After having my first sip of an oatmilk shaken espresso a few years ago, I knew my go-to Starbucks coffee order would be forever changed. The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso has everything I want on a hot, summer afternoon (or any day really): It's refreshing, slightly sweet, perfectly caffeinated and truly feels like a little treat.
So when I heard Starbucks summer menu includes a brand-new oatmilk shaken espresso, I had to try it right away. This latest addition to the lineup — the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso — is inspired by horchata, a Mexican drink traditionally made of white rice soaked in water and sweetened with cinnamon and sugar. Instead of featuring rice milk, however, this caffeinated beverage is made with oatmilk and gets its signature horchata flavors via a special flavored syrup.
What is the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?
Available at Starbucks' nationwide for a limited time, this dairy-free drink consists of blonde espresso, oatmilk, ice and horchata-flavored syrup. Starbucks beverage developer Ricky Gonzalez explains, "Everyone has a different version of horchata and for a lot of people it can be very personal." He worked with other members of the team who had grown up drinking horchata to refine the recipe into what is at Starbucks today.
My review of the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Let me start out by saying I strongly believe you can't really go wrong with an iced shaken espresso in any form, so there's a good chance I'm a bit biased. That said, I really enjoyed this drink! It is slightly sweet — but not overwhelmingly so — and you can actually taste the coffee. (There have been plenty of other sweetened espresso beverages I've tried that lost the flavor of coffee completely as other elements overpowered the drink.)
I absolutely got horchata-vibes from sipping on this drink, though I wished for a stronger cinnamon flavor. If anyone else is craving a bit more cinnamon, I'd recommend customizing your order and adding a cinnamon powder topping. Overall, the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is sweet, but coffee-forward, cool, crisp and refreshing — delivering what you'd expect from an iced shaken espresso. I would definitely order it again!
What else is on Starbucks 2025 summer menu?
In addition to the new shaken espresso, fan-favorite Summer-Berry Starbucks Refreshers Beverages will be returning to Starbucks for a limited time. While supplies last, you can order these drinks made with a blend of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors shaken with ice and water, then poured over raspberry-flavored pearls.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
