This delicious Starbucks Copycat Shaken Espresso recipe is so frothy and smooth, it's sure to become a favorite! Made with four simple ingredients, espresso, classic syrup, milk, and ice, this irresistible iced coffee drink could not be easier to make!
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Iced shaken espresso drinks seem to be very popular at Starbucks these days, and with good reason! With just the right amount of sweetness and delicious frothy texture, a shaken espresso just hits different!
By making this easy copycat recipe at home, you can customize it to your personal preferences for sweetness and flavor, all while saving few bucks! A shaken espresso only requires a few ingredients and can be made in less than five minutes, which means you can enjoy it anytime, even on a busy weekday morning!
If you love this shaken espresso, be sure to check out the iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso as well, it's like an oatmeal cookie in a glass! And if you love a Starbucks copycat recipe as much as I do, don't miss out on the classic syrup, brown sugar syrup, or the viral TikTok pink drink made with white cran-strawberry juice!
What is a Shaken Espresso?
A shaken espresso is just what the name implies, brewed espresso that has been shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker. The term shaken espresso may have been coined by Starbucks in recent years, but they didn't invent the concept. It is actually a version of a popular Italian iced espresso beverage called a Skakerato. The Starbucks version takes the Italian recipe and then tops it off with milk for a creamy shaken espresso drink.
While you may be thinking, isn't this just an iced latte? You may be actually be surprised at the difference shaking the espresso makes. The hot espresso not only cools quickly with this method, but the act of shaking imparts frothy aeration to the drink. All this means the espresso tastes smooth with a pleasant texture.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Espresso: They key to a delicious shaken espresso drink is good quality espresso. Starbucks uses blonde roast espresso. You can use blonde espresso as well or a dark roast, but the quality of the beans is arguably more important than the type of roast. Use the freshest coffee beans available to you, often found at a local roaster or coffee shops. If you don't have espresso, you can brew some extra strong coffee instead.
- Classic syrup: You can easily make your own Starbucks classic simple syrup at home or use a store-bought version. You can change up the flavor of the syrup by using brown sugar syrup, vanilla syrup, or any other flavor you like!
- Milk of Choice: The Starbucks original version contains 2% milk. Feel free to use your preferred milk, skim or whole milk, or non-dairy milks such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
- Ice cubes
Equipment Needed
- Espresso Maker: You'll need something that can make decent espresso shots. You can use a classic espresso machine like this Breville Barista Express or one that uses pods, like this Nespresso machine. An aeropress or French press are other alternates to making espresso on a budget.
- Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker or 16 ounce mason jar is needed for shaking the espresso.
How to Make an Iced Shaken Espresso
- Brew a double shot of espresso.
- Add the shots of espresso and 2 tablespoons of classic syrup to a cocktail shaker or 2-cup mason jar.
- Fill the shaker with ice, secure the lid, and shake until the espresso is foamy, about 15-30 seconds.
- Pour the shaken espresso along with the ice into a tall glass (or enjoy right from the mason jar) and finish off with the milk of your choice.
Variations
- Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso: Use brown sugar syrup instead of classic, oat milk, and a dash of cinnamon.
- Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso: Use almond milk, malt powder (hot cocoa mix for gluten-free), and either no syrup or classic syrup.
- Swap the Syrup: Feel free to use your favorite syrups, like vanilla syrup, toasted vanilla syrup, or even maple syrup to change up the flavor to suit your tastes!
- Change the Milk: Use your favorite non-dairy milk to make this dairy free! Try creamy oat milk, almond milk, or even chocolate almond milk!
FAQ
The amount of shots is depends on the size of the drink. A tall gets 2 shots of espresso, a grande 3 shots, and a venti 4 shots.
The amount of shots is depends on the size of the drink. A tall gets 3 pumps of classic syrup, a grande 4 pumps, and a venti 6 pumps. You can always customize the number of pumps based on your preferences as well.
An iced shaken espresso tastes similar to an iced latte. It is lightly sweet and creamy, but you can still taste the espresso.
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Recipe
Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 shots freshly brewed espresso
- 2 Tablespoons classic syrup
- 1 cup ice
- ½ cup milk, of choice
Instructions
- Brew a double shot of espresso and place it in a cocktail shaker or mason jar.
- Add the classic syrup and ice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15-30 seconds. The espresso should be cold and foamy.
- Pour the mixture, along with the ice, into your desired drinking glass (or drink right from the mason jar). Top off with milk. Stir and enjoy immediately.
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