How To Make Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso With Oat Milk
I like to make the brown sugar simple syrup in large batches and keep it in the fridge so its handy. It saves me a ton of time and all I need to do is grab a glass, my espresso and oat milk, and quickly prepare my brown sugar espresso drink! It saves me quite a bit of money AND it tastes just as good as ordering this Starbucks drink from a barista!
The brown simple syrup takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and is made with 3 simple ingredients: Brown Sugar, Water, and Vanilla Extract. You simply add the ingredients to a small saucepan, stir, bring it to a simmer, then remove it from the heat and let it cool before using.
The Double Cinnamon Quandary
Yep, this recipe calls for two types of cinnamon: cassia and Saigon. Believe it or not, there are a few pretty big differences between the two spices.
First off, cassia is not authentic cinnamon. Yes, the most popular cinnamon in the US is imposter, but it tastes pretty much like the real thing, and many cooks actually prefer it to the real deal when cooking savory dishes.
Saigon cinnamon, on the other hand, is true cinnamon. It has a strong flavor and a bit of heat and is also much more expensive than cassia.
If you dont want to run to the store just to make this drink, use whichever cinnamon you have on hand, but you may need to play with the amounts a little.
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 dont have it, feel free to leave it out. Youll 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!
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Why Youll Love This Copycat Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso Recipe:
- MAKE AHEAD:Save valuable time in the morning and prepare the brown sugar syrup ahead of time! Keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week to streamline busy mornings.
- FLAVORFUL: Hints of warm cinnamon and sweet vanilla pair perfectly with espresso and oat milk. Youll fall in love at first sip!
- PICK-ME-UP: Delicious any time of day, this is a welcome energy boost any time of day.
Kick back, relax, and enjoy a homemade iced brown sugar shaken espresso!
Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

The recipe here is the copycat method recommended on the Starbucks website. However, Ive also made this with Brown Sugar Syrup and its delicious that way too.
You can use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will provide a richer caramel flavor compared to light brown.
When first trying this drink, I found it easiest to adjust the level of sweetness when using the syrup. The amount below is perfect for me though and its the simpler recipe I chose to use for everyday iced coffees.
How to Make Brown Sugar Syrup
To make Brown Sugar Syrup, youll simply combine equal parts brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup thickens slightly.
This should only take a few minutes. Allow the syrup to cool and pour the syrup into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How To Use A Stovetop Espresso Maker
Pour your shaken espresso into a tall glass and enjoy it with a slice of Almond Cake or a Cinnamon Toast Cake Bite for a sweet treat any time of the day.
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What Is In The Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
- Brown Simple Syrup: Made with brown sugar, water, and vanilla extract. You can easily double or triple the recipe to make more and leave it in the fridge so you can use it whenever you need it! If you want to make this refined sugar-free, you can try coconut sugar. I havent tried that yet but Im sure itd be delicious!
- Espresso: You can use 2-3 shots of espresso OR very strong coffee. Starbucks Blonde Espresso is typically used to make this drink. Cold brew coffee is also a great option if you do not have espresso available to you.
- Oat Milk: Unsweetened oat milk works best. Starbucks uses Oatly Brand Oat Milk, but you can use whichever oat milk you prefer. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even make your own oat milk from scratch using my 5-minute Homemade Oat Milk Recipe!
- Ice: Youll need to fill a mason jar or shaker with ice to mix the drink. Youll also need a bit more ice to pour the shaken drink over.
- Cocktail Shaker or Mason Jar: If you do not have a cocktail shaker at home, you can use a mason jar with a lid or wide-mouth bottle.
Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Save yourself some dollars and make your own Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso at home! This delicious Starbucks copycat recipe is really quick and easy. Prep the brown sugar syrup, keep it in the fridge, and you can whip up a delicious sweet beverage in minutes!
BIG coffee fan here. I LOVE a good coffee. Usually just straight up black or in my coffee overnight oats, but I happened to try an Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso from Starbucks last week, and just had to recreate it at home.
Now I’m sharing that Starbucks copycat recipe with you so you can try it for yourself! There’s also an Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso Starbuck’s copycat if you fancy checking out that one too!
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Ingredients For Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this espresso drink. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Brown sugar We use brown sugar to make the brown sugar syrup that Starbucks uses. For maximum flavor opt for dark brown sugar.
- Cinnamon A dash of cinnamon goes a long way in this drink.
- Vanilla extract A gentle splash of vanilla is all you need to brighten the flavors of this shaken espresso drink. This ingredient can easily be committed.
- Espresso You can use whichever espresso brand you like. I usually go with the Starbucks brand just to get the recipe as close to the original but you do you boo. Keep reading to find out how to make espresso without an espresso machine.
- Oat milk Starbucks uses Oatly brand but I decided to go with the Trader Joes option because it only had two ingredients oats and water!
How To Make Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
This is how you can make your own brown sugar shaken espresso. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
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Do I Need To Use A Specific Type Of Coffee
You can use any type of espresso or coffee that you have on hand. Starbucks uses a blonde roast, Verdana Blend which can be purchased in local grocery stores and likely in Starbucks retail locations. Since they were sold out in my store, I just used one of the ground Starbucks coffee blends we had in our home already.
Can You Use A Different Kind Of Milk
You can use any rich, full-fat milk to make this Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso drink, although the flavor will change accordingly. If you’re using plant-based milk, make sure to use an unsweetened / plain variety. I’d recommend coconut milk or soy milk for the thickest, creamiest results, although other varieties may also be used.
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How To Make This Starbucks Ice Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Recipe If You Do Not Have Espresso
If you do not have an espresso machine at home, you can still enjoy this tasty drink! If you have a french press, you can make your own espresso using freshly ground coffee beans. You can also use cold brew coffee for a similar taste and effect or you can brew Starbucks® by Nespresso® Blonde Espresso Roast.
