Kat's Kitchen

Hello, coffee fanatics and savings-savvy sippers! Today, we’re bringing the café experience straight to your kitchen with a delightful Starbucks Copy Kat Recipe for the Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. It’s time to stash that coffee shop cash because this at-home version is a game-changer!

Why This Recipe is a Must-Try:

If you’ve ever found yourself mesmerized by the rich, nutty flavors of Starbucks’ Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso but dreaded the dent it puts in your wallet, I’ve got you covered! This Copy Kat recipe promises the same delicious flavors without the hefty price tag. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy to whip up!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Torani Hazelnut Syrup: Make sure you’re using the Torani Hazelnut Syrup and not the Torani Classic Hazelnut Syrup. The two syrups have very different flavor notes and will taste very different in this recipe. The Torani Hazelnut Syrup has a lovely buttery hazelnut flavor that is perfect for this Starbucks replica! You could also use the Torani Sugar Free Hazelnut Syrup for a lower sugar option. If you want a homemade syrup, see the section below titled: How to Make Homemade Hazelnut Syrup.

• Blonde Espresso: Starbucks uses blonde espresso or a light roast espresso for this drink, giving it a lighter, more mild and sweeter coffee flavor. I’ll talk about all the ways you can make blonde espresso at home, later in this recipe.

• Oat Milk: This recipe calls for oat milk which pairs so unbelievably nicely with the hazelnut and blonde espresso flavors. My favorite oat milks include the: Chobani Extra Creamy, Oatly Barista Style Oat Milk, Mooala Organic Barista Oat Milk, or the bettergoods Plant-Based Extra Creamy Oatmilk.

• Ice: This is a shaken espresso beverage so the recipe calls for ice. I recommend using a good amount of ice so the drink doesn’t get watered down.

What Is Blonde Espresso?

The term “blonde” in a coffee sense simply means the a light roast coffee. Espresso is a form of coffee made by grinding the beans very finely, packing them tightly, and using an espresso machine to push water through the grounds at high pressure. The end result is a full bodied, highly concentrated coffee that is great for milk based beverages like lattes, mochas, shaken espressos, as well as water based drinks like americanos.

Blonde roast coffee tends to have less intense, bold, or roasty flavor, which many people, myself included, actually prefer! I will always opt for the blonde roast espresso at Starbucks no matter which espresso drink I order – latte, macchiato, mocha, shaken espresso, americano, etc!

Starbucks uses a blonde roast espresso for their Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso drinks, so I like to do the same to most accurately replicate the same flavor!

How Can I Make Blonde Espresso At Home?

There are five ways to make blonde espresso at home:

• Blonde/Light Roast Instant Espresso Powder
• Nespresso Machine with Blonde Roast Espresso Pods
• Moka Pot with a light roast coffee
• Aeropress with a light roast coffee
• Espresso Machine with a light roast coffee

See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso At Home blog post for step by step instructions of each espresso making method!

Best Blonde Roast Espresso To Use?

Beans & Grounds:

• Press Coffee Spitball Espresso Blend
• Starbucks Blonde Roast Espresso

These options are great if you have an espresso machine, an Aeropress, or a Moka Pot to make espresso.

Nespresso Pods

• Starbucks by Nespresso Vertuo Line Iced Double Espresso Blonde Light Roast Coffee Pods
• Starbucks by Nespresso Vertuo Line Blonde Espresso
• Nespresso Double Espresso Dolce Pods

Instant Espresso Powder

• Nescafe Gold Blonde Espresso Roast

For instant espresso, I like to use follow the following ratios:

• Single shot: 1/4 tablespoon instant espresso + 1.25 ounces warm water
• Double shot: 1/2 tablespoon instant espresso + 2.5 ounces warm water
• Triple shot: 3/4 tablespoon instant espresso + 3.75 ounces warm water
• Quad shot: 1 tablespoon instant espresso + 5 ounces warm water

What is a “Shot” of Espresso?

A common espresso term you’ll see a lot is a “shot” of espresso. When you brew espresso using an espresso machine, the liquid that comes out of the machine is considered a shot, since the machine pushes out the liquid at high pressure.

• A single shot or one shot of espresso is roughly 1.25 ounces of liquid.
• A double shot is roughly 2.5 ounces of liquid.
• A triple shot is roughly 3.75 ounces of liquid.
• A quad shot is roughly 5 ounces of liquid.

How To Make a Starbucks Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso:

1. Begin by adding Torani Hazelnut Syrup (or homemade) to a shaker cup or cocktail shaker.
2. Next up, brew 3 shots of blonde espresso right over the hazelnut syrup. Use a light or blonde roast coffee to achieve that signature Starbucks shaken espresso taste.
3. Fill your cup with ice cubes, pop on the lid, and get ready to shake things up—literally! Give your cup a good shake until it feels refreshingly cold to the touch, ensuring that all those flavors meld together beautifully.
4. Once chilled, pour the shaken espresso mixture into a separate glass, and top with oat milk.
5. Grab a straw, give your Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso a stir, and enjoy.

How to Make Homemade Hazelnut Syrup

Makes 1 cup:

• 1 cup hazelnuts, roasted and salted
• 1 cup granulated cane sugar
• 8 ounces water
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract

1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan, stir to combine, then bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and pour the syrup through a strainer into a mason jar or heat proof container, catching the hazelnuts inside the strainer. 
4. Stir in the almond extract.
5. Use the syrup in any recipe right away, or let the syrup cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours, then add a lid and store in the fridge for up to three weeks.
6. To make candied hazelnuts, place hazelnuts in a flat layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway. Let cool before enjoying. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

There you have it, folks—a DIY Starbucks Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso recipe that’s as easy to make as it is delicious to drink! Save your hard-earned cash and indulge in this home-brewed masterpiece that’s sure to impress your taste buds. Who needs a coffee shop when you’ve got this gem up your sleeve? So go ahead, shake it up, sip, and enjoy! Cheers to becoming at home baristas!