The second I tried the Starbucks brown sugar shaken espresso, I knew it was worth the hype. It was delicious, flavorful, and not too sweet. Just right for me! However, with that price tag, I knew I could easily come up with a homemade version that would still check all the boxes and save us all some money. Besides, this brown sugar shaken espresso drink is surprisingly so easy to make and it won't disappoint.
This copy-cat Starbucks drink is perfect to enjoy year round, however, considering this brown sugar shaken espresso is an iced beverage, it's a great option to enjoy during the warmer months when you're looking for something to cool you down.
If you like starbucks copycat recipes, you will love my CopyCat Starbucks Egg Bites.
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Ingredients
For the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup:
- Brown Sugar
- Water
For the Drink:
- Shots of Espresso
- Oatmilk
- Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Ice
Optional Cold Foam Topping:
- Half & half
- Vanilla Extract
- Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Place a small pot on medium high heat. Add your water and your sugar. Mix until the sugar dissolves and you start to see some small bubbles form, lower your heat and let the mixture simmer until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat. Let cool and then it will be ready for use.
- Store your leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
The Drink
- Add ½ cup crushed ice to a shaker bottle then add 2-3 shots of espresso. Add 2 Tbs of brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Shake shake shake until super well combined and your espresso begins to cool.
- Grab a separate large cup, add crushed ice, pour your espresso mixture into the cup. Top off with oatmilk. ENJOY!
- Optional: If you're being extra like me you can top off with cold foam on top. See instructions below!
The Cold Foam
- In a small separate container, add half & half, vanilla extract and brown sugar simple syrup. Use a hand mixer to whip your half & half until it becomes light and frothy.
- Pour the cold foam on top of your drink and ENJOY!
Hint: I used my Nespresso machine to create 2 shots of espresso.
Substitutions
- Half & half - if you would like to keep this drink dairy-free, try using a dairy-free alternative with fat. I can't guarantee it will froth the same way because I personally have not tried this.
- Oatmilk- Although the Starbucks version has oatmilk, you can easily sub oatmilk for your favorite milk of choice. The oatmilk will make this drink extremely creamy, however, it will be delicious regardless.
This recipe is dairy-free without the cold foam topping.
Variations
- Decaf- use decaf espresso shots to make this drink significantly lower in caffeine.
- Pregnancy-friendly- you can make this brown sugar shaken espresso pregnancy friendly by choosing decaf espresso or replacing 2 of the shots with decaf espresso. It's generally okay for most healthy pregnant women to consume caffeine during pregnancy as long as the total daily intake is minimized to under 200 mg of caffeine. This is NOT medical advice, always check with your own personal physician or dietitian.
If you love this recipe, you will love my Starbucks Copycat Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
Equipment
To make this starbucks copy-cat shaken espresso, you need to have an espresso machine. I personally use my Nespresso machine and I love it so much!
You will also need a hand frother or milk steamer with a cold foam option (if you plan on making the cold foam topping), some basic glasses, a small pot and a stove.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.
Storage
You can store the brown sugar simple syrup in an air tight container in the fridge for 7-10 days.
You can not store the iced brown sugar shaken espresso after you've made it!
Top tip
If you're making the cold foam topping, you will need to tilt the half & half in the glass before starting to froth. This is because 3 tbs is not much liquid, but once your hand frother is fully submerged into the half & half and it begins to froth, it will become easier and you will begin to see it become lighter and fluffier. If you're hand frother is not a high speed one, you may need to be patient and it may take a little longer to get to the perfect consistency. Try to froth your cold foam topping right before serving your starbucks copy-cat shaken espresso for best consistency.
FAQ
Yes, the simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 7 days.
Yes, this recipe can be made caffeine free or with reduced caffeine by using decaf espresso.
Yes, you can use any milk you would like to use!
Yes, without the cold foam topping, this recipe is dairy-free.
Dairy-Free
Looking for some more dairy-free recipes? Try these:
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Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Equipment
- 1 Shaker Bottle
- 1 Hand Frother
Ingredients
For the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup Water
For the Drink
- 3 Shots of Espresso
- ½ Cup Oatmilk
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- A Dash of Cinnamon
- Crushed Ice
For The Optional Cold Foam Topping
- 2 Tablespoons Half & half
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
Instructions
For the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Place a small pot on medium high heat. Add your water and your sugar. Mix and until the sugar dissolves and you start to see some small bubbles form, lower your heat and let simmer until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat. Let cool and use!
- Store your leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
For the Drink
- Add ½ cup crushed ice to a shaker bottle then add 2-3 shots of espresso. Add 2 Tbs of brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Shake shake shake until super well combined and your espresso begins to cool.
- Grab a separate large cup, add crushed ice, pour your espresso mixture into the cup. Top off with oatmilk. ENJOY!!!
- Optional: If you're being extra like me you can top off with cold foam on top. See instructions below!
For the Optional Cold Foam Topping
- In a small separate container, add half and half, vanilla extract and brown sugar simple syrup. Use a hand mixer to whip your half and half until it becomes light and frothy.
- Pour on top of your drink and ENJOY!
Claire says
UM, this recipe is a 10/10. It tastes exactly like the og starbucks and I’ve saved so much money making this.