This pumpkin shaken espresso should become a part of Starbucks’ permanent menu because it’s so popular! People add pumpkin syrup to brown sugar shaken espresso to get this incredible pumpkin shaken espresso. It’s basically what would happen if a pumpkin spice latte and a shaken espresso had a baby: strong, lightly sweet, and perfectly pumpkin-y without being too much.

It’s so easy to make at home, and honestly? It tastes just like the Starbucks one, maybe even better with real pumpkin in it. Plus, you’re saving money by making it yourself!

If you need a quick fall pick-me-up, this is it. Let’s make this pumpkin shaken espresso at home!

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Shaken Espresso

• It’s so easy and saves you almost $6 every time!
• A great twist on a classic shaken espresso with pumpkin spice.
• A lighter and bolder pumpkin spice latte that’s more coffee-forward.
• It’s delicious and customizable.

What is a Pumpkin Shaken Espresso?

First, what exactly is a shaken espresso? You might be familiar with the Italian shakerato, which is ice, coffee, and sugar shaken until frothy. It’s kind of like a frothy dalgona coffee, but still liquid with a nice froth on top. Well, Starbucks ran with that concept and created their shaken espresso drink, which is espresso, sugar, and ice shaken until frothy, then topped with oat milk. While it’s good on its own, it pairs well with tons of flavors, including pumpkin!

Now, people have made this their own drink by asking for pumpkin spice syrup in their orders to make a pumpkin shaken espresso drink. To my knowledge, it’s not an official menu item, but it’s definitely delicious. And as of recently, Starbucks’ pumpkin spice syrup now has actual pumpkin in it (it used to not), so it’s even more true to its name!

My version, though, uses pumpkin puree so you really taste that slightly savory squash, which tastes amazing with brown sugar. It reminds me of pumpkin pie!

How to Add Pumpkin Flavor

You can add pumpkin in 2 ways: pumpkin puree, sweetener, and spices, or with pumpkin spice syrup! I personally prefer the first, so you can control all the flavors individually. Often, pumpkin spice syrup doesn’t have much pumpkin flavor and a lot of sugar. Or, you could make pumpkin spice syrup with pumpkin puree for the best of both worlds!

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Pumpkin spice syrup is just pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, sugar, and water, simmered down to a thicker consistency. However, sometimes store-bought pumpkin spice syrup doesn’t even have pumpkin in it, so you’re tasting a sweet and spiced syrup.

You can easily make it at home by making a brown sugar simple syrup, which is equal parts sugar and water, simmering until the sugar dissolves completely. Then, add the pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree, stirring until well combined.

It’s super easy to make and takes literally 5 minutes. If you don’t have pumpkin spice, you can also use the spices in it individually, like ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger.

Pumpkin Shaken Espresso: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• An espresso machine or maker
• A small to medium-sized pot
• Mason jar or shaker

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1-2 shots of espresso
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• ¼ tsp vanilla paste or extract

Pumpkin Shaken Espresso Recipe

1. Brew Espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso using an espresso machine or maker. If you don’t have a machine, you can substitute a strong, concentrated coffee or instant espresso powder. More options below.
2. Shake Espresso. Add brewed espresso, ice, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice to a shaker cup or lidded jar. Make sure the lid is on tight, then vigorously shake for 10 – 20 seconds or until a nice froth forms. It should be about the same amount as the espresso you have.
3. Alternatively, you can use pumpkin spice syrup instead of the individual ingredients.
4. Assemble Drink. Dump the ice and shaken espresso into a separate glass (or use the same jar). You can also strain out the coffee and use new ice to keep the coffee colder longer.
5. Add a dash of pumpkin spice to the glass and top up with milk.
6. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Shaken Espresso

• Shake immediately after brewing the espresso: Hot espresso melts the ice just enough to mellow the bitterness and create that frothy, aerated texture. If the espresso cools down first, the drink won’t get as foamy.
• Don’t overfill your shaker: If your shaker or jar is too full, the espresso won’t have enough room to move around and aerate. Aim for it to be no more than ¾ full for the best foam.
• Shake well and not long: In the same thread, shake your espresso well to get a nice, fluffy froth. Once you shake it to that point, it’s ready to drink! If you shake it longer, you can potentially deflate the froth and dilute your espresso.
• Strain if using pumpkin puree: Pumpkin puree tends to have fibrous pulp, so strain your coffee before you drink it if you want an ultra-smooth texture. However, a shaker cup might be able to filter it out without extra straining.

Best Type of Milk to Use

Honestly, Starbucks uses oat milk as its default milk for their shaken espressos, and I think it’s the best choice! It’s creamy and adds a nice sweetness that pairs nicely with espresso! I’ve also made this with regular milk, and it tastes just as good, albeit less creamy.

You can use any milk you’d like, but the creamier alternatives do balance the frothy coffee texture nicely.

Best Espresso Options Without an Espresso Machine

If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can still make this pumpkin shaken espresso with some tweaks. There are plenty of ways to brew a good coffee that is close to espresso! My favorite way is to use a moka pot, which is a stovetop espresso! Although the espresso it brews isn’t as concentrated, it’s still pretty darn close.

You can also use instant espresso powder from Nestle, Cafe Bustelo, Blue Bottle, you name it. I’ve also used Aeropress in the past, but the coffee it makes is more watery and isn’t the best espresso replacement. Same with cold brew concentrate, it changes the flavor slightly, but it’s still good in a pinch!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you order a pumpkin shaken espresso at Starbucks?

You can order a pumpkin shaken espresso from Starbucks by asking for a brown sugar shaken espresso and substituting the classic syrup for a pump or two of pumpkin spice syrup. You can even add pumpkin cold foam if you want it extra festive!

Do you need espresso?

Nope! You can replace the espresso with instant espresso powder, a moka pot espresso, cold brew concentrate, or another form of concentrated coffee. If you really want espresso, you could also buy some from a local coffee shop and use it at home.

Can you make it without pumpkin puree?

Yes! Instead of using pumpkin puree, you can add pumpkin spice syrup instead, homemade or store-bought.

How much caffeine is in this?

Depending on whether you use 1 or 2 shots of espresso, this drink will have roughly 60 or 120 mg of caffeine, respectively. For a caffeine-free version, use decaf coffee or try half-caf.

Can I make this hot?

Hmm, I’ve personally never tried it hot, but I’m not sure it works. You won’t be able to shake hot espresso unless you use a milk or handheld frother. The steamed milk would also mimic a regular latte or cappuccino, so it’s best to make this iced.

Other Shaken Espresso Recipes to Try

If you love this pumpkin shaken espresso recipe, then you have to try other shaken espresso combinations that are just as good! Here are some variations you should try next:

• Salted Caramel Shaken Espresso
• Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
• Salted Maple Shaken Espresso
• Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Chai