Always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy my morning brew, I spotted a recipe for a knockoff Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso and thought, why not try it?

It promised to come together quickly and taste better than the original.

What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing!

Absolutely nothing.

But there is a catch…Keep reading to find out what that catch is and if the coffee is worth it.

Looking for More At-Home Coffee Ideas?

If you’re looking for other ideas to shake up your morning (or anytime) coffee routine, check out our other coffee posts:

Feeling Fancy? Brew Up Some Decadent Iced Coffee with Cream Froth

Go on a Home-Brew Adventure with Mexican Iced Coffee

Stash Your Cash and Make Your Own Salted Caramel Cold Brew at Home

Spiced Coffee with Maple Cream, Thai Iced Coffee, and Home-Made Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup/Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Looking for Something to Nibble on With Your Coffee?

Check out these coffee-infused posts:

January Coffee Obsession Part 1: Coffee, Bacon, and Date Scones

January Coffee Obsession Part 3: Vanilla Mocha Biscotti

Simple to Make−Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso

Get the recipe from: A Couple Cooks

The only catch with this recipe is that this Simple to Make brew gets its deep, dark flavor not only from the espresso, but also from brown sugar simple syrup.

That’s right. You’re going to need to make the brown sugar simple syrup.

Ok, it’s not so much a catch as one additional step you need to take to get to the coffee!

Never made brown sugar simple syrup?

No worries! Now’s the time to try it and this is the drink!

Just as easy to make as regular simple syrup, you might just find yourself adding this version to all your coffee drinks.

Five things to know about the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso

  • This coffee recipe is one of the simplest and most delicious ways to elevate your morning coffee. Combine equal parts brown sugar and water in a saucepan and bring it to a slow boil, stirring to ensure the brown sugar melts completely. Cool to room temperature before using in the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso. The brown sugar simple syrup brings a caramel flavor to the coffee and deepens the warm flavors of the espresso and cinnamon.
Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso ingredients
  • You can make this even if you don’t own an espresso machine. I used a French Press to make my espresso. Is it 100% authentic? No. Does it work for most home baristas? Absolutely.
  • Be sure to let the brown sugar simple syrup cool completely before making your drink. If this was a hot coffee drink, it wouldn’t matter if the brown sugar simple syrup was still warm, but since it’s an iced drink, by letting the simple syrup cool, you’ll need less ice to ice the drink. Less ice = less dilution. Stored in a sealed container in the fridge, the brown sugar simple syrup should last about a month.
Combine equal parts brown sugar and water in a sauce pan, bring to a rolling boil to fully dissolve the sugar, then let the syrup cool completely.
  • Like 007’s preference for martinis, this drink should be shaken, not stirred. By shaking the espresso, brown sugar simple syrup, and cinnamon, you’re sure to better incorporate the cinnamon into the drink. When I made this a second time, I tried stirring the ingredients, but the cinnamon didn’t dissolve or fully incorporate into the espresso and brown sugar simple syrup. So, get your James Bond on and shake this one.
  • This drink is easily scalable. The original recipe makes one drink, but A Couple Cooks provide the option to double or triple the recipe. Trust me, you’re going to want to do that.

The Verdict: Was the coffee worth it?

Absolutely!

I think brown sugar simple syrup might just be my new favorite simple syrup. It brings a warm, caramelly-vanilla flavor that pairs so well with the cinnamon.

It’s a hug in a glass. An icy hug, but a hug you’ll want every day.

Drop us a comment and a photo if you brew up this Starbucks knockoff!

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso