Being raised with an Italian grandmother living in our home meant we took coffee very seriously, particularly espresso! Lately, shaken espressos are having a moment. This drink has gained cult status popularity, and there’s good reason why. It’s cool, creamy, bold, and sweet. And with two shots of espresso per serving, it has enough caffeine to get you through the morning. Now you can unlock the secrets of your local barista and make your own double shot iced shaken espresso recipe at home!
Shaking the espresso over ice gives it a rich, velvety texture. I also love pairing this beverage with espresso ice cubes so that it doesn’t get diluted while you’re drinking it! If you’re looking for more iced espresso beverages, check out this iced Americano recipe too! I love the variation of this beverage with brown sugar syrup and oat milk, which I share in the recipe card below.
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💕 why you'll love this double shot iced shaken espresso recipe
☕️ bold & strong. This iced espresso beverage has the bold, strong taste of espresso without being overbearing.
🧊 icy cool. In the heat of summer (or you know…the South), it’s important to keep cool however you can. Hot coffee isn’t an option when it’s 90 degrees outside!
🎛️ customizable. This recipe is easy to customize to your liking. Just check out the recipe variations within the recipe card!
🛒 ingredients
- espresso - you will need to make a double shot of espresso for this recipe. While I do have (and love!) the Breville Barista Pro espresso machine, it is quite the splurge. If you make more than a few trips to your local barista, it’s worth investing in a nice machine.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you can totally make coffeehouse-quality espresso at home for $25 - $30! These espresso makers, known as moka pots, are quick, easy, and affordable! - milk- Starbucks uses 2% milk in their standard recipe, but you can use whatever kind of milk you prefer. You can also either shake the milk with the espresso and simple syrup, or turn it into a cold foam to layer on top.
- simple syrup - When you order this coffee at Starbucks, they make it using regular simple syrup, or “classic syrup.” It’s easy to make your own simple syrup in a flash by using a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water.So, 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. If you like, you can also make a brown sugar syrup like this one to deepen the flavor!
- ice - you’ll need a full cup of ice, to the brim! Because the espresso will be a little warm, you can expect some ice to melt. Use larger ice cubes so that the espresso doesn’t get watered down while you’re shaking it. If you want to make sure your coffee doesn’t get too diluted, use these espresso ice cubes to keep your iced coffee beverages extra-strong!
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Brew a double espresso according to your espresso machine’s manufacturer’s instructions. Allow it to cool slightly while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 2: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Step 3: Slowly pour in the espresso to the cocktail shaker.
Step 4: Add 0.5 ounce of simple syrup to the cocktail shaker. You can use more if you like, check the chart below for the amounts that Starbucks uses in each size.
Step 5: Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously for 30-60 seconds.
Step 6: Fill the glass you're using halfway with ice, then slowly pour the contents into the cup.
Step 7: Top with 2 ounces of the milk of your choice, adding more ice if needed.
Step 8: Place a straw in the glass and serve immediately.
Hint: Use larger ice cubes if you are able to. Smaller ice like pebble ice will dilute faster when shaking the drink, watering your beverage down more.
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↕️ what size would you like?
Use this chart to help you master making your own coffee beverages at home, in just the coffee-shop size you like!
- short - this size is 8 ounces and contains 1 shot of espresso, 2 pumps of syrup, and 1 ounce of milk.
- tall - this size is 12 ounces and contains two shots of espresso, 3 pumps of syrup, and 2 ounces of milk.
- grande - this size is 16 ounces and contains 3 shots of espresso, 4 pumps of syrup, and 3 ounces of milk.
- venti - this size is 20 ounces and contains 4 shots of espresso, 5-6 pumps of syrup, and 4 ounces of milk.
- trenta - this size is 30 ounces and contains 5 shots of espresso, 7-8 pumps of syrup, and 5 ounces of milk.
💡 tips and tricks for getting it right
🍽️ Serving Tips - This smooth and velvety coffee beverage is perfect for a morning at home, or when you're hosting a brunch or lunch! It is super similar to an espresso martini but without alcohol. This recipe would be perfect as a mocktail during brunch for those who don’t drink!
ℹ️ Troubleshooting Tips - How you brew your espresso matters, but possibly the most important thing that impacts flavor is what coffee beans you use and the size of the grind.
It can take a little time to get to know your espresso machine, so don’t feel bad if your first few tries are less than perfect. If your coffee is bitter, there are several contributing factors, like the coffee being ground too finely, the roast of the beans being too dark for your preference, or the water flowing through the coffee grounds too quickly.
The good news is, once you figure out how to use your machine, it’s smooth sailing from there!
⚖️ Scaling Tips - This recipe is easily scaled up or down, depending on the size that you want to enjoy. You can also combine the espresso and syrup in a pitcher and shake it over ice if you are serving a crowd.
🔆 top tip
If you want your espresso beverage to be extra foamy, combine the milk with the espresso and simple syrup in the cocktail shaker, then give it a good shake!
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- milk - while Starbucks uses 2% milk to make this beverage, you can use whole milk, skim milk, or the nondairy milk of your choice.
- espresso ice cubes - use espresso ice cubes if you don’t want your drink watered down by regular ice.
- cold brew - you can use cold brew if you don’t have espresso on hand, but it won’t foam as much as espresso does when you shake it.
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
- chocolate - replace the simple syrup with chocolate syrup for a chocolatey mocha-like spin on this espresso beverage.
- brown sugar and oat milk - swap the regular simple syrup for brown sugar simple syrup. Use oat milk to make a super popular variety of this double-shot iced shaken espresso.
