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Introduction to Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso is a delightful coffee drink that can be enjoyed any day. It features a homemade cinnamon brown sugar syrup that adds incredible flavor to the dairy-free espresso drink with oat milk. The combination of warm cinnamon, rich brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla helps balance the espresso’s bitterness, resulting in a smooth and sophisticated beverage. This will give you all the energy needed to concur your day!
Why Make It At Home?
Making Starbucks drinks at home can offer a range of benefits.
First, this drink is currently in high demand due to its unique combination of flavors. Its popularity has skyrocketed, making it hard to find in many Starbucks locations.
Secondly, it allows you to control the ingredients, letting you adjust the sweetness, caffeine level, and even substitute for dietary preferences or restrictions.
Lastly, it can be more cost-effective in the long run than frequently purchasing drinks at a Starbucks store. You also have the freedom to experiment and customize the drinks according to your taste. For example, you can adjust the amount of caramel in a caramel macchiato or add more chocolate chips to your Frappuccino.
Why This is the Best Shaken Espresso Recipe
The secret to this exceptional Iced Oat Milk Shaken Espresso recipe lies in the brown sugar spiced syrup. The blend of cinnamon’s warmth, brown sugar’s sweetness, and a touch of vanilla create a harmonious balance that enhances the espresso’s taste. The result is a coffee drink that is not overly sweet or cloying, making it a must-try for coffee lovers. What makes this a level above the Starbucks version is the use of our secret ingredient brown sugar which will surely create deeper flavors.
What sets this recipe apart is also the utilization of a proven technique for shaking the espresso.
Is this Starbucks Copycat Recipe Any Good?
Absolutely! This copycat recipe comes very close to the Starbucks version, but better, according to some. Making this drink at home allows you to save money and customize the recipe to suit your personal preferences. You’ll be able to enjoy this delightful beverage whenever you want without having to step out of your house.
Ingredients Needed
To recreate Starbucks’ Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, you will need the following ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons Dark Muscovado or regular brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons of water
- Starbucks Nespresso Blonde Roast Espresso
- Ice
- Oatly Barista Edition or regular oat milk (could substitute with cow’s milk)
- Vanilla extract (optional but highly recommended)
Equipment Needed
- Espresso machine
- Shaker
- Microwave or stovetop
- Cups
NOTE: We recommend against using a mason jar as your shaker since with ice and temperature changes, the mason jar could shatter while shaking.
Product Recommendations
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+
One of the few Nespresso machines that makes all 5 brew sizes of coffee/espresso pods, like single/double shots, lungo, coffee, and XL size.
Price: $89.00 ($129.00 with $40 off)
Use code MC6HZQ for $40 off any machine and a free capsule dispenser.
Brown Sugar – Dark Muscovado
This gives your syrup a very deep and complex flavor than using use light or dark brown sugar itself.
It is also non-gmo and fair trade certified.
Starbucks by Nespresso Blonde Roast Espresso
Using the exact same roast as Starbucks uses at the store will give you the exact flavor of this drink.
This is a product collaboration between Starbucks and Nespresso. Could be use in any Nespresso Vertuo machine.
Oatly Original Barista Edition
Using the exact same oatmilk that Starbucks uses at the store will give you the exact creaminess of this drink.
This product is shelf stable so could be kept in the pantry unopen for a period of time. It is one of the creamiest and foamiest (when froth) oatmilk that I could find.
BlenderBottle Classic V2 Shaker Bottle
Any inexpensive blender bottle could be use.
Ingredient Substitutions
If you don’t have an espresso machine at home, don’t worry! You can still enjoy this Starbucks copycat recipe by using a premium coffee like Veranda Blend from Starbucks and double brewing it. Another option is to use instant espresso, such as Medaglia D’Oro Espresso Style Instant Coffee or Café Bustelo Espresso Style Instant Coffee.
If you prefer regular milk over oat milk, feel free to use dairy milk as a substitute. The recipe is versatile and can accommodate different milk choices.
How to Make Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Now let’s dive into the step-by-step process of creating your very own Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso:
1. Combining Ingredients for Syrup Mixture
Combine 1 part of dark muscovado (or dark brown sugar if that’s what you’ll be using) with 1 part of water in a large cup. Sprinkle the desired amount of ground cinnamon on top. Stir to combine.
