Espresso, simple syrup, and ice are shaken together then topped with milk. Skip Starbucks and make this Iced Shaken Espresso copycat recipe at home in 5 minutes!

Iced Shaken Espresso
Iced Shaken Espresso was added to the Starbucks menu on March 2021 along with Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso.
Starbucks says that shaking the drink “adds another dimension to the beverage” and “creates a rich texture on your palate – by just adding air.”
The drink is hand-shaken in a cocktail shaker to combine all the ingredients and to instantly chill the drink.
Recipe Highlights
- This drink is made closely following the exact recipe Starbucks uses, made in a 16 ounce cup, a grande size.
- It’s super simple to recreate the drink at home using just 4 ingredients in just 5 minutes.
- Espresso for this drink can be made in an espresso machine or a Nespresso.
RELATED: Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Ingredient Notes

- Espresso
Any dark roast coffee can be used to make the espresso for this drink but use Starbucks espresso to make it taste more like theirs.
Nespresso Original: Starbucks Espresso
Nespresso Vertuo: Starbucks Espresso
Whole coffee beans: Starbucks Espresso
Instant: Starbucks VIA Instant Italian Roast Dark Roast Coffee - Simple syrup
Make a batch of simple syrup at home and use it all week to make this drink. Simple syrup is just liquid sugar made by dissolving sugar in water. - 2% milk
You can use any milk but 2% is what Starbucks makes this drink with. - Ice
Make ice using filtered water for a better tasting ice.
Step-by-Step Instructions

For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.
- Put simple syrup, espresso, and ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake.
Use 3 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 3 shots from an espresso machine. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jar with a tight lid. - Pour drink into a cup.
- Add milk.
Top off with more ice if needed.
Using a Nespresso
The easiest way to recreate Starbucks drinks with espresso is with a Nespresso machine
Photo Credit: amazon.com
1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
There are 3 shots of espresso in a grande size Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso drink. You’ll need 3 Nespresso Starbucks espresso capsules.
Any Nespresso espresso capsules can be used but go with the Starbucks branded ones if you want it to taste as close to the Starbucks drink as possible.
You can also use any Nespresso light roast espresso capsules.
Even though the Iced Shaken Espresso is made with their signature dark roast espresso, try making it at home using the Blonde Espresso since it’s more popular and better reviewed.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Expert Tips
- Instead of espresso, you can use instant coffee. Combine 1 ½ tablespoons of instant coffee and ⅓ cup hot water to replace the 3 shots of espresso in the recipe.
- Simple syrup is easy to make at home by combining a cup of sugar and a cup of water in a saucepan on the stovetop. Heat on low until sugar completely dissolves. Cool and pour into an airtight glass container and store in the refrigerator. It’ll be good for 3-4 weeks.
- Customize your drink! Instead of 2% milk, try it with oat milk or soy milk. Try it with vanilla syrup instead of regular simple syrup.
- Starbucks makes theirs with a splash of milk (about ¼ cup) but feel free to add a little more to your liking.
- Instead of milk, top off your drink with cold foam!
Questions You May Have
This drink basically replaces the Starbucks Doubleshot on Ice, which is no longer on the menu. Compared to the Doubleshot, the Iced Shaken Espresso is made with less simple syrup and one less shot of espresso in the venti size.
A grande Iced Shaken Espresso at Starbucks is made with 4 pumps of Classic syrup (their simple syrup), 3 shots of classic Starbucks espresso, ice, and a splash of 2% milk.
Yes! Blonde espresso is a lighter roast and it’s smoother and less intense than dark roast but it has more caffeine.
Any airtight container will work to shake the drink ingredients together. A jar with a tight lid or a wide-mouth water bottle.

Related
- Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Simple Homemade Syrups for Coffee and Tea
- How to Make Cold Foam
- 47 Best Starbucks Drinks
- Every Starbucks Drink Ranked by Caffeine Content
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Iced Shaken Espresso
INGREDIENTS
- 3 shots of espresso (3 Nespresso espresso capsules)
- 3 tablespoons simple syrup
- 1 cup ice + more if needed
- ¼ cup 2% milk + more to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put simple syrup, espresso, and ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake 10 times.Use 3 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 3 shots from an espresso machine. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jar with a tight lid.
- Pour drink, including the ice, into a cup. Add milk.
- Add milk.Top off with more ice if needed.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- Instead of espresso, you can use instant coffee. Combine 1 ½ tablespoons of instant coffee and ⅓ cup hot water to replace the 3 shots of espresso in the recipe.
- Simple syrup is easy to make at home by combining a cup of sugar and a cup of water in a saucepan on the stovetop. Heat on low until sugar completely dissolves. Cool and pour into an airtight glass container and store in the refrigerator. It’ll be good for 3-4 weeks.
- Customize your drink! Instead of 2% milk, try it with oat milk or soy milk. Try it with vanilla syrup instead of regular simple syrup.
- Starbucks makes theirs with a splash of milk (about ¼ cup) but feel free to add a little more to your liking.
- Instead of milk, top off your drink with cold foam!
Using A Nespresso Machine
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, you’ll need 3 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules.
- With the Vertuo machine capsules, only use espresso capsules and not the coffee capsules that make 7.77 ounces.
- Recommended Nespresso capsules to make Starbucks drinks at home:
Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast
Nespresso Vertuo capsules
Nespresso Original capsules
I haven’t tried it but I plan to! I am just curious why your recipe has 199 calories and Starbucks only has 100 for the grande.
Hi Savanah, the calories shown is an estimate and I’m guessing the simple syrup came out to have more calories than the Starbucks version.
Yum yum!