If you’re a coffee lover whose also a fan of chocolate, an iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso is a must try! This simple recipe is shaken up in minutes, and is the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot day. Freshly brewed espresso (or strongly brewed coffee) is shaken with chocolate malted milk powder and ice and then topped with regular almond milk to create a delicious and frothy iced coffee.
I’ve been making homemade coffee drinks for over 15 years, and shaken espressos have become some of my favorites during the warmer months. As someone who’s developed dozens of coffee recipes for this website, I’ve learned that the key to a great shaken espresso is all in the technique. Through extensive testing, I’ve figured out the perfect amount of chocolate malt powder for rich flavor without being too sweet, the ideal shaking time to get that signature frothy texture, and the right ratio of espresso to milk so the coffee flavor shines through.
If you’re like me, cold coffees are a must when the weather is warm. Along with our DIY iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso, vanilla sweet cream cold brew, iced white chocolate mocha, and honey almond milk cold brew recipes, this chocolate shaken espresso is on near constant rotation during the summer.
Like all our homemade coffee recipes, another reason to love this Starbucks copycat is that making your own iced coffees at home is a great way to save money and still enjoy a high quality specialty coffee that may be even better than the real thing!
Jump to:
- What is a Shaken Espresso?
- Why You’ll Love this Iced Shaken Espresso Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Chocolate Shaken Espresso Recipe Variations
- How to Make a Starbucks Chocolate Shaken Espresso
- Shaken Espresso Expert Tips
- Helpful Equipment
- More Recipes To Try
- Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso (Starbucks Copycat)
What is a Shaken Espresso?
A shaken espresso is a popular summertime beverage at Starbucks that is based on the popular Italian iced espresso drink called a shakerato.
The general process for making shaken espresso is to add hot espresso, sugar or simple syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake until combined and cold.
Most shaken espresso drinks in the US are then topped with some type of milk.
Why You’ll Love this Iced Shaken Espresso Recipe
Ready in minutes. Pull a couple espresso shots, add chocolate malt powder and ice, shake for 20 seconds, and top with almond milk. Way faster than waiting in a drive thru line and you get cafe quality results at home!
Just a handful of ingredients. This recipe uses only four simple ingredients, so your shopping list is short and you know exactly what’s going into your drink. No weird additives or artificial ingredients here.
Completely customizable. One of the best things about making your own shaken espresso at home is you can have it exactly the way you like it every single time. Want it sweeter? Add more chocolate malt powder. Prefer oat milk? Swap it in. Need it decaf? Use decaf espresso. The possibilities are endless!
Budget friendly. Instead of spending $5+ per drink at Starbucks, you can make this at home for a fraction of the cost. The ingredients you buy will make multiple drinks, saving you serious money while still enjoying a specialty coffee beverage.
Ingredients Needed
- Chocolate Malted Milk Powder (aka Chocolate Malt Powder). Using a pre-made chocolate malt powder keeps things easy!
- Espresso or Strong Coffee. If you bought one of these at Starbucks, it would be made with the Starbucks Blonde Espresso roast. However, I always recommend using whatever your favorite espresso or coffee blend is when making homemade coffee drinks.
- Note: 2 espresso shots is equal to 2 ounces (or ¼ cup).
- Ice. Used during shaking to cool down your drink.
- Unsweetened Almond Milk. Using unsweetened, regular almond milk add a lovely nutty flavor to your shaken espresso. If desired, you could also use vanilla almond milk.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Chocolate Shaken Espresso Recipe Variations
- Use sweetened almond milk. If you prefer a sweeter drink, simply swap in sweetened almond 1-for-1 with the unsweetened variety called for.
- Try a different milk. This iced shaken espresso recipe work great with dairy milk, or you can try other non-dairy milks like oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk too.
- Make your own chocolate malt powder. The 3 tablespoons of chocolate malted milk powder can be replaced with: 1 tablespoon of malt powder, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Use cold brew coffee. This is a great coffee option for iced drinks. If you’re going to do this, you’ll want to make a quick DIY chocolate syrup to ensure your chocolate malt powder mixes in well with the cold coffee. To do this, add your 3 tablespoons of chocolate malted milk to a small glass and top with a dash of hot water. Stir vigorously to combine (or use a milk frother!). Then add to your mason jar with ice and shake as noted in the directions.
- Use coffee ice cubes to really elevate your caffeine levels.
How to Make a Starbucks Chocolate Shaken Espresso
Add chocolate malt powder to a mason jar.
Add hot shots of espresso (or strongly brewed coffee) to the mason jar and stir to combine.
Fill the jar about half full with ice, tightly secure the lid, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the coffee feels cold and looks frothy.
Remove the lid and top with unsweetened almond milk. Add a straw, stir to combine, and enjoy!
Shaken Espresso Expert Tips
Malt powder is NOT considered gluten free or vegan. Because malted milk powder is a key ingredient, this is not a recipe that can be altered to be gluten free or vegan. Since malt powder is made with malted barley, it is not considered gluten free. Malted milk powder also contains milk, meaning it is not considered vegan or dairy free.
The best almond milk brands to use in this shaken espresso recipe. I’ve taste-tested a wide variety of unsweetened almond milks, and the ones I would recommend using an iced chocolate almondmilk shaken espresso are: Califia Farms Almondmilk, Pacific Foods Almond Plant-Based Beverage, or Almond Breeze Almondmilk. However, if there are other brands in your local grocery store, or store brands that you’re interested in, give them a try to find what you like best!
Helpful Equipment
I personally love making homemade espresso with a moka pot because it’s a simple, small, and affordable way to brew espresso. If you have the space and drink espresso a lot, an espresso machine may be a good investment for you!
Using a 16oz wide-mouth mason jar + lid is the easiest way to make a homemade shaken espresso. Plus, mason jars can be used for so many things, they’re a great thing to have around the house.
I also recommend using reusable straws when you can because they’re a better option for the environment.
More Recipes To Try
Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon chocolate malted milk powder*
- ⅓ C espresso (or strongly brewed coffee)
- ice cubes
- ¼-1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Add chocolate malt powder and hot espresso (or strongly brewed coffee) to a mason jar and stir to combine.
- Fill the jar about half full with ice, tightly secure the lid, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the coffee feels cold and looks frothy.
- Remove the lid and top with unsweetened almond milk.
- Add a straw, stir to combine, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use sweetened almond milk. Replace unsweetened almond milk with sweetened almond milk if you prefer a sweeter drink!
- Try a different milk. If you do not want to use almond milk, you have lots of options! This iced shaken espresso recipe work great with dairy milk, or you can select another plant-based option too like oat milk, coconut milk,
- Make your own chocolate malt powder. The 3 tablespoons of chocolate malted milk powder can be replaced with: 1 tablespoon of malt powder, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Use cold brew coffee. This is a great coffee option for iced drinks. If you’re going to do this, you’ll want to make a quick DIY chocolate syrup to ensure your chocolate malt powder mixes in well with the cold coffee. To do this, add your 3 tablespoons of chocolate malted milk to a small glass and top with a dash of hot water. Stir vigorously to combine (or use a milk frother!). Then add to your mason jar with ice and shake per the simple steps in the recipe card.
- Use coffee ice cubes to really elevate your caffeine levels.
David says
This one is pretty good! Comes together quick and tastes great.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for trying my recipe 🙂