Grab a cocktail shaker and let’s make an Iced Shaken Espresso at home, inspired by Starbucks.

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A now permanent addition to the Starbucks menu are the Shaken Espressos.

There’s a classic Iced Shaken Espresso, which we’ll make here, along with two plant based variations (which you can also make at home!)

These additions aren’t new. It was introduced in the summer of 2003 with the concept of shaking the beverage in order to mix the ingredients, bring out flavors and cool it quickly.

Since then, Starbucks realized that cold beverages were being enjoyed all year long and customers were looking for more plant based options.

Hence, the reintroduction of the shaken espresso and plant based alternatives, Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso.

What is Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso?

As listed on the Starbucks website, the Iced Shaken Espresso is made with Ice, Milk, Brewed Espresso and Classic Syrup.

Espresso is made, then shaken with ice and flavored with a syrup and topped with milk.

At home, we’ll do something similar. We’ll brew our own espresso, shake it with ice, use our own syrup (I list some options below) and add a generous amount of milk, which can be plant based.

Iced Shaken Espresso Ingredients

2 cups of ice
½ cup espresso
¼ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla syrup (optional)
Cocktail shaker

Tips for Making Iced Shaken Espresso

Espresso

If you have an espresso machine at home, great! You can pull a few shots of espresso for this Iced Shaken Espresso recipe.

If you do not have an espresso machine at home, this is not a problem. There are alternatives. Check out our guide to making espresso without an espresso machine.

While making true espresso does require an espresso machine as the machine allows for the right amount of pressure to make that perfect shot, these other methods will result in a concentrated coffee, almost like espresso.

I tend to use a moka pot, which is very easy to use.

Ice

Starbucks uses regular water based ice and I did too in this recipe. However, if you want to avoid ever having diluted coffee, you can make coffee ice cubes.

Simply pour coffee into ice cube trays, freeze it and you have coffee ice cubes! When these cubes melt in your coffee, it just becomes more coffee.

Milk

I used oat milk.

The Iced Shaken Espresso at Starbucks comes with a default 2% milk, however since you’re making it at home, feel free to use whichever type of milk or milk alternative you prefer.

Syrup

I used vanilla syrup.

Starbucks uses something called a Classic Syrup, which is listed on their ingredients list. It’s made with Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid. This is basically a simple syrup.

You can either purchase the vanilla syrup, or make your own simple syrup at home. Here’s how:

Pour equal amounts of granulated sugar and water into a pot and heat over medium heat.
Stir contents until the sugar dissolves, then turn off the heat.
You can stir in vanilla extract or other flavors if you’d like.
Once the syrup has cooled, pour it into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator to use several times.

Or if you want to make it sugar free, leave this ingredient out.

How to Make Iced Shaken Espresso

Brew espresso. I used a moka pot.
Place ice and espresso into a cocktail shaker.
Shake the cocktail shaker for about 10 seconds. (You can pour the hot espresso into the ice immediately after brewing or leave aside to cool a bit before shaking.)
Pour shaken espresso into a glass. Stir in syrup. Top with milk.

In pictures…

Step 1

Brew espresso. I used a moka pot.

Check out our guide for making espresso without an espresso machine if you do not have one at home.

Step 2

Place ice and espresso into a cocktail shaker.

The espresso can be added to the ice immediately after brewing, or you can leave it aside to cool before mixing with the ice.

Step 3

Shake the cocktail shaker for about 10 seconds.

Step 4

Pour shaken espresso into a glass. Stir in syrup and top with milk.

More Starbucks Inspired Coffee Recipes You May Like

Iced Shaken Espresso Recipe

Yield: 1

Iced Shaken Espresso

Grab a cocktail shaker and let’s make an Iced Shaken Espresso at home, inspired by Starbucks.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

2 cups of ice
½ cup espresso
¼ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla syrup (optional)
Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Brew espresso. I used a moka pot.

2. Place ice and espresso into a cocktail shaker.

3. Shake the cocktail shaker for about 10 seconds. (You can pour the hot espresso into the ice immediately after brewing or leave aside to cool a bit before shaking.)

4. Pour shaken espresso into a glass. Stir in syrup. Top with milk.