How to Make a Refreshing Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew

It’s finally summer! The kids are home from school, and you’re looking for the quickest, most refreshing coffee recipes you can make at home.

Look no further because I’ve got you covered!

This copycat recipe combines cold brew’s bold yet refreshing taste with dreamy chocolate cold foam, giving you the ultimate coffee experience to enhance your favorite summer memories.

The best part is that once you make the cold brew, the drink comes together in minutes, leaving you free to hit the pool, chase the kids in the yard, or lounge the afternoon away on your deck.

Sound good? Then, let’s get started!

If you’re short on time (or busy breaking up fights between your kids), click here to skip right to the recipe.

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What is the Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew?

The Starbucks version of the chocolate cream cold brew starts with smooth cold brew coffee sweetened with a hint of vanilla simple syrup. This delicious drink is finished with an indulgent layer of chocolaty cream.

It’s simple, delicious, and the perfect sidekick to a warm summer day!

What’s in a Chocolate Cream Cold Brew?

This drink comes together quickly with a few simple ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen.

Cold Brew Coffee

The best homemade cold brew coffee starts with coffee grounds specifically prepared for the cold brewing process. My favorite is the Bizzy brand of cold brew grounds; however, several other brands are out there. 

Making a batch of cold brew couldn’t be easier! Simply add the ground coffee to a cold brew pitcher, French press, or Mason jar. I generally add 1.5 cups of coffee and 3 cups of cold water, but your specific coffee brand may suggest a different ratio.

Let the mixture sit for at least 12 hours before pouring the cold brew coffee into an alternate pitcher for storage.

And if you’re really short on time, Starbucks sells premade cold brew coffee, making this recipe even easier!

Vanilla Flavor Syrup

Although cold brew coffee has a less bitter flavor than hot coffee, it is still somewhat bold. Adding a hint of vanilla syrup rounds out the natural smoothness of cold brew in a subtle yet tasteful way.

You can make homemade vanilla syrup by combining 1/2 cup turbinado cane sugar (granulated sugar also works), 1/2 cup water, and two teaspoons vanilla extract.

Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.

If you’re short on time, use premade vanilla syrup. Torani is my favorite vanilla flavor syrup brand, although you can also find the Starbucks brand on Amazon.

Chocolate Cream

Making your own chocolate cream at home is super easy! Combine a few tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and skim milk, along with a teaspoon or so of sugar and cocoa powder. 

Mix with a handheld milk frother or immersion blender, and voila! You have a chocolate version of the famous coffee house fluffy topping.

Combining heavy cream and 2% or whole milk will give you the most authentic texture in this copycat recipe.

However, if you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, I recommend using oat milk as it froths reasonably well.

You can omit the cocoa powder and sugar and use chocolate malt powder for a chocolate milkshake experience.

Or you can also substitute chocolate syrup for a sweeter chocolate flavor.

The beauty of this recipe lies in your ability to customize everything, so take advantage!

Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew

This copycat recipe is ice cold, refreshing, and has the most indulgent chocolate flavor!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

• 3/4 cup cold brew coffee
• 1 tsp vanilla flavor syrup
• 3 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 1 tbsp skim milk
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• ice

Instructions

 

• Add ice to your favorite glass or Mason jar and pour the cold brew over the top. Stir in the vanilla flavor syrup.
• Add the heavy whipping cream, skim milk, sugar, and cocoa powder to a milk frother. Alternately, use a whisk or hand mixer to add body to the mixture. Blend until frothy, but don't overdo it, or the mixture will become stiff and float on top rather than gently mix into the coffee layer.
• Pour or spoon the chocolate cream over the top of the cold brew and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a chocolate cream cold brew have caffeine?

Yes. A grande size of this specialty drink contains close to 200 mg of caffeine. At this time, Starbucks does not offer decaffeinated versions of its cold brew in stores, but you can make a decaf version at home. You can alternately request either decaf iced coffee or a decaf iced Americano and then top with chocolate cream if you’re looking for a similar flavor without the caffeine.

Is a cold brew coffee the same as an iced coffee?

No. The cold brewing process allows water to seep into the grounds for several hours, resulting in a smoother, less bitter flavor. Iced coffee is generally regular drip coffee cooled to room temperature and then poured over ice.

Cold brew works better for recipes because it’s more concentrated than regular drip coffee and will hold its flavor better. 

If you prefer a less coffee-forward taste in your drink, consider asking for an iced coffee rather than a cold brew.

How much sugar is in a chocolate cream cold brew?

As prepared by Starbucks, the chocolate cream cold brew contains 28 grams of sugar. But by making the drink yourself at home, you can adjust the amount of added sugar without sacrificing flavor.

Final Thoughts

The chocolate cream cold brew is an easy recipe to make at home. By doing so, you’ll save time, money, and several grams of sugar!

It’s a refreshing drink that you can enjoy at the pool, while reading a page-turner in your backyard, or even while tidying up your kitchen.

Give it a try today!

And if you love this recipe, check out my other easy coffee-inspired content:

• How to Make the Best Homemade Iced Mint Mocha Latte
• How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte
• How to Make the Best Copycat Golden Eagle Chai at Home
• The Best Copycat Golden Eagle Dutch Bros Recipe Ever!
• How to Make an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
• How to Make a Copycat Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso
• How to Make a Golden Milk Latte with Turmeric
• How to Make a Copycat Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles
• The Best Cold Brew Container for Home Brewing
• How to Make a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with Caramel 
• Should You Try Putting Olive Oil in Coffee?