Make an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home, as start your mornings in the best way while still in your pajamas!
With a combination of espresso, brown sugar syrup, oat milk, and lots, lots of ice to cool you off on hot summer days, this shaken coffee will up your breakfast game and give you the energy you need to start a productive morning.

Why you should try it
- Itβs a beverage free of dairy or any animal-ingredient;
- You donβt need any fancy equipment to shake anything: hands only!
- If you find it Starbucks version too sweet, you can halve the amount of brown sugar syrup or add as much as youβd like;
- It was agreed that dreams are made of this drink: the combination is beyond delicious.
What's a shaken espresso?
A shaken espresso is a hand-shaken mix of espresso with milk (dairy or plant based), flavorings, and ice. Basically, itβs espresso shaken with syrup and ice cubes until lightly frothed.
This technique is modeled after mixology and cools the beverage quickly, bringing out more the flavors of the drink.
Ingredients
Oat milk. Starbucks is using milk from a Swedish oat milk producer called Oatly. But any good brand of oat milk would do, you can even use it homemade if preferred. I use unsweetened vanilla oat milk.
Espresso. Use Starbucks Blonde Espresso for your espresso shots, so you can get a drink just like the real deal.
Ice. Starbucks uses triple filtered ice cubes. While not everyone has access to a triple filter (or a filter), you can at least get ride of the chlorine in tap water before making ice. Boil it for 10 minutes or leave it in a jar overnight.
Brown sugar syrup. Different from the Blonde Espresso, you canβt buy Starbucks brown sugar syrup. But is is super easy to reproduce: brown sugar, water and a dash of cinnamon, and you get one as good as theirs.
You can also use your favorite store-bought brown sugar syrup.
How to make it
Brown Sugar Syrup
This syrup is super easy to make and keeps for a long time if stored correctly in the fridge. For making it:
- In a saucepan, add brown sugar, water, vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Simmer the mixture, stirring so the brown sugar dissolves completely.
- Take off the heat. Store it in a jar with a lid after cooled, inside the fridge.
Use a dark brown sugar for this recipe, as it gives a stronger taste because of its higher amount of molasses.
You can also mix brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract directly into hot water. Microwave mixture for 30 seconds if brown sugar doesn't completely dissolves.
I use vanilla extract to enhance the flavors, but if you donβt have it, feel free to leave it out. Youβll still get a delicious drink.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Brew two shots of espresso.
Fill a mason jar or any recipient you can close with a lid and shake with ice.
Add brown sugar syrup.
Add espresso shots.
Close the lid and shake for 30 seconds, until lightly frothy.
Fill mason jar with more ice. Pour a splash of oat milk, top with ground cinnamon, and serve it right away!
I donβt have an espresso maker. Can I make this drink using instant coffee?
Yes, you can! But I have to warn you: it will taste different from the real thing.
If choosing to do it with instant coffee, use 1 teaspoon of instant coffee for β cup of water. Also, choose a good quality instant coffee.
You can dissolve instant coffee directly into cold water.
More Starbucks Copycats
Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
Iced Chai Tea Latte
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Strawberry Frappuccino
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Recipe
Make an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home, as start your mornings in the best way while still in your pajamas!
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Syrup
- Β½ cup brown sugar
- Β½ cup water
- ΒΌ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- 2 shots espresso
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar syrup
- ΒΌ cup oatmilk
- ice cubes
- cinnamon for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- For the brown sugar syrup, in a saucepan, add brown sugar, water, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Simmer the mixture, stirring so the brown sugar dissolves completely.
- Take off the heat. Store it in a jar with a lid after cooled, inside the fridge.
- For putting together the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, start by brewing 2 shots of espresso.
- Fill a mason jar with ice. Add espresso shots and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup. Close the lid and shake for 30 seconds, until lightly frothy.
- Complete with more ice.
- Pour the oat milk, top with ground cinnamon and serve it right away.
Notes
About the brown sugar syrup:
Use a dark brown sugar for this recipe for a stronger, more flavorful outcome.
Vanilla extract enhance the flavors, but if you don't have it, feel free to leave it out.
If you don't have an espresso maker:
Make this drink with instant coffee: use 1 teaspoon of instant coffee for ΒΌ cup of water. You can dissolve instant coffee directly into cold water.
Other tips
The recipe makes a tall Starbucks cup. To make a grande cup, use 3 shots of espresso, 4 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup and β cup of oat milk.
If you're looking for a drink not as sweet, use 2 tablespoons of syrup. If looking for an extra sweet beverage, use 4 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup.
Nutrition Information
Yield
1Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 392Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 75mgCarbohydrates 101gFiber 2gSugar 72gProtein 1g
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and/or brands used.
Jennifer V
Hello, thanks for the recipe! Iβm confused. Why so many calories? Itβs 392 calories for how much? A Venti Starbucks brown sugar oatmeal shake and espresso is only 172 cal for the whole drink. Do you have a breakdown as to how many calories is in each tablespoon? Or is it 392 for 1 drink?
Milk and Pop
Hi Jennifer,
Nutrition information is an estimate only, and will vary depending on the substitutions made and/or brands used.
Cheers π
Chris Kaitlyn
Made this today, one for my husband who was leaving for work and one for myself. Love this so much! Thank you for the recipe!!!
Milk and Pop
Hi Chris, so glad you both like it! Oat milk is great with coffee, right? π
Jamie
I love this recipe and have made it a few times. I make a larger batch to use throughout the week but I always get a goopy gob at the end (I use a fine mesh strainer to remove it). Am I not cooking it long enough or am I cooking it too much? Or maybe it just gets goopy after sitting in the fridge? Any thoughts?
Milk and Pop
Hi Jamie!
You're talking about the brown sugar syrup, right? I think that maybe you're cooking too much and the sugar is caramelizing. Next time, you can try an easier method: in a medium bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Carefully pour boiling/hot water over it, and mix until brown sugar dissolves. Make sure the bowl can handle hot liquids!
Hope you have better luck making it this way, and if the problem continues, feel free to send me a message π
Joann
I tried this today and it's soo good! It taste much better than the Starbucks one, thank you!
Milk and Pop
So glad you liked it, Joann! π₯°
Valerie
Tried this and it came out so good! Only thing I noticed is the Starbucks version actually has nutmeg in it, not cinnamon (or maybe both!) Either way this recipe is delicious!
Jennifer Lowdermilk
Hello! I just wanted to let you know, if you didn't know this that you can buy the Starbucks Brown Sugar syrup already made - they are selling it on Amazon! Thanks!
Milk and Pop
Thanks , Jennifer! I need to check that out!
Danijela
I absolutely love your photos, wonderful!
Milk and Pop
Thanks so much, Danijela! Cheers!
Karen
Can you make this using cold brew coffee?
Milk and Pop
Hi Karen!
Yes, you can use cold brew for this recipe!
Cheers π
Karen
Yummy ! I need to try it!
Milk and Pop
You sure do! Try it and tell me how it went! π