What is the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?
Non-dairy friends, rejoice! Starbucks now has oatmilk! The chain is using it in the new Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. This drink takes shots of espresso – Starbucks Blonde espresso, specifically – and shakes it up with brown sugar and cinnamon. Baristas top it off with oatmilk and you’re good to go!
(Editor’s Note: We also reviewed Starbuck’s Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espress.)
How is it?
On first sip, I noted a strong espresso taste with a tiny hint of sweet – almost like a burnt sugar. I definitely got more of a cinnamon flavor coming through over the brown sugar, especially in the aftertaste. Side note: I’m interested in trying the Brown Sugar Syrup used in this drink in a latte or cappuccino, to really see what that tastes like on its own, too!
I described the shaken espresso to a co-worker as being rather mellow, since it didn’t taste like a sugar bomb. It’s smooth with an oat-y foam on top from the oatmilk. Unless you’re used to a lot of espresso at once, I’d recommend sipping this one slowly to really enjoy the flavor.
The oatmilk paired with the syrup flavor and cinnamon very well in my opinion, and I’m wondering if it will do the same with other combinations. Now off to conduct that research!
Anything else you need to know?
This drink is not for the caffeine faint of heart. A grande packs a punch of 255 milligrams, and let me tell you, I felt it the entire day (I had mine first thing in the morning). If that’s too much for you, I’d advise lowering the total number of espresso shots, or simply sizing down. A tall has two shots, a grande has three, and a venti has four.
I also thought the price was a little steep for this drink – one my usuals at Starbucks is a venti iced latte with various syrups, and it costs roughly the same even though it’s one size up. The new oatmilk is likely driving the price up on this one.
Conclusion:
While this isn’t my most favorite Starbucks drink, I enjoyed it enough to add it into my regular rotation, especially as the weather gets warmer (I’m in the Midwest and we’re patiently – or not so patiently! – waiting for spring!)
Purchased Price: $5.45
Size: Grande
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 120 calories, 3 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein, and 255 milligrams of caffeine.