NEW YORK – For a beverage flavor that is typically void of actual pumpkin, pumpkin spice is heating up the fall specialty coffee wars. CNBC reports that Starbucks and Panera Bread are giving their Pumpkin Spice Lattes a makeover this fall.

When Starbucks releases its limited-time Pumpkin Spice Latte this fall, it will come with real pumpkin and without a caramel coloring.

“After hearing from customers and partners about ingredients, we took another look at this beverage and why we created it so many years ago. It was simple—espresso, perfectly steamed milk, warm fall spices with delicious flavor of pumpkin pie that reminds you of the cool, crisp days of autumn. So, with that great taste you know and love, the PSL returns this fall, and this time it will be made with real pumpkin and without caramel coloring,” wrote Peter Dukes, director of espresso and brewed coffee Americas at Starbucks.

Panera’s Pumpkin Spice version is replacing some artificial preservatives with some natural ones. "It was actually a pretty simple tweak. It was pretty clean to begin with," Dan Kish, Panera's senior vice president of food, told CNBC. Panera is in the process of removing artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives from its food, a pledge that it hopes to completely satisfy by 2016.

For pumpkin spice flavoring, coffee is just the tip of the iceberg. From candy to cereal to craft beers and smoothies, store shelves will be stocked with the spicy flavor trend during the fast-approaching fall months.