- unsweetened- skip the simple syrup for an unsweet espresso beverage.
🧰 equipment needed
- espresso maker - check out the information below for all of the ways you can make espresso at home. The tools range in price from $25 - $1,000+, depending on your budget! My pick will always be the Breville Barista Pro espresso machine.
- beverage glass of choice - Use whatever glasses you have on hand, I love using these picardie glasses from Duralex! These highball glasses are what are pictured in the photos, and are great options for their versatility as well.
- straw - while this is optional, I enjoy drinking my iced coffees with a straw. My favorite straws are made by GIR. They are silicone so they are reusable, dishwasher safe, and they don’t stain. These glass straws are featured in the photos, and while they are wildly impractical (I broke one washing it the first time 🥴) they sure do look nice.
🛠️ espresso tools
Espresso is different than coffee because it is highly concentrated and has a foam, or crema, on top. This gives espresso it’s smooth, almost velvety mouthfeel.
- espresso machine - espresso machines are the best way to get a coffeehouse-quality espresso at home. While some machines can top out at over $5,000, you can get a great at-home machine for under $1,000. I have and love the Breville Barista Pro espresso machine. It goes on sale about two or three times a year and is totally worth the indulgence if you have coffee every day. As an alternative, I have several friends who have and love their Nespresso machines!
- moka pot - Bialetti is the preferred brand straight from Italy, and they have pots that are traditional aluminum and stainless steel. While the stainless steel version is not made in Italy, I prefer it because I can use it on my induction cooktop. Also, stainless steel is non-reactive, so I don’t need to worry about any metallic flavors developing in my coffee or the metal oxidizing in any way!
🛠️ alternative tools
You can still enjoy this double shot iced shaken espresso using these variations on equipment! Your coffee may not foam as much when shaken, but the flavor will be similar.
- coffee pot - while it’s not traditional (you won’t get the crema top that espresso has from brewing this way) brewing a double or triple strength coffee in your standard coffee maker will suffice for this recipe! If you have a coffee maker that has a “concentrate” button on it, use that when brewing espresso-style coffee in your drip machine.
- french press - a french press is another easy and cost-effective way to brew espresso strength coffee at home. Like with the standard drip coffee maker, you don’t get the crema top of an espresso. But, the strength of the coffee is similar! You can push the plunger halfway down, then lift it back up to create a sort of vacuum, then push it down all the way. This mimics the crema of an espresso to a degree.
🫙 storage tips
It is best to drink this beverage shortly after making it. But if you have to store it you can pop it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
💬 q+a
A double shot iced shaken espresso contains two ounces of espresso, two ounces of milk, and one half ounce of simple syrup. This homemade version is much less sweet than the store-bought version at Starbucks!
The exact amount of caffeine varies based on the coffee used. However, you can expect to see about 150 mg of caffeine in a double shot iced shaken espresso.
A double shot iced shaken espresso has equal parts espresso and milk (two ounces each) while an iced latte usually has a 1:4 ratio of espresso to milk. That means for every one ounce of espresso, or for every shot, there are four ounces of milk.
Dairy milk froths the best. At Starbucks, they use 2% milk standard, but you can use whole milk or nonfat milk. Oat milk also froths up very well.
When making beverages in cocktail shakers, it is best to use larger ice so that the beverage doesn’t dilute as much when you are shaking it. Smaller ice like pebble ice can dilute too fast and water your drink down.
🥣 recipe
Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso (with Variations)
Equipment
- 1 espresso maker
- 1 drinking glass 12 ounce capacity, or larger
Ingredients
Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso
- 2 ounces espresso
- 2 ounces milk whole, 2%, or non-dairy
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup
Chocolate Iced Shaken Espresso
- 2 ounces espresso
- 2 ounces milk whole, 2%, or non-dairy
- 1 ounce chocolate syrup
Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
- 2 ounces espresso
- 2 ounces oat milk or other preferred milk
- 0.5 ounce brown sugar simple syrup
Instructions
Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso
- Prepare a double shot of espresso according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Allow the shot to cool for a few minutes.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Use large ice for best results.
- Slowly pour the espresso over the ice.
- Pour the simple syrup over the ice.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill your preferred glass halfway with ice.
- Pour the shaken espresso and syrup over the ice.
- Top with preferred milk and serve immediately.
Chocolate Iced Shaken Espresso
- Prepare a double shot of espresso according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Allow the shot to cool for a few minutes.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Use large ice for best results.
- Slowly pour the espresso over the ice.
- Pour the chocolate syrup over the ice.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill your preferred glass halfway with ice.
- Pour the shaken espresso and syrup over the ice.
- Top with preferred milk and serve immediately.
Brown Sugar Oat Milk Iced Shaken Espresso
- Prepare a double shot of espresso according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Allow the shot to cool for a few minutes.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Use large ice for best results.
- Slowly pour the espresso over the ice.
- Pour the brown sugar simple syrup over the ice.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill your preferred glass halfway with ice.
- Pour the shaken espresso and syrup over the ice.
- Top with oat milk and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
🧯food safety
Food safety is an important ingredient in any recipe for success! Here are some tips to keep you safe in the kitchen!
- While we often think more is better, too much caffeine in a day can pose a health risk. The recommended daily value of caffeine is 400 mg for healthy adults. You can read more about daily caffeine intake recommendations here.
- Espresso can reach temperatures exceeding 200ºF. Use caution when handling hot liquids.
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