Experience a bold reimagining of espresso with brown sugar sweetness and a touch of creamy milk. This chilled, frothy beverage delivers a unique blend of caramel flavor and invigorating caffeine perfect for any time of day. Enjoy the refreshing twist and delight in each sip of this innovative coffee sensation.

I’m excited to share my take on a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso recipe that takes only 5 minutes for a single serving. I’ll walk you through how to combine 2 shots of brewed strong espresso, 1 tablespoon of well packed brown sugar, ice cubes, and 2oz of your favorite milk or non-dairy milk to create a cold coffee drink that’s both healthy and low cal.
I love making this iced coffee at home because it not only tastes amazing but is also a great option if you’re looking for homemade coffee drinks instead of picking up something like a Starbucks creation. Its nutritional value is decent when you consider the balanced mix of caffeine and sweetness.
If youre looking for an easy, quick iced coffee recipe that delivers on both taste and style, this is definitely one to try. It’s a simple yet refreshing twist on how to make iced coffee at home.
Why I Like this Recipe
I love this brown sugar shaken espresso recipe because:
1. I love how fast and easy it is to make – it only takes about 5 minutes and lets me enjoy a fancy drink without much hassle.
2. I really dig the mix of robust espresso with the sweet, caramel-y flavor of brown sugar. It gives me that perfect sweet kick.
3. I enjoy that I can tweak it with my favorite milk or non-dairy alternative, making it super customizable to my taste.
4. I like that it saves me money since I don’t have to hit up a cafe every time I crave a good coffee drink.
Man, you should totally try makin this at home if you wanna save some cash. Just brew your espresso, mix in that well-packed brown sugar with a bunch of ice and a splash of your favorite milk, shake it all up till it’s frothy, and then pour it out into your cup. It’s quick, cheap, and tastes amazing – seriously, why spend extra when you can whip this up yourself?
Ingredients

- Freshly brewed espresso provides a robust flavor and quick energy boost, its low in calories.
- Its natural compounds add subtle antioxidants that can help support your health.
- Brown sugar lends a rich, smooth sweetness and essential carbohydrates for an indulgent taste.
- Be careful though, it provides no fibre and may spike blood sugar if overused.
- Ice cubes chill your espresso, creating a refreshing texture and perfect shaking experience.
- They dont add nutrition but help balance flavour and temperature for a crisp sip.
- Milk introduces creaminess, extra protein, and calcium, making your drink smooth and nourishing.
- Using non-dairy milk works too for a subtle twist while keeping it allergy-friendly.
Ingredient Quantities
- 2 shots espresso (around 2 oz brewed strong)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (make sure its well packed)
- Ice cubes to fill your shaker
- About 2 oz milk or your favorite non-dairy milk (optional but add a nice twist)
How to Make this
1. Brew two strong shots of espresso and let it chill for a minute so it ain’t boiling hot.
2. Pour the brewed espresso into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add one tablespoon of well-packed brown sugar right into the shaker.
4. Fill the shaker with ice cubes until it’s pretty full.
5. If you want that extra creamy twist, pour in about 2 oz of your milk or non-dairy alternative.
6. Seal the shaker tight so nothing spills out.
7. Shake it real hard for about 15-20 seconds until you see a frothy mix forming.
8. Open up the shaker and give it a quick stir to check if the sugar has dissolved completely.
9. Strain the mixture into a serving glass, keeping most of the ice out.
10. Enjoy your homemade brown sugar shaken espresso immediately and savor every sip!
Equipment Needed
1. Espresso machine or stovetop espresso maker – to brew 2 strong shots of espresso.
2. A heat-safe cup – for letting the espresso chill for a minute before adding it into the shaker.
3. Cocktail shaker with a tight-fitting lid – to mix the espresso, sugar, ice, and optional milk.
4. Measuring spoon – to accurately portion 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
5. Ice cube tray or bag of ice – to fill the cocktail shaker.
6. Strainer – to filter out most of the ice when pouring into the serving glass.
7. Serving glass – for serving your brown sugar shaken espresso right away.
FAQ
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Espresso: If you dont have an espresso machine, you can brew a super strong batch of coffee that equals about 2 oz. It might not be exactly the same vibe, but it’ll work.
- Brown Sugar: You can use white granulated sugar if you dont have brown sugar. Just remember to pack it a bit tighter cause it might be less moist.
- Ice Cubes: If you dont have regular ice cubes, crushed ice or even frozen coffee cubes can do the trick as well.
- Milk: If you’re short on dairy, any other plant based milk like almond or oat milk works just fine and adds a cool twist.
Pro Tips
1. If you can, chill your shaker or the glass for a few minutes before starting. It helps keep your drink super cold and prevents the ice from melting too fast and diluting your espresso.
2. Make sure your espresso is cooled down a bit before mixing in with the brown sugar so the sugar can actually dissolve well. Hot espresso can mess up the flavor balance.
3. When you shake the mix, try to shake it really hard and long enough to get some nice froth. Don’t worry about making a mess, because that frothing is what gives it the smooth texture.
4. Play around with the amount of milk you add if you like. Some people prefer a richer, creamier twist so experiment a little until you find the blend that tastes best for you.
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
My favorite Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Espresso machine or stovetop espresso maker – to brew 2 strong shots of espresso.
2. A heat-safe cup – for letting the espresso chill for a minute before adding it into the shaker.
3. Cocktail shaker with a tight-fitting lid – to mix the espresso, sugar, ice, and optional milk.
4. Measuring spoon – to accurately portion 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
5. Ice cube tray or bag of ice – to fill the cocktail shaker.
6. Strainer – to filter out most of the ice when pouring into the serving glass.
7. Serving glass – for serving your brown sugar shaken espresso right away.
Ingredients:
- 2 shots espresso (around 2 oz brewed strong)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (make sure its well packed)
- Ice cubes to fill your shaker
- About 2 oz milk or your favorite non-dairy milk (optional but add a nice twist)
Instructions:
1. Brew two strong shots of espresso and let it chill for a minute so it ain’t boiling hot.
2. Pour the brewed espresso into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add one tablespoon of well-packed brown sugar right into the shaker.
4. Fill the shaker with ice cubes until it’s pretty full.
5. If you want that extra creamy twist, pour in about 2 oz of your milk or non-dairy alternative.
6. Seal the shaker tight so nothing spills out.
7. Shake it real hard for about 15-20 seconds until you see a frothy mix forming.
8. Open up the shaker and give it a quick stir to check if the sugar has dissolved completely.
9. Strain the mixture into a serving glass, keeping most of the ice out.
10. Enjoy your homemade brown sugar shaken espresso immediately and savor every sip!