2. Heating the Syrup
A. Microwave Method
For the microwave method, be sure to use a microwave-safe cup when putting together the syrup mixture ingredients. I usually use a Pyrex measuring cup. Depending on how powerful your microwave is, heat it on high for 20 to 30 seconds. NOTE: This mixture will expand quickly once it’s heated, so start with 20 seconds first and keep an eye on it to prevent overflowing. The finished syrup should be slightly thickened. Set it aside to cool.
B. Stovetop Method
For the stovetop method, put the syrup mixture into a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over low heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup thickens slightly. This should take a few minutes. Set it aside to cool.
3. Brew Espresso Shots
Brew your espresso shots according to your preference. For reference, Starbucks uses 2/3/4 shots for Tall/Grande/Venti size.
4. Shake Shake Shake
In your shaker, pour in the cooled syrup, add ice, and top with espresso shots. It is ok that the express shots are still hot and melt the ice a bit since it gives it a more mellow flavor. Close the shaker tightly. Shake with up and down motion 10 times.
5. Assemble the Drink
Pour shaken espresso into a tall cup. Topped off with oat milk. As a final touch, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully made your own Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. Enjoy every sip!
How Much Caffeine is in this Drink?
The caffeine content in Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso can vary based on the amount of espresso or coffee used. On average, a single shot of espresso contains approximately 63 milligrams of caffeine. If you use two shots, the caffeine content will double. Keep in mind that the caffeine content may vary depending on the brand and type of coffee you use. Per Starbucks website, this contains 100/120/190 calories for T/G/V.
Tips for Storing Homemade Simple Syrup
If you have leftover brown sugar syrup, you can store it for future use. Here’s how to store it properly:
- Allow the syrup to cool completely.
- Transfer it to a clean, airtight container, such as a glass jar or a bottle.
- Store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Having the homemade brown sugar syrup ready in your fridge makes it convenient to whip up a delicious Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso whenever you desire.
Love Starbucks Drinks? Try This Viral Copycat recipe!
Try the Starbucks White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew recipe at home. This is such a popular drink for the summer of 2023. However, for some reason, many stores had already discontinued this drink. However, you could always make this at home and customize it to your liking, with a fraction of the cost.
With these recipes, you can satisfy your Starbucks cravings without leaving your kitchen!
Conclusion
Creating your own Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home is an exciting and cost-effective way to enjoy this delicious coffee drink. The combination of brown sugar spiced syrup, espresso or strong coffee, oat milk, and a touch of cinnamon will transport you to your favorite Starbucks cafe and satisfy your craving morning and night.
To see the original drink, please see this page online.
Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Equipment
- Espresso machine
- Shaker
- Cups
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp Dark Muscovado Sub: light or dark brown sugar
- 6 tbsp Water
- 1/4 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 4 shots Starbucks Blond Roast Espresso
- 6 fl oz Oatly Barista Oatmilk
- Vanilla extract Optional
- Ice
Instructions
- Combine dark muscovado, water, ground cinnamon into a cup.
- Microwave for 20 to 30 seconds (or heat up on stovetop with low heat) until syrup is slightly thickened and all ingredients combined. Set aside and cooled.
- Brew espresso shots.
- In a shaker, pour in brown sugar syrup, ice, then the espresso shots. Close the lid tightly. Shaken with up and down motion 10 times.
- Assemble the drink in a tall glass by adding the shaken espresso, add more ice if desired, and topped with oat milk.
GK says
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Will try it soon.
Kerri Firth says
Great recipe! Tastes just like Starbucks but a lot cheaper! Thanks for sharing.
Catherine Kay says
I’m sure it saves a ton of money making your own version of Starbucks coffee. Thank you for this homemade version of iced brown sugar shaken expresso.
Katherine says
This sounds amazing and is such a great alternative for anyone wanting to save money or save time!
Debbie says
I love Starbucks but hate the price! I can’t wait to try this version at home!
LaToya Rachelle says
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to give this a try. Thanks for the recipe.
Laura Levitan - Dallas Photographer says
My kids and I will love making this together. They are obsessed with Starbucks!