This Starbucks iced shaken espresso recipe is the easiest way to recreate the smooth, frothy coffee drink at home. It’s bold, lightly sweet, and perfectly chilled with that signature shaken foam on top.
Once you try this, you won’t need to order it again.
What is a Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso?
A Starbucks iced shaken espresso is a coffee drink made by shaking freshly brewed espresso with ice and sweetener, then topping it with milk. The shaking creates a light foam and a smoother, more balanced flavor.
Why This Recipe Is Better Than Starbucks
This homemade version lets you control the sweetness, use better quality espresso, and customize the milk and flavors to your taste. Plus, it’s much more affordable to make at home.
How to Make an Iced Shaken Espresso
To make an iced shaken espresso, brew espresso and shake it with ice and simple syrup in a shaker for 15–20 seconds. Pour over ice and top with milk. This creates a frothy, chilled coffee drink similar to Starbucks.
Ingredients for a Copycat Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso Recipe
Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Espresso: You can use any kind of espresso shot for this beverage. However, be sure that they’re cold or you will melt the ice in your recipe which will water it down. Starbucks has ground espresso coffee that you can make yourself at home, but they also have a canned double shot of espresso or bottled espresso that you can kind at your local grocery store. If you’re using the kind from the store, read the label to make sure you’re getting it without extra flavor, or cream.
Simple Syrup: You’re welcome to use any kind of simple syrup. If you’re looking to get creative, you can always use different flavors of simple syrup.
Ice Cubes: Any kind of ice will work but try not to use ice that is really small because it may melt quickly. You can also make your own ice cubes using an ice tray and fill it up with your favorite coffee and use those so as your drink melts, you get added coffee flavor instead of watering it down.
For this recipe, you’re welcome to use any type of milk that you prefer. I like using 2% milk, but you can make this iced espresso drink vegan if you use non-dairy milk, like almond milk or soy milk, instead.
How to make a Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso at Home
- Brew 2 shots of espresso using your preferred method. Pour into a cocktail shaker with simple syrup and ice cubes.
- Close the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to combine all the ingredients and chill the mixture.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes then pour in the chilled espresso mixture. Top with the milk and more ice if needed.
- Insert a straw and serve your homemade Starbucks-inspired Iced Shaken Espresso immediately.
Variations of Starbucks Iced Espresso
- Change up the flavor. Go ahead and add in any flavored syrup that you’d like. I think vanilla syrup, brown sugar or hazelnut. You can also use any flavored espresso drinks at the store. You can also add a dash of cinnamon for a warm flavor.
- Change up the espresso. If you love shaken espressos but you’re not the biggest fan of the strong coffee taste, try using a blonde espresso. It doesn’t have as much bite as the dark roast.
- Change up the milk. You’re welcome to use your milk of choice for this recipe. Starbucks uses 2% milk as default but you can use cream or whole milk for a creamier texture. You can also use plant-based milks, I have found creamy oat milk gives the best consistency when making a shaken espresso.
Do I need an espresso maker?
No, you do not need an espresso maker for this recipe. However, if you’re looking to invest in an espresso maker, I love my Breville espresso machine.
If you’d rather go the simple route, there are a few different options. You can either make your espresso by using Starbucks dark roast espresso ground coffee, or you can pick up already-made coffee at the store.
There are plenty of different bottled and canned espresso options. There are also plenty of flavors if you want to change the flavor of your drink up a little bit.
What to Serve with this Copycat Starbucks Coffee
- Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe
- Starbucks Brownies Recipe Copycat
- Starbucks Turkey Bacon Sandwich Recipe
- Starbucks Grilled Cheese Recipe Copycat
Frequently Asked Questions
A shaken espresso is made by shaking espresso with ice, creating a frothy texture, while iced coffee is simply brewed coffee poured over ice.
Shaking the espresso with ice introduces air, creating a light foam on top.
Yes, you can use a mason jar with a lid and shake it the same way.
Starbucks typically uses 2% milk, but you can substitute with oat milk, almond milk, or whole milk.
Yes, this is a great recipe to make ahead of time and keep on hand. Add all of the ingredients into an airtight container, I find using a glass jar, like a mason jar the easiest, and you can keep it in your fridge for around 3 days. When you’re ready to use it, add it to a shaker with ice, shake, and then pour over a glass full of ice for a refreshing drink.
Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 shots of espresso
- 2 tablespoon simple syrup or to taste
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1/2 cup 2% milk dairy or non-dairy milk
Instructions
- Brew 2 shots of espresso using your preferred method. Pour into a cocktail shaker with simple syrup and ice cubes.2 shots of espresso, 2 tablespoon simple syrup, 1 cup of ice cubes
- Close the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to combine all the ingredients and chill the coffee drink.
- Fill a glass with more ice cubes then pour in the chilled espresso mixture. Top with the milk and more ice if needed.1/2 cup 2% milk
- Insert a straw and serve your homemade Starbucks-inspired Iced Shaken Espresso immediately.
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