Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Recipe

The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso calls for creamy oat milk, iced coffee, and frothy brown sugar syrup. We aimed to find a variation almost identical to the original Starbucks recipe but a bit more creamy. Prepare to embark on a journey of rich flavors, crazy textures, and a perfect coffee-sweet balance!

How to Make Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Starbucks’ iced shaken espresso conquered the coffee world in the early 2000s. As one of Starbucks’ simplest iced coffee drinks, it contains ice, espresso, oat milk and brown sugar syrup (shaken in a cocktail shaker). Each ingredient is an inseparable part of this yummy drink, giving the drink a fuller body and a frothy texture.

Step 1: Make The Brown Sugar Syrup

Mix brown sugar, water, salt, and ground cinnamon in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve the cinnamon and to prevent the sugar from burning. Once the blend boils, lower the heat and simmer for five minutes. 

Logically, once the sugar completely dissolves, you’re done. Lastly, add the vanilla extract, and let it cool. Store it in the fridge.

A word of caution: Brown sugar syrup should be thin and easily pourable. Stop boiling once the sugar dissolves; otherwise, it’ll thicken. In case your syrup accidentally thickens (we won’t judge, the same happened to us), lower the heat and slowly whisk in hot water until you get the desired consistency.

Keep in mind that the recipe makes multiple servings of brown sugar syrup. Store in the fridge for up to four weeks if you wish. 

Step 2: Make Your Coffee

The next step in making brown sugar-shaken espresso is to brew coffee. Starbucks uses two shots of blonde espresso. Blonde roast has a lighter and milder flavor compared to other roast levels. Reason being? People roast the beans for a shorter duration at lower temperatures (2). 

Blonde roast has a delicate balance of acidity, sweetness, and a smooth finish. Yet, this doesn’t mean blonde espresso doesn’t have caffeine. In fact, blonde roast beans pack a punch and have more caffeine than some dark roasts. As a result, you’ll get your morning kick for sure.

There are several other ways to make coffee for the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shake Espresso:

• Espresso machine — Use 15 g of finely ground coffee beans for a double espresso shot.
• Moka pot — Use a stove-top moka pot for making coffee that resembles espresso. Starbucks recommends using the Veranda blend when brewing espresso with a moka pot.
• French press — Use a French press to make strong coffee.
• Regular brewed coffee — Make strongly brewed coffee to get an identical original flavor.
• Instant espresso — Buy a packet of instant espresso and follow the instructions.
• Cold brew espresso — Buy a bottle of cold brew coffee at the grocery store.

Step 3: Mix the Ingredients

Pour the espresso into a glass mason jar or a cocktail shaker. Add the brown sugar syrup and ice. Shake for about two minutes or until the drink turns frothy. The shaking is the crucial part, so don’t be afraid to give your arm a workout.

Step 4: Serve the Drink

If you’ve used a cocktail shaker to make the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso, transfer it to a fancy glass and top it with milk.Try some cinnamon on top for decoration and more flavors. Stir and enjoy.

A note about oat milk: Starbucks uses unsweetened oat milk for the brown sugar shaken espresso. We advise using barista-style milk designed to produce the smoothest milky foam. Plus, frothing gives you a bubbly, continuous coffee.

If You Want a Shortcut

Finally, we’ve gotten into these elaborate steps for making the Iced Brown Sugar Espresso drink. But you can go for the lazy version: add a tablespoon of brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract to a mason jar, add the coffee, and swirl to mix. The sugar will melt, and you don’t have to simmer or boil anything. 

Is the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Sweet?

Yes, the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is sweet. The sweetness comes from the brown sugar syrup. This syrup adds caramel-like sweetness to the drink, which enhances the flavor profile. As a result, there is a nice balance of flavors due to the sweetness and the bitterness. 

When making the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home, vary the sweetness level based on your personal taste in the following ways:

• If you like coffee lightly sweetened or without sugar, use 1 1/2 tablespoons of syrup 
• If you have a sweet tooth, use 2 1/2 tablespoons. 

Generally, adding the sweetness is easier than removing it, so start with less syrup and add as desired.

How Many Shots in Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?

The number of shots in an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is based on the drink size. The Tall version has one espresso shot, the Grande version has two shots, and the Venti size has three. Generally, two shots provide an intense coffee flavor.

Also, keep in mind the caffeine content of the drink. Starbucks uses blonde roast in this drink. One shot of blonde roast has 85 mg of caffeine, so two shots bring you to 170 mg. The Venti size has the most caffeine at around 225 mg of caffeine. This is a significant amount, as the recommended daily dose of caffeine is 400 mg (3).

Final Thoughts

The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a refreshing beverage. It’s a blend of robust espresso, nutty oat milk, and sweet brown sugar syrup that balances flavors. Follow the easy steps we outlined above for the best recipe, and make sure to shake vigorously. The shaking method produces a frothy and aerated texture so that each sip will be a creamy experience.
Simmer, shake, pour, stir, drink, and repeat.