Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso (Starbucks Copycat)

Bring one of the most popular summer coffees into your own home with this quick and easy iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso recipe! This easy copycat recipe uses regular brown sugar (no need for a fancy syrup) to make an iced coffee drink that is the perfect amount of sweet and oh so easy to sip on. This homemade version is so good you won’t even miss the Starbucks version!

If you’re like me, iced coffee drinks are a must when the weather is warm. Not only is this iced shaken espresso super easy to make, it’s a great way to save money instead of dropping $5+ a pop every time you want to enjoy a specialty coffee.  Iced chocolate almondmilk shaken espresso, iced white chocolate mochas, honey almond milk cold brew… you can make all of these great Starbucks style drinks at home!

If you love the Starbucks shaken espresso coffees, this brown sugar iced shaken espresso recipe is for you!

What is 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.

Ingredients Needed to Make a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso at Home

Brown Sugar. You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar for this recipe. Dark brown sugar has more molasses by volume than light, resulting in a more robust flavor.

Vanilla Extract. Adds a hint of delicious vanilla flavor and a touch of sweetness to your coffee.

Optional: Ground Cinnamon. If desired, add a dash of cinnamon to your mason jar and/or on top of your shaken espresso. Adding this is really based on your personal preferences. I really enjoy it with and without the cinnamon.

Espresso or Strong Coffee. If you bought a Starbucks iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso, it would be made with the Starbucks Blonde Espresso roast. However, I always recommend using whatever kind of espresso or coffee blend is your favorite when making homemade coffee drinks. Whether you use regular espresso or prefer to brew strong coffee, this easy Starbucks copycat recipe will be a delicious drink. 

Ice. Used during shaking to cool down your drink.

Unsweetened Oat Milk. Creamy oat milk works perfectly in this brown sugar espresso drink. We’re using unsweetened as you’ll get more than enough sweetness from the brown sugar already.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso Recipe Variations

• Use a different milk. Not into oat milk? No problem. This iced shaken espresso recipe work great with dairy milk and other non-dairy milks too!
• Use brown sugar simple syrup. While I don’t find a need to use a simple syrup in this recipe, brown sugar simple syrup is what Starbucks uses to make this drink. If you’ve purchased or made brown sugar simple syrup, use 2 tablespoons of brown sugar simple syrup per drink (in lieu of the brown sugar listed in the recipe card).

How to Make a Brown Sugar Iced Shaken Espresso

Step 1: Add brown sugar to a mason jar.

Step 2: Add hot espresso (or strongly brewed coffee) on top of the brown sugar.

Step 3: Add vanilla extract to the hot coffee and brown sugar and then stir to combine.

Step 4: Fill the jar about half full with ice.

Step 5: Tightly secure the lid, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the coffee feels cold and looks frothy.

Step 6: Remove the lid and top with oat milk.

Step 7: Add a straw, stir to combine, and enjoy!

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso copycat recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, and dairy free as written. See below for modification to make this a vegan coffee recipe.

• Make this into a vegan iced coffee by swapping out the brown sugar for a vegan-friendly sweetener such as pure maple syrup. This will no longer be a brown sugar shaken espresso, but it will still taste lovely.
• A note for those needing to make a gluten free coffee: verify the oat milk chosen is certified to be gluten free. This is especially important if you’re serving this iced coffee to someone with a gluten intolerance and may be affected by cross-contamination.

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 maker 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.