Name: Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Copycat Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 shots Starbucks blonde espresso roast; 2 teaspoons Light brown sugar; 6 ounces (3/4 cup) oatmilk; 1 dash Cinnamon

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This Starbucks iced brown sugar shaken espresso copycat recipe lets you make your favorite drink at home for less money and less time than it takes to drive there! This drink is the perfect balance of sweet and coffee, without being syrupy!

Prep Time
5 Minutes

Total Time
5 Minutes

Servings
1 Drink

Handmade Starbucks brown sugar shaken espresso with oatmilk and cinnamon foam.

What Makes This Recipe Different

The brown sugar adds a rich flavor with a slight hint of molasses!
You do not need an espresso maker to make this drink.
Shaken method creates a frothy drink without dairy.
I have included Starbucks secret menu and sizing chart so you can make a Tall, Grande or Venti.

A picture of Ruth Grindeland the owner, recipe developer and content creator at Sinful Kitchen.

The Drink that Takes Me Back to the 90’s

I tried the Starbucks iced brown sugar shaken espresso the other day, and it took me straight back to Honey Nut Cheerios in my college days. The flavor was warm and oaty. I finished it in ten minutes, and I did not feel guilty.

I only had two complaints. 1. It was VERY sweet. Maybe even too sweet. 2. $6.00 is more than I want to regularly spend. So, I rolled up my sleeves and figured out how to recreate the same flavor at home for a fraction of the price.

This recipe skips the syrup and saves you money. If you want to level up, top this drink with my vanilla sweet cream cold foam copycat recipe. Trust me, it’s so good!

Ruth

A glass filled with Starbucks iced brown sugar shaken espresso copycat and topped with sweet cream cold foam.

Quick Answers to Your Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Questions

Does this Recipe Taste Like Starbucks?

This recipe is close, very close, but not quite the same. It is slightly less sweet, coffee-forward, and less syrupy. I believe this recipe tastes better than Starbucks, and it’s made with simple ingredients!

What are the Benefits of Making a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso at Home? (Comparison Chart)

Feature	Starbucks Original	Sinful Kitchen Copycat
Sweetener	Brown sugar syrup (4 pumps)	Real brown sugar (2 teaspoons)
Milk	Oatly Oatmilk	Any unsweetened oatmilk
Cost	$6.00+	$.75
Time	10–15 minutes (including drive time)	5 minutes
Flavor	Very sweet, syrup-forward	Balanced and customizable

Ingredients

Blonde Espresso

Blonde espresso is the best choice for this recipe, and it’s what Starbucks uses. The blonde roast has a light and slightly sweeter flavor than their Pike Place or Italian Dark Roast. The blonde gives this drink a balanced flavor. You can buy Veranda Blonde whole bean coffee at Starbucks, most large grocery stores, or online.

Brown Sugar

Starbucks recommends using light brown sugar, but you can also use dark. Vegans, look for an organic brown sugar to avoid bone char.

Cinnamon

You only need a small dash. Leave it out if you are out of cinnamon or don’t like it. This drink is delicious with or without cinnamon!

Unsweetened Oatmilk

Starbucks uses the unsweetened Oatly brand for its drinks. This is found at most large grocery stores. The oatmilk gives this drink a distinctive flavor. You can use any milk, but I would stick with oatmilk if you can.

If you are shopping for an espresso machine, I strongly recommend Breville. We bought ours in 2018. We use it daily!

Instructions

Step One: Espresso

Start by making the espresso. Then, stir the brown sugar into the espresso. You want to do this while the espresso is still hot so that the brown sugar dissolves and creates an even flavor.

To make this drink without an espresso maker, use a French Press or Starbucks Instant Espresso.

Step Two: Mix

Place the ice, espresso, and cinnamon in a cocktail shaker or mason jar with the top screwed on tightly. Shake vigorously 10 to 20 times.

Step Three: Serve

Pour the espresso into a glass and top with oatmilk. If you are a cinnamon lover, top with another dash before serving!

Credit: This recipe was adapted from Starbucks At Home.

Starbucks iced brown sugar shaken espresso copycat recipe topped with sweet cream. The picture is from the top and you can see the ice cubes.

The Secrets to the Perfect Shaken Espresso

Let the brown sugar fully dissolve before adding the milk. This gives the drink a consistent flavor.
Shake the coffee while the espresso is still warm. This creates a better foam.
Use large ice cubes for slower dilution.
Always shake and never stir! The shaking creates a micro-foam texture. It makes the drink creamy, without heavy dairy. It also rapidly cools the espresso without diluting it as much as stirring does.
If you do not have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with the lid on. I have a cocktail shaker, but I always use a mason jar. I feel more comfortable shaking it knowing the lid is tightly screwed on.

Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso Secret Menu at Home

Vanilla Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Make a Vanilla Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso by adding a pump of vanilla syrup.

Dirty Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Try a Dirty Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso by adding an extra shot (or two) of espresso.

Chai Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Chai lovers, add a pump of chai syrup to make Chai Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can make an Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso without a cocktail shaker by using a mason jar instead. Make sure to tightly close the cap before shaking.

Blonde is a lighter roast coffee and regular is darker and has a bolder taste. The blonde roast also tends to have citrus elements to the flavor.

Drain your drink so that the ice and mixed beverage are separate. Store the mixed beverage in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two days. When you’re ready to drink it, pour it in a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Close tightly and shake vigorously. Then pour over ice.

Yes, this drink is already dairy-free thanks to the oatmilk. To ensure it’s vegan, use vegan or organic brown sugar.

Shaking the drink creates a micro-foam texture. It makes the drink creamy, without heavy dairy. It also quickly cools the espresso without diluting it as much as stirring does.

Yes, this recipe was written using the recipe on Starbucks at Home. I prefer the brown sugar over the syrup. It’s fast, easy and I do not have to store the syrup.

How Did It Go?

I hope you loved this Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Copycat Recipe as much as I do! Before you go, please leave me a rating and let me know your thoughts on this recipe. Your feedback is valuable to other readers and me.

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso in a glass on top of coasters

Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Copycat Recipe

This Starbucks iced brown sugar shaken espresso copycat recipe lets you make your favorite drink at home for less money and less time than it takes to drive there!

5 from 3 votes

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Course: All Day

Cuisine: American

Diet:

Servings: Grande Drink (Size Chart Below)

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 5

Ruth Grindeland

Equipment

▢
1 espresso machine or instant espresso

Ingredients

▢ 2 shots Starbucks blonde espresso roast
▢ 2 teaspoons Light brown sugar
▢ 6 ounces (3/4 cup) oatmilk
▢ 1 dash Cinnamon

Instructions

Step One: Espresso

Start by making the espresso. Then, stir the brown sugar into the espresso. You want to do this while the espresso is still hot so that the brown sugar dissolves and creates an even flavor.

Step Two: Mix

Place the ice, espresso, and cinnamon in a cocktail shaker or mason jar with the top screwed on tightly. Shake vigorously 10 to 20 times.

Step Three: Serve

Pour the espresso into a glass and top with oatmilk. If you are a cinnamon lover, top with another dash before serving!

Notes

Note: This recipe uses brown sugar instead of syrup. In my testing, I felt that brown sugar created a richer flavor.

Conversion Chart (Size Adjustments You Can Make)

Size	Volume	Espresso Shots	Brown Sugar (Pumps/Tsp)	Oatmilk (Approx)
Tall	12 oz	2 Shots	3 Pumps (1.5 tsp)	4 oz
Grande	16 oz	3 Shots	4 Pumps (2 tsp)	6 oz
Venti	24 oz	4 Shots	6 Pumps (3 tsp)	10 oz

Nutrition

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6 Comments

Foua Moua says:

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For someone who is always on the go and has an extremely tight morning schedule, this is my go to recipe. I have tried this multiple times and love it! It’s so simple, quick and delicious.

1. Ruth Grindeland says:
  
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  Awe, you’re the best! I know you love this drink, and thank you for leaving a comment. ❤️
  
Amy says:

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After seeing our specialty coffee costs rise dramatically over the past year or so, my husband and I decided to get a home espresso machine. We figure it will pay for itself within a year. So, I happened upon this recipe in an effort to recreate one of my favorites. I added my brown sugar to my espresso cup and let my espresso brew over it before adding to the cocktail shaker and I topped with some vanilla sweet cream at the end. It was amazing! Thanks for the recipe!

1. Ruth Grindeland says:
  
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  Hi Amy, I am so happy you liked it! Your message is perfect timing. I was staring at our espresso machine this morning and remembering buying it five years ago. My husband insisted. I am glad he did. We have saved so much money!
  
jill says:

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I must get an expresso machine. This looks so yummy!

1. Ruth Grindeland says:
  
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  Hi Jill, we love ours so much! I gave my husband such a hard time for buying one because I loved Starbucks. But the amount of money we have saved is crazy! Plus, it makes great drinks like this expresso.