Better Than the Coffee Shop: Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
You might remember the rich, caramel-like goodness of the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup recipe I shared with you recently—well, my coffee-loving friend, it’s time to put it to fantastic use!
Today, we’re recreating Starbucks magic in our very own kitchens with an irresistible homemade Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. Imagine capturing that creamy, perfectly sweetened coffee delight without even leaving your cozy home. And guess what? It tastes exactly like the real deal. Starbucks vibes, but make it homemade—dreamy, right?
Ready to shake things up and channel your inner barista?
I’ve opted for two trusty mason jars (one to shake and one to serve) because, honestly, they’re just too cute and practical to resist! But don’t worry—if mason jars aren’t your thing, a cocktail shaker and your favorite glass will do just as nicely. The result will always be creamy, frothy espresso goodness that’ll have you skipping the coffee run more often than you might expect.
Let’s dive right in and shake our way to espresso heaven!
Ingredients you need
- Espresso (or strong brewed coffee)
- Brown sugar simple syrup (homemade or store bought)
- Ground cinnamon (optional, for a warm spice note)
- Milk or plant-based milk (e.g., oat milk)
- Cubed Ice (once for the shaker and then again for the serving glass)
Step-by-step
How To Make Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso From Scratch
Step 1: Brew Your Espresso Magic
First things first: Brew two shots of your favorite espresso. Whether you swear by your trusty espresso machine, love your Moka pot ritual, or prefer the simplicity of an Aeropress—just make sure your coffee beans are freshly ground. This ensures every sip will taste vibrant and bold. Set your espresso aside to cool slightly while you get ready for the syrup.
Step 2: Sweeten the Deal with Brown Sugar Syrup
Now comes the secret sauce: your homemade Brown Sugar Simple Syrup. (Don’t have it ready yet? No worries—here’s my easy-peasy recipe!)
This syrup gives our drink its caramel-like sweetness and incredible depth. Yum!
Step 3: Shake, Shake, Shake!
Grab your mason jar (or a cocktail shaker) and fill it generously with ice. Pour in your slightly cooled espresso, 1–2 tablespoons of your delicious brown sugar syrup, and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon if you like it cozy. Now the fun part—shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until beautifully frothy and ice-cold. That silky foam layer? Pure coffee heaven.
Step 4: Froth and Top
Last but not least, froth the milk with an electric frother or shake it by hand until frothy. Top your brown sugar shaken espresso with the frothed milk and enjoy!
Barista Tips
Customize Your Creation
- Oat Milk Magic: Swap in oat milk for Starbucks’ authentic, creamy texture.
- Coconut Dream: Add coconut milk for an indulgent, tropical twist.
- Maple Goodness: Use maple syrup instead of brown sugar syrup for earthy sweetness.
- For a café touch, top with cold-frothed milk foam. Check out our tips on how to froth your milk without a frother and best milk to froth for coffee.
Variations
- Substitute oat milk for classic Starbucks flavor, coconut milk for tropical flair, or maple syrup for a cozy twist.
Products
- Espresso machine or coffee maker of your choice
- 2 Mason jars (or 1 jar and 1 shaker)
- Measuring tools /jigger
More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew {Starbucks Copy Cat Recipe}
- Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Best Milk to Froth for Coffee
- How to froth milk without a frother
- Coffee Slushy: The Ultimate Iced Coffee Treat
- What is an Iced Latte
- Iced Vanilla Coffee
- Plant-based Vanilla Iced Coffee
- Baileys Iced Coffee
- Strawberry Iced Coffee {stirred} with Cold Brew
- Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Iced Latte Caramel with Homemade Caramel Milk
- Iced Coffee with Milk
- Iced Eggnog Latte
- Iced Lavender Latte
- Iced Honey Latte
- How to make Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso?
- Cold Brew Tonic
- Cold Brew Ratio – Guide
- Cold Brew Gin Tonic
- Cold Brew Black Russian
- Cold Brew White Russian
- Chocolate Iced Coffee
- Gifts for Cold Brew Coffee Lovers
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Can You Make Cold Brew in a French Press
- Cold brew with the Mason Jar
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @coffeewithnora and hashtag #coffeewithnora_recipes, so I don’t miss it.
Homemade Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Equipment
- Espresso machine or coffee maker of your choice
- 2 Mason jars (or 1 jar and 1 shaker)
- Electric frother
Ingredients
- 2 shots Espresso or ½ cup strong brewed coffee
- 1-2 tbsp Brown sugar syrup recipe below
- ½ tsp Ground cinnamon optional, for a warm spice note
- Cubed Ice for the shaker or first mason jar
- Cubed Ice for the serving glass or mason jar
- ¾ cup Milk or plant-based milk
Instructions
- Brew 2 shots Espresso using your preferred brewing method (espresso machine, Moka pot, Aeropress). Freshly ground coffee beans recommended!2 shots Espresso
- Set espresso aside briefly to cool.
Shaken Espresso Assembly
- Fill a mason jar or cocktail shaker with Cubed Ice.Cubed Ice
- Add the cooled espresso, 1-2 tbsp Brown sugar syrup, and ½ tsp Ground cinnamon (optional).1-2 tbsp Brown sugar syrup, ½ tsp Ground cinnamon
- Shake vigorously 10–15 seconds until frothy and chilled.
- Pour into a second mason jar over fresh Cubed Ice.Cubed Ice
- Froth ¾ cup Milk with an electric frother.¾ cup Milk
- Top off your brown sugar shaken espresso with the frothed milk.
- Enjoy 😉
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
SO sippable and tasty!!! It’s the perfect way to start the day!
This was smooth, sweet, and just the right amount of frothy—it tasted just like my favorite coffee shop version. I used oat milk and loved how creamy it turned out!
This shaken espresso was smooth, sweet, and honestly, it tasted just like my favorite coffee shop version—maybe even better!
Absolute must have for the coffee lovers!
Homemade brown sugar shaken espresso looks delicious I have made it.