Pictured above is the espresso machine I use at home. I love the professional coffee shop look of the machine, yet it is so easy to use. You can find the
How To Make Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso

For the full recipe, please see the recipe card below.
Brew 2 shots of Starbucks Blonde espresso roast using an espresso machine. Add the espresso to a mason jar with ice and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Place the lid on the jar and shake jar.
Pour the espresso in a glass and add in the oatmilk. Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top and serve cold.
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Whats In Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso
Lindsay D. Mattison
Starbucks makes it super easy to make their drinks at home. For starters, you can access their complete ingredients list to see what they use for each drink. For the Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso, youll find its made with ice, oat milk, brewed espresso, brown sugar syrup, and cinnamon.
Starbucks also created an at-home recipe on their Coffee at Home website. We tried it, and it tasted exactly like the original! You dont have to make the brown sugar syrup to enjoy this drink, either, because the heat of the espresso will melt the sugar. Of course, you can absolutely whip up a simple syrup if you plan to make the drink on the regular. The syrup is also great if youll be using iced coffee instead of espresso. Simply combine equal parts brown sugar and water in a small pot. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and transfer the syrup to a small jar. It will keep for about a month in the refrigerator, but we doubt you wont use it all within a few days.
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Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
Make your favorite coffee shop drink at home! This iced brown sugar espresso drink is just as delicious as one youd purchase from Starbucks, but made in the comforts of your own home.
Easily adjust the sweetness of this shaken espresso and use your favorite kind of milk for the ultimate morning or afternoon caffeine boost!
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Make The Vanilla Brown Sugar Syrup
This is really the key to the latte.
Youll need brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla. If you dont have cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon works too!
Simmer the syrup on the stove to dissolve the sugar and thats it. Now you have homemade brown sugar syrup!
If you want to take the flavor up a bit and make the latte cozier, add a few chai bags and steep the tea in the syrup to infuse. This will give you the warming flavors of chaiwhich is insanely delicious. Totally optional though and up to you!
Copycat Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
I have been on an oatmilk kick lately, and really love it in tea and coffee. My particular favorite has been making lattes with oatmilk because its so thick and creamy. When I first saw the Starbucks plant based drink announcement I was excited try, until I saw how much caffeine is in one drink. I decided rather than get hooked on something that is well over the amount of caffeine than a tea latte that Id make my own at home using half decaf. This copycat Starbuck iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso is a delicious and lightly sweetened, plant-based drink for spring.
This drink is so delicious and its not a sugar bomb like a lot of their drinks are. Making this at home is surprisingly easy. I dont have an espresso maker so I use instant coffee at home. What I enjoy about this is that its delicious without all the caffeine and sugar. I also love the oatmilk so its just the perfect combination.
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How To Make This Recipe
This DIY syrup can be whipped up in under 5 minutes. Heres how!
3. Transfer the simple syrup, along with the cinnamon stick, to a reusable bottle that has been sterilized. Allow the cinnamon to steep in the syrup for 24 hours at room temperature.After 24 hours, remove the cinnamon stick. You can use the syrup immediately, or store it in a sealed bottle in the refrigerator for 4 5 months.
What Is Shaken Espresso
Think of it as a coffee drink prepared like a cocktail .
For this recipe the homemade brown sugar simple syrup and prepared espresso are shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker or jar and poured over fresh ice in a glass.
Why do this? It blends the ingredients better versus stirring them and gives great flavor.
This technique is how many cocktails recipes are made.
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What Is In The Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso
Espresso, simple syrup, and milk are the main ingredients of the Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso. You can make the espresso from a pack of Starbucks Espresso Dark Roast ground coffee beans. You can buy these in stores and online.
If you purchase your coffee grounds and unground coffee beans from your favorite supermarket, then you may be able to find them there, too. Of course, you are free to use other brands of espresso ground and whole coffee beans.
If a complete copycat of this drink is what you are after, however, it may be better for you to use Starbucks Espresso Dark Roast coffee bean grounds to make it.
Quick Fact: Since you are making the drink at home, you can use any espresso-making machine to make this drink.
The Nespresso is a good one to use in this case. You can also choose which milk to use for your drink. You can go with dairy milk or non-dairy milk.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Power through your day with a delicious glass of Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso made right at home! Its a complete copycat of Starbucks version!
When you need/want to be productive this is the drink to make. Its refreshing and gives you that jolt of energy you need to keep you going throughout the day. I find myself making these on most Mondays because that is when I need a kick to get going after a long weekend.
You dont need any fancy equipment to make this recipe, just a mason jar , espresso machine, the ingredients and you the barista. I recently purchased an Instant Pod that is an espresso and coffee maker in one. It was actually inexpensive and totally worth every penny. It takes Nespresso pods and Keurig cups so you only need one machine, space saving and makes delicious coffee every time. I do suggest using an espresso maker for this recipe otherwise it will not taste the same. Hope you enjoy this sweet and creamy drink as much as I do!
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What Is Iced Shaken Espresso
Think of iced shaken espresso like shaking a cocktail, but with no alcohol.
In this case, the homemade brown sugar simple syrup is shaken with the shots of freshly brewed espresso first to allow the brown sugar to blend in properly as opposed to stirring it. Its then shaken with ice to cool the coffee. As a bonus, it gets a little frothy at the top!
Starbucks says the benefit to shaking the espresso with the brown sugar adds another dimension to the beverage, creates a rich texture on your palate by just adding air, and mellows it.
You dont need a cocktail shaker for this! You can use anything with a lid on it like a mason jar.