Iced Shaken Espresso: Easy Starbucks Drink To Make At Home

Iced Shaken Espresso is the easiest drink on the Starbucks summer menu to replicate at home. It has only a few simple ingredients, doesn’t require any fancy equipment, and needs no special skills or techniques. If you can shake it, you can make it!

This three-step Iced Shaken Espresso recipe will guide you through the process and offer a few helpful hints along the way. Start now, and you’ll enjoy a delicious iced coffee in no time.

What Is An Iced Shaken Espresso?

Starbucks introduced the Iced Shaken Espresso in 2021. It was announced with two other iced shaken espresso drinks, the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso (1). 

Iced Shaken Espresso is the simplest of the Starbucks iced coffee drinks lineup. Ice, espresso shots, and classic syrup sweetener are combined in a cocktail shaker and mixed via vigorous shaking. The shaking isn’t just for show; it adds a fuller body and delightful frothy texture to the beverage. The mix is then served topped with just enough milk to make it creamy without overpowering the coffee flavor.

What’s in a shaken espresso?

This full recipe has only three main ingredients: coffee, milk, and sweetener. So it is worth investing in quality products. 

Coffee

The Starbucks version of this coffee drink uses their Signature Espresso Roast, a classic dark roast blend with flavor notes of dark chocolate and toasted nuts. You can buy Starbucks beans to make this at-home version or choose any espresso blend with a similar taste profile. If you prefer a medium roast brew, look for a balanced blend with nuts, ripe fruit, or caramel flavors.

Milk

Starbucks uses 2% milk for the Iced Shaken Espresso, which we also recommend for its sweetness and fat content balance. You can replace it with whole milk, half-and-half, or light cream for a more decadent treat. Using skim milk results in a lower-fat drink suitable for those concerned about their diet, but it leaves the iced coffee a little watery.

If you want to make a dairy-free and vegan version, unflavored and unsweetened oat or almond milk produces the best results. Other non-dairy milks like coconut, soy, or hemp can also be used, but be prepared for them to add their flavor to the refreshing drink.

How To Make Simple Syrup

Starbucks uses “classic syrup” in their recipe, which is essentially a simple syrup. Simple syrup is precisely as simple as the name implies. To make it, combine water and granulated white sugar in a small saucepan. Warm the mixture over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved, then let it cool slightly before using.

It is easy to make variations on the classic syrup to add more flavor complexity to your tasty drink. Add a flavoring agent with the water and sugar, and let it simmer for 5 minutes to infuse. For example, add a vanilla bean or a few drops of vanilla extract to make vanilla syrup, and add a cinnamon stick for cinnamon syrup. You could also replace the white sugar with brown sugar to prepare brown sugar syrup.

Any leftover classic syrup can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to three weeks.

How To Make Iced Shaken Espresso

Iced Shaken Espresso is so easy to make that its name is practically its recipe. You’re going to be shaking some ice cubes with some espresso shots. Keep reading for just a few more details. 

Step 1: Prepare The Espresso Or Coffee

Pull a 3-ounce shot of espresso using your espresso maker. Use a burr grinder to grind 21 grams of coffee to a fine consistency for best results. Aim for a 25 to 30-second extraction. This is essentially a triple shot, so if your espresso maker has a small capacity basket, you may need to pull more than one shot.

This drink benefits from the body of true espresso, but you can substitute 3 ounces of strong brewed coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine. Ideally, brew it using a method that maintains the metal filter and pressurized brewing of an espresso machine – for example, an Aeropress or Moka pot.

Step 2: Combine And Shake It Up

Add the ice, espresso, and simple syrup to your cocktail shaker or Mason jar. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds to produce chilled espresso with a frothy appearance.

Our team preferred the slightly sweet flavor of adding just two tablespoons of simple syrup to this drink, but feel free to add up to 4 tablespoons to suit your taste. The Starbucks version uses 4 pumps in a Grande.

Pour the iced espresso mix into a chilled 16-ounce tall glass.

Step 3: Top With Milk

Pour the quarter-cup of 2% milk over the top of the drink. This ratio of milk to coffee maintains much espresso flavor and intensity, just like the coffee shop version. You can add more milk for a creamier option.

Final Thoughts

Iced Shaken Espresso is one of the easiest Starbucks drinks to replicate at home, especially if you have an espresso or Nespresso machine. This great recipe takes less than five minutes, requires only four easy-to-find ingredients, and doesn’t expect you to learn any special skills like steaming milk. It’s the perfect drink for a simple and satisfying summer treat!