Making a brown sugar shaken espresso at home is only acceptable if it's as good as the original, in my opinion. Otherwise, I'd rather just buy it as a treat and drink my regular homemade coffee on the other days. Why spend all the effort? The good news is, I've had enough of the Starbucks brown sugar shaken espresso, to know it's just as good. I guess you could say it was all market research? You don't need any fancy ingredients or syrups to make this fabulous drink. So let's dive in!

Ingredients:

Espresso shot- An espresso shot is a concentrated coffee beverage produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans, resulting in a small, intense shot of coffee with a rich flavor and crema. We're obsessed with our Breville one. If you don't have an espresso machine, I've included some substitutes below.
Brown sugar- light brown or dark brown.
Water- to make the brown sugar simple syrup.
Cinnamon
Ice
Milk- the OG drink calls for oat milk, but you can use any type you'd like. I prefer whole milk.

How to make brown sugar shaken espresso at home:

Make the brown sugar syrup by combining the brown sugar and water in a saucepan. Whisk and cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved, 2-3 minutes. Set aside to lightly cool.
Brew the espresso shot (I love a double one!) Pour the shot into a cocktail shaker (or jar with tight fitting lid) filled with ice. Add in your desired amount of brown sugar syrup (I like to use 2 Tbsp) and cinnamon. Cover the shaker and shake very well.
Pour the contents of the shaker, including the ice, into a glass and top with milk.
Lightly stir and enjoy!

FAQ's for brown sugar shaken espresso at home

Can I make the brown sugar syrup in advance?

Yes! I actually like to double the recipe and keep it in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. That way I can make this drink whenever I crave it! It's best when used by 2-3 weeks.

I don't have an espresso machine. What else can I use?

You can use 2 oz/60 ml of any other very strong coffee, for example cold brew concentrate.

Do you have to shake it?

The shaking is really key here. It mixes the coffee, syrup and cinnamon together for a smooth taste. You do not need to use a cocktail shaker though, a jar with a tight fitting lid works just as well!

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Brown sugar shaken espresso at home

This brown sugar shaken espresso at home is everything you'll crave in the coffeehouse version. Bold espresso meets a homemade brown sugar syrup for a sweet invigorating pick me up that's sure to start your day off right!

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Prep Time 5

Servings: 1 serving

Course: Drinks

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

Brown sugar syrup

¼ c brown sugar
¼ c water

Coffee

2 oz espresso a.k.a. a double shot
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ - ½ c milk of your choice
Ice

Equipment

Cocktail shaker or jar with tight fitting lid
Ideally an espresso machine

Method

Make the brown sugar syrup by combining the brown sugar and water in a saucepan. Whisk and cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved, 2-3 minutes. Set aside to lightly cool.
Brew the espresso shot (I love a double one!) Pour the shot into a cocktail shaker (or jar with tight fitting lid) filled with ice. Add in your desired amount of brown sugar syrup (I like to use 2 Tbsp) and cinnamon. Cover the shaker and shake very well.
Pour the contents of the shaker, including the ice, into a glass and top with milk.
Lightly stir and enjoy!