Katie's Recipe Notes
Sick of paying $7 for your favorite Starbucks drink?! Me, too!
That’s why I started making my own shaken espressos at home—and honestly my homemade Starbucks’ iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso is just as good, if not better than the original!
With just a few simple ingredients and a good shake, you’ve got a smooth, sweet coffee drink that’s frothy, refreshing, and perfect every time! Let’s get shakin'!
Ingredients You'll Need!
- Double Shot of Espresso: Starbucks uses blonde espresso, but you can use your favorite coffee beans.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: You can use either store-bought or homemade coffee syrup!
- Oat milk: Starbucks uses creamy oat milk for this signature drink
- Ground Cinnamon: A dash of cinnamon enhances the flavor.
- Ice: Essential for that perfectly chilled sip.
*See recipe card below for ingredient quantities.
Brown Sugar Syrup vs Brown Sugar
When it comes to cold coffee drinks, brown sugar syrup is the way to go. Since the sugar is already dissolved, it blends smoothly into your drink instead of sinking to the bottom.
The good news? It's super easy to make your own brown sugar syrup! Just simmer brown sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves—now that's a simple syrup!
Want to take it up a notch? Add a cinnamon stick while it simmers for a rich, spiced brown sugar cinnamon syrup or a splash of vanilla extract for even more depth! Use dark brown sugar vs. light brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.
Equipment
Espresso machine: I love my Breville Barista Express. It’s a great beginner-friendly machine. A Nespresso machine or even strong coffee works too.
Shaker: You'll need something to shake your espresso. A cocktail shaker or a mason jar with a leak-proof lid works perfectly.
How to Make a Shaken Espresso with Brown Sugar Syrup
- Step 1: Fill your shaker jar with ice, then pour in the brown sugar syrup.
- Step 2: Pour in your freshly brewed espresso shots.
- Step 3: Secure the lid and shake until foamy.
- Step 4: Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Pour in oat milk and top with a dash of cinnamon. Enjoy!
Want The Secret to Frothy Shaken Espresso?
Freshly brewed espresso is the real secret behind that velvety foam. It’s not just about the shaking or type of ice—hot espresso still holds natural CO₂ gas and coffee oils, which help trap air when shaken with ice. That’s what creates that signature frothy top. If your espresso sits too long, those gases escape, and the drink won’t foam up the same way.
Shaking also mellows the intensity of the espresso, blending everything together into a smooth, balanced coffee drink. That’s what sets a shaken espresso apart from your typical iced latte.
Katie's Tested Tips!
- Fresh espresso: For the best flavor and froth, use freshly brewed shots of espresso. If you use instant espresso or strong coffee, you may not get the same frothy effect, but it will still be delicious.
- Make your syrup ahead! Prep a batch of brown sugar syrup in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. That way, it’s always ready when you need a quick, frothy pick-me-up!
- Change it up! You can easily customize this drink by swapping out the brown sugar syrup for another flavor—try hazelnut syrup, vanilla syrup, or caramel syrup!
- Oat Milk Swaps: Oatly oat milk is typically what's used at Starbucks, but Chobani or Califia are great, too.
- Skip the extra dish: Drink your shaken espresso straight from the jar you shook it in! After shaking, pour in your milk, give it a stir, and enjoy.
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Ingredients
- 2 shots freshly brewed espresso
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup ice
- ½ cup oat milk
Instructions
- Brew a double shot of espresso and pour it into a cocktail shaker or mason jar.
- Add brown sugar syrup, a dash of cinnamon, and ice.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds, until foamy and chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top off with oat milk and another dash of cinnamon. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Measurements can be adjusted. Feel free to add more or less syrup or oat milk to suit your desired taste preferences!
- Customize to your liking by using your preferred dairy or non-dairy milk. You can change the syrup flavor different taste as well.
- Fresh espresso yields the best froth, but you can use instant espresso or strong coffee if that's all you have.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Use a French press, moka pot, or even strong coffee as a substitute.
The Starbucks version uses creamy oat milk, but you can use pretty much any milk you choose! Almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk are great dairy-free options. Regular 2% milk or cream works, too! It really depends on your personal preferences!
Absolutely! Add more or less brown sugar syrup to match your taste preference.
More Espresso Recipes to Perk Up Your Day!
If you’re into shaking things up even further, you’ll love this Starbucks copycat Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam!
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