Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso

This iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso is so delicious: both refreshing and cozy! Here’s how to make it even better than Starbucks.

Ready for one of the more interesting espresso drinks to come your way? Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso. Just the ring of it sounds like a certain ultra popular coffeeshop, and you’re right! It’s a Starbucks invention. Here’s the thing: the Starbucks version of this shaken espresso tastes just okay. The homemade version? It tastes great. It’s deliciously nuanced, cozy, and just sweet enough, cinnamon forward with a warm nuance from the brown sugar syrup. Really, you’ve gotta try this!

What’s an iced brown sugar oat milk espresso?

The iced brown sugar oat milk espresso is a Starbucks drink that combines shaken espresso, oat milk, and brown sugar syrup. It’s essentially an iced latte, but the espresso is shaken for a frothy texture and it has slightly less milk. The Starbucks version of this drink says it uses brown sugar syrup to add a hint of warmth, but in our opinion it’s difficult to detect in the flavor. This homemade version brings all the flavor notes in strong! Here’s what you’ll need:

Espresso
Brown sugar syrup: made in 5 minutes with brown sugar!
Cinnamon
Oat milk: best quality

Make an iced brown sugar oat milk espresso…better than Starbucks

The iced brown sugar oat milk espresso at Starbucks tastes overwhelmingly like oat milk: it’s pretty one note flavor-wise. When we ordered it, we had big expectations! But you get none of those brown sugar or cinnamon flavor notes. (In fact, the whole drink just made me thirsty.) Making it homemade makes one incredible drink: you’ll get dark espresso notes, cozy brown sugar, spicy cinnamon, and creamy oat milk all in one sip. Here are the basic steps:

Step 1: Make the brown sugar syrup.
Step 2: Make a double shot of espresso.
Step 3: Place the espresso in a jar with 1 ½ tablespoons syrup and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon and shake!
Step 4: Add ½ cup regular oat milk and enjoy.

Use high quality oat milk

Another note: make sure to use best quality oat milk: it really affects the flavor! Some oat milks can have an artificial aftertaste: experiment and find one you love. (We enjoy Planet Oat: let us know your favorite brands.)

Espresso methods

The main thing you’ll need to know for your iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso? How to make great espresso at home. The best option is a countertop espresso machine, but it’s a bit pricey. We’ve got several different methods for how to make espresso without a machine. Here’s what to know:

Espresso roast coffee: Use a fine grind on the espresso beans. Some brands we recommend: Illy, Starbucks or Intelligentsia.
Espresso machine: An espresso machine is the best option: it makes incredible espresso! There are various machines in different price ranges.
Portable espresso maker: A manual espresso maker is a more affordable option, and it makes great espresso.
French press: French press espresso is another great affordable option!
Moka Pot: You can also make strong espresso-like coffee in a Moka Pot (Bialetti).

How to make brown sugar syrup

The only other thing you need to do for this drink? Make homemade brown sugar syrup! It takes just 5 minutes and makes a jar of ¾ cup you can use for all your future drinks. A simple syrup is just that: simple! The basic premise is that you combine equal parts sugar and water. Here’s what to do for this one:

Combine sugar and water: Place ½ cup each brown sugar and water in a small saucepan on the stove.
Heat until dissolved: Heat over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until fully dissolved. Do not simmer!

That’s it! You can store it refrigerated for up to 1 month. It’s enough to make 8 of these iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espressos! You can also use it on pancakes and waffles.

More coffee drinks

Love coffee drinks? We’ve got all the Starbucks specials and more! Here are a few homemade espresso drinks to try:

Try a Perfect Iced Latte or Vanilla Iced Latte
Try an Iced Espresso
Go green with an Iced Matcha Latte
Go cozy with an Iced Chai Latte
Top your drinks with Cold Foam

This iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.