Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso Recipe
If you’ve ever wondered if you can recreate Starbuck’s iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso recipe at home…the answer is YES! Not only is it incredibly easy, but it will save you time and money. Plus, you can customize it to make your drink exactly how you like it – talk about a win win!

Personally, I love Starbuck’s, if I had the budget for it I would probably go there everyday. But, it’s EXPENSIVE! And some of their drinks are honestly so easy to recreate at home. And, one of those drinks? This chocolate almond milk espresso!
The perfect drink for a hot day, this iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso is the perfect combination of rich dark chocolate and espresso. If you need a drink to motivate you to get out of bed in the morning, this is the one!
Not only is it easy to make, but I also think it tastes better than the Starbuck’s version! Plus, you save so, so much money making it at home. Every time I go to Starbucks I swear it gets more expensive…
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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Minimal Ingredients – All you need to make this simple recipe is espresso, almond milk, ice, and chocolate syrup. And don’t worry the chocolate syrup is incredibly easy to whip up and only requires water, sugar, and cocoa powder.
Easy to Make– One of the benefits of getting coffee at Starbucks is that it’s super easy. Well, so is this recipe! Within minutes it’s ready.
Meal Prep Friendly – The best part about this recipe is that the chocolate syrup takes just a few minutes to make…and then you have it ready for 2-3 weeks so you can make this drink every single day. It’s the perfect drink for days when you want a fancy coffee ready in minutes.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (WITH SUBSTITUTIONS)
To make this iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso recipe you need the following simple ingredients:

Cocoa Powder – Cocoa powder is used for the DIY chocolate syrup which creates the chocolate flavor in this drink (dark chocolate lovers you will be obsessed with this simple chocolate sauce!)
Cane Sugar – Sugar is mixed with water to create the simple syrup.
Almond Milk – Given the name of this drink, a cup of almond milk is used. However, you can use any plant milk (oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, etc).
Espresso – This recipe uses 3 espresso shots of blonde espresso to mimic what Starbuck’s uses. Feel free to use what you have on hand, but it may taste slightly different than the real thing.
Ice – Since it’s an iced drink, ice is needed.
HOW TO MAKE
Making this coffee recipe is a breeze. With just a few simple steps you’ll have a chocolate-y delicious drink ready to enjoy! For full ingredients and instructions make sure to check out the recipe card below.
Step One: Start by combining the water, sugar, and cocoa powder in a small to medium sized pot. Whisk everything together and simmer on low for 2-3 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved.

Step Two: Once the chocolate syrup is whisked together and the sugar has dissolved, strain it through a fine mesh sieve to get rid of any excess cocoa powder clumps. Then set it aside, and let it cool.
Step Three: Once cool, you can transfer it to a small container (see below). And, it will be good to keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. It will also thicken up once in the fridge.

Step Four: Add the shots of espresso, ice, and chocolate syrup to a large mason jar or cocktail shaker and shake until foamy.

Step Five: Pour the mixture into another glass and add any additional ice, as well as the almond milk. Optional (but highly recommend) top with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup!
STORAGE & REHEATING
The chocolate syrup should be kept in the fridge and will be good for 2-3 weeks. If it thickens up too much, just add a bit more water.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What are the ingredients in the Starbuck’s iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso?
Starbuck’s drink contains the following ingredients: ice, almond milk, starbucks blonde espresso, chocolate malt powder and natural flavors.
The only difference between their drink and this version is the chocolate malt powder. While they use a chocolate malt powder made of cane sugar, cocoa powder, and natural malt flavor, we are using a chocolate syrup! While both are delicious (and vegan – the malt flavor comes from barley), using chocolate syrup is a lot more accessible.
However, if you happen to find malt flavoring at your local grocery store, feel free to include it in this drink!
2. How can I avoid watered down coffee?
If you’re a slow coffee drinker (like me) you can make coffee ice cubes to avoid a watered down drink. Simply pour coffee into an ice cube mold and let freeze overnight. Then, in place of the ice in this recipe, you can use the coffee ice cubes. You can also do this with non-dairy milk, I always love to do it if my milk is expiring soon.
3. Can I use cold brew and/or instant coffee?
Absolutely, you can use any type of coffee you would like. It just will differ slightly from the Starbuck’s version. If you are not using espresso, I recommend adjusting the ratio of milk you use accordingly.
4. Can I make this drink hot?
Yes! While this is an iced espresso drink, you can definitely make it a hot espresso beverage by skipping the ice and using hot almond milk.
5. What kind of almond milk should I use?
Any regular almond milk is fine. You can use vanilla-flavored almond milk or unsweetened almond milk. Not a fan of almond milk? Use your favorite plant-based milk!

If you decide to try this drink out, let me know! I love seeing your recreations tagged on Instagram @nourishedwithnatalie.

Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond milk
- 3 shots blonde espresso*
- 1 cup ice
Chocolate Syrup
- ½ cup cane sugar
- ½ cup boiling water
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
Instructions
How to Make the Chocolate Syrup
- Whisk together the boiling water, sugar, and cocoa powder in a medium size pot.
- Let simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and set aside to cool.
- Once cool, transfer the chocolate syrup to a airtight container and keep in the fridge.
Assembling the Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
- In a mason jar or cocktail shaker add the espresso, 1/2 of the ice, and 1 tbsp chocolate syrup (or more/less – depending on desired taste). Shake thoroughly until foamy.
- Pour into a separate glass and add the rest of the ice, almond milk, and optionally (but recommended!) whipped cream and extra chocolate syrup on top.
This was really easy to make and it tasted delicious. Def going to use that chocolate syrup on everything