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Obsessed with the Starbucks brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso? Same. I reverse-engineered it at home and landed on this creamy, cinnamon-y, and frothy iced coffee that tastes barista-level delish. Bonus: it’s ready in 5 minutes!
save this recipe!This one didn’t take long to get right, but I made it enough times in one week that my Starbucks barista almost forgot who I was. What surprised me most was how much the shaking step changes the mouthfeel.
My background in sensory science means I know exactly why: whipping air into the espresso before the milk goes in is what gives it that light, almost whipped texture Starbucks is known for, instead of the flat finish you get from just stirring sugar into cold coffee.
I literally signed up for the Starbucks rewards program just for this drink, and I’m not even a daily Starbucks person. But 7 bucks a pop? That adds up fast! So I recreated it at home, and I’m happy to report it’s just as creamy, caramel-y, and cozy (for a fraction of the price!).
- It’s Ridiculously Easy: Shaken espressos usually require a cocktail shaker and fresh ice, but we like to keep it simple around here. Stir it all together in your glass or shake it quickly in a mason jar for a frothier finish.
Reader rating
“Omg! This is to DIE for! I’m obsessed with it! We make our own oatmilk too! It’s great to know exactly what is going into it! So, so easy and super yummy! Thanks for this!” —Tammy
What Is a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
A brown sugar shaken espresso is a Starbucks menu drink built on two shots of espresso, brown sugar syrup, and a few shakes of cinnamon, all shaken hard with ice until the surface turns pale and foamy, then finished with a pour of milk, classically oatmilk.
The “shaken” part matters more than it sounds. A latte is built by pouring milk over espresso. A shaken espresso gets aerated first: shaking the espresso and syrup together whips tiny air bubbles into the coffee, which softens its sharp edge and gives it a light, almost frothy texture before the milk ever goes in.
What You Will Love About this Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
I’ve made this often enough at home that I no longer bother pulling up the Starbucks app to order one.
- Costs a fraction of the price you’d pay in the drive-thru line
- Works with any milk you have on hand, oat included
- Ready in about 5 minutes, faster than most drive-thru lines
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Ingredients
We designed this Starbucks copycat drink to be just as good (dare I say better?) with a super short list of ingredients you probably already have. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Espresso: You’ll need 2 shots (or 2 ounces) of brewed espresso. A Nespresso, stovetop Moka pot, or any espresso machine works great.
- Brown Sugar: Since we tested both dark and light brown sugar, I can confidently say they are equally tasty!
- Cinnamon And Salt: Just a pinch of each! Cinnamon adds warmth, and salt balances and seriously boosts the flavor (trust me here).
- Oatmilk: Use your favorite unsweetened oatmilk. Barista blends foam better, but any variety should do the trick (and making your own oat milk is easy!).
How to Make this Starbucks Copycat Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
- Brew the espresso. Pull 2 shots, or brew 2 ounces of strong coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.
- Add the flavorings. Pour the hot espresso into a shaker or lidded jar with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Shake it hard. Seal and shake until the sugar fully dissolves and the top turns foamy. Without a shaker, stir vigorously instead, though the texture won’t be quite as frothy.
- Build the glass. Fill a glass with ice and pour the shaken espresso over the top.
- Top with milk. Pour the oatmilk over the ice and espresso without stirring, and let it swirl together as you drink.
For A Classic Shaken Texture
Pour the espresso, sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a mason jar with a lid and give it a good shake before serving with ice and milk. Shaking everything helps aerate the espresso and gives the drink that barista-style finish.
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe Variations
Milk Swaps: Any plant-based milk will work—oat is our go-to for creaminess, but almond, soy, or cashew are great too.
Espresso Options: No espresso machine? You can also use strong brewed coffee, cold brew concentrate, or instant espresso powder in a pinch!
Natural Sweeteners: For a more natural option, swap brown sugar for maple syrup or coconut sugar.
Best served with my vegan Starbucks copycat coffee cake!
Starbucks Copycat: Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces espresso, 2 shots
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- â…› tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup oatmilk
- To serve: ice
Instructions
- Brew Espresso: Brew 2 ounces espresso. When finished, pour it into a tall glass.
- Flavor: Stir in 1 Tbsp brown sugar, â…› tsp ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until sugar dissolves.Alternatively, shake in a cocktail shaker or lidded mason jar until frothy.
- Serve: Top with 1 cup oatmilk then fill glass with ice. Serve like this, or transfer to a shaker and shake for a frothy texture!
Notes
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Omg! This is to DIE for! I’m obsessed with it! We make our own oatmilk too! It’s great to know exactly what is going into it! So, so easy and super yummy! Thanks for this!
Thrilled you loved it, thanks for the kind review Tammy!
Super easy and super delicious!!
Love hearing that, thanks so much Deb!