Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Latte

My absolute favorite iced latte to make at home! Incredibly delicious, only lightly sweetened and super easy to make. All you need is 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make an Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Latte. I also share my secret to making the best latte at home without an espresso machine! You will be obsessed.

I made my first iced brown sugar shaken espresso latte about a month ago, and I was instantly hooked. It only takes a few simple ingredients to create amazing flavor. You likely already have all of the ingredients on hand. No espresso machine? I've got you covered.

5 Simple Ingredients.

Brown sugar. Light or dark.

Vanilla extract.

Cinnamon.

Espresso. If you don't have an espresso machine, use Instant Espresso Powder - that's actually what I use.

Milk. Your favorite kind. I like to use 2% milk.

How to Make an Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Latte.

Making a Brown Sugar Latte at home is quite easy! You need about 5 minutes, a handful of ingredients, and you're good to go. Double or triple the brown sugar syrup, and store in the fridge to get you through the week.

Let's talk about how to make the latte.

1. Make the Brown Sugar Syrup. To a small bowl or cup, pour in boiling hot water then add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix until dissolved.
2. Brew the espresso. If using Instant Espresso Powder, make 1-2 shots according to the package directions. My jar says 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder + 4 tablespoons of hot water.
3. Shake. Add the brown sugar syrup and the espresso to a small jar with ice - shake until chilled and frothy.
4. Froth the milk (optional). If desired, use a milk frother to froth the milk.
5. Strain over ice. Strain the brown sugar syrup and espresso into a glass filled with fresh ice. Pour the milk over the top. Garnish with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Cheers!

What is Instant Espresso Powder?

Instant espresso powder is brewed espresso that has been dehydrated into granules. To make a shot of espresso, you just add boiling water to dissolve the granules.

People commonly use instant espresso powder when baking chocolate dessert to enhance the flavor of brownies, cakes and cupcakes without the coffee flavor.

But, you can also use instant espresso powder to make a shot of espresso, especially if you don't own an espresso machine - like me! Some people say you shouldn't use it to make drinks because the flavor isn't exactly the same as a freshly brewed shot of espresso. But, again, not everyone owns an espresso machine, and I think it still tastes just good.

When making lattes at home, I prefer to use instant espresso powder as opposed to brewing a strong cup of coffee. I personally think that the espresso powder gives you a stronger, more authentic latte flavor. When making a shot of espresso at home with instant espresso powder, the directions on the side of the jar will give you measurements for making one shot of espresso. If you want a stronger latte, like you traditionally get at Starbucks, make 2 shots of espresso.

Instant espresso powder is also available decaffeinated by Cafe Bustelo.

Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso at Home.

The Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso craze started at Starbucks. Big shocker, right? I, of course, had to try it, and I loved it! The Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso is just lightly sweet and has a strong espresso taste. Just the way I like it.

To clarify, the Starbucks drink is actually an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. But, I always substitute 2% milk for oatmilk - dairy farmer's daughter over here!

Being that I Iove the Starbucks shaken espresso, I knew I had to make it at home, and the flavors of the drink are pretty simple, so I knew it would be easy.

Once I made my first one at home, I was hooked! It's sooo good and tastes just like the Starbucks drink!

Tips & Tricks.

If you don't have an espresso machine, use instant espresso powder! I don't own an espresso machine, and I feel like using strongly brewed coffee in a latte doesn't give you the same strong coffee flavor as espresso, so I always use instant espresso powder. To turn instant espresso powder into an espresso shot, mix the powder with boiling hot water to dissolve the granules. I usually mix the powder with 4 ounces of water. But for measurements, just follow the directions on the packaging. The packaging directions will typically provide measurements for one espresso shot. For a stronger latte, like you would get at Starbucks, make 2 shots of espresso.

How many shots of espresso are in a brown sugar shaken espresso? You will need 1-2 shots of espresso, depending on how strong you like your lattes.

How to strain a drink with a mason jar lid. Place the lid over the opening of the jar, leaving a small space to pour the liquid through while holding the lid tight to keep the ice in the jar.

Do you have to shake the brown sugar syrup and espresso? Not necessarily. Since the syrup and espresso are hot, the shaking process chills the syrup and espresso so that when you pour it over the ice in your glass, the ice doesn't melt. To skip this step, simply pour the hot syrup and espresso over the ice in your glass - you just may have to additional ice.

Make the syrup ahead of time. Double, triple or quadruple the brown sugar syrup so that it's ready when you need it. Store it in a covered container in the fridge. When you're ready to use it, give it a good shake because the brown sugar clumps together as the mixture cools.

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If you make this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate the recipe below using the stars or leave a comment. If you’re on Instagram, share a picture of the food you created and tag me at Modern Farmhouse Eats! I love seeing all the pictures! 😊