out of one’s masculinity. My boyfriend publicly takes his coffee with three sugars but has no problem with heavy lifting and horsing down a big steak. What would the manly beverage equivalent be for ladies? A red-eye? Beer from the can?

Would you find a guy less macho if he took up an ostentatious PSL habit? [via Gawker]