Kat's Kitchen

Fall is (almost) here, and I’m officially leaning into all the cozy, spiced drinks. This Pumpkin Spice Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso is the perfect way to kick off the season—smooth espresso, rich brown sugar sweetness, and a creamy pumpkin spice cold foam on top. It’s like a crisp autumn morning in a glass.

Why You’ll Love This Drink

• Coffee shop vibes, made at home — no long lines or $7 price tag.
• Pumpkin spice + brown sugar = the ultimate fall flavor combo.
• Customizable — use dairy or plant-based milk (oat milk is amazing here).
• Cold foam topping gives a creamy, café-style finish.

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso:

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar syrup (homemade or Torani Brown Sugar Syrup)
• Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, plus extra for topping
• 2–3 shots espresso (about 2 ounces)
• Ice cubes
• 6–8 ounces oat milk (or milk of choice)

Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam:

• 1 tablespoon Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup
• 2 tablespoons oat milk (or 2% milk)
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Note, for a Non-Dairy Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam, use vanilla soy milk or chilled coconut cream instead of the heavy cream.

Instructions

1. Shake the Espresso
   • Add the brown sugar syrup, pumpkin pie spice, espresso, and a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
   • Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until the mixture is frothy and well-chilled.
2. Assemble the Drink
   • Pour the entire shaken espresso mixture into a tall glass, ice included.
   • Top with oat milk, leaving room for cold foam.
3. Make the Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam
   • In a small cup, combine Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup, oat milk, and heavy cream.
   • Froth with a handheld milk frother for 15–30 seconds until thick and creamy.
4. Finish & Serve
   • Carefully pour the cold foam over the espresso and milk.
   • Sprinkle with extra pumpkin pie spice for a picture-perfect finish.
   • Sip and enjoy your cozy fall moment!

Pro Tip: No espresso machine? See this post for 5 Ways To Make Espresso at Home, with or without a machine!

What Ratios Does Starbucks Follow For This Drink?

If you love a Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso with Pumpkin Cold Foam, this is essentially the exact same recipe! The only differences are this recipe uses pumpkin spice instead of cinnamon inside the drink, and it calls for regular espresso rather than blonde espresso. You can easily use cinnamon and blonde espresso to replicate the Starbucks version, and follow these ratios below for the different Starbucks sizing.

	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
BROWN SUGAR SYRUP	1 TBSP	2 TBSP	3 TBSP
ESPRESSO	2 SHOTS	3 SHOTS	4 SHOTS
OAT MILK	5 OUNCES	7 OUNCES	10 OUNCES

How Can I Make This Lower Sugar?

• Use less syrup in your drink OR use a sugar free version of each of the syrups
• Use a lower sugar or unsweetened oat milk

Can I Make This as a Hot Coffee?

Absolutely! Just make a hot latte by combining brown sugar syrup, espresso and steamed oat milk in a mug. Make the pumpkin spice cold foam in a separate cup, and pour it over the hot latte.

How Would I Make This as a Cold Brew or Iced Coffee?

Instead of making a shaken espresso with espresso, you could easily modify this drink to be a cold brew or an iced coffee. To a cup add:

• 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar syrup
• 10-12 ounces cold brew OR iced coffee
• Ice
• 2-3 tablespoons oat milk/half & half/heavy cream
• Pumpkin spice cold foam
• Pumpkin pie spice, for topping

More Shaken Espresso Recipes

• Starbucks Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Starbucks Copy Kat Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Starbucks Oleato Shaken Espresso
• Pumpkin Pie Oatmilk Shaken Espresso