If all your favorite fall drinks feature pumpkin, I have the perfect recipe!
Caribou Coffee’s fall menu recently dropped and contains a host of different handcrafted beverages celebrating the flavors of the fall season.
One of the most exciting features is the new pumpkin espresso shaker.
This drink is creamy, refreshing, and is the most authentic taste of the fall season!
With only a few simple ingredients, you can easily whip it up at home for a fraction of the cost.
Let’s get to it!
If you’re a “take me to the good part” kind of person, click here to jump right to the recipe.
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What is a Pumpkin Espresso Shaker?
The drink starts with fresh espresso shaken over ice to perfectly combine it with a delectable pumpkin flavored syrup.
Now pumpkin-flavored, the espresso is poured over lots of ice cubes, and a splash of oat milk is added to finish the drink.
This drink is a fresh approach to the traditional PSL.
The pumpkin espresso shaker is comforting, refreshing, and reminiscent of a chilly late fall afternoon.
It’s this year’s perfect pumpkin drink!
What’s in a Pumpkin Espresso Shaker?
This drink comes together quickly with a few simple ingredients.
Espresso
As you may have suspected, espresso is a key ingredient in this recipe.
But if you don’t have an espresso machine, don’t worry! You have various options.
You can use cold-brewed coffee, either homemade or purchased. Dilute it slightly before adding it to the cocktail shaker using a 2:1 ratio of cold brew to water.
You can also use freshly ground espresso brewed in a French press. Combine 4 tablespoons finely ground espresso with 3.5 cups hot water in the French press.
Allow to steep for 6 minutes, then pour out your “espresso.”
You could also use regular coffee for this recipe, which might be a great option if you prefer a less bold espresso flavor.
Pumpkin Flavor Syrup
The star of this drink is the pumpkin flavor!
Although you can use a traditional premade pumpkin syrup, I prefer a more authentic taste of the season.
I love using real pumpkin purée in all my fall PSL drinks because pumpkin packs a nutrition punch.
Pumpkin is a great immune booster and can even help prevent cancer.
It’s a great boost for your overall health!
You have a couple of options when it comes to sweetening this drink.
Opt for honey or maple syrup if you want to stick with natural sweeteners.
I love making my own “fall spice syrup” with a mix of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to capture that authentic pumpkin pie spice flavor.
But if you want to sweeten with honey instead, simply combine 1 tbsp ground ginger, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons ground cloves.
Mix the seasonings well and add 1/2 teaspoon spice mix to the espresso before shaking it.
Use 1 to 3 teaspoons of honey to sweeten.
Milk
This drink is finished with a splash of milk.
The coffee shop version uses oat milk, but you can use whatever type of milk you have on hand.
It’s worth mentioning that sometimes recipes look different when made at home from when they do in the coffee shop.
The same can be said for this recipe.
As you can see from the pictures, the milk in the homemade version sinks to the bottom.
This has to do with the difference in density between the shaken espresso and milk.
If you’d like the milk to float on top of the espresso layer, try using a milk frother to froth the milk before pouring it on top of the espresso.
Copycat Pumpkin Espresso Shaker Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tbsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 2 shots espresso
- 1/4 cup oat milk or milk of choice
- ice
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar, water, ground cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down and allow to simmer for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has started to thicken.
- Pour your syrup into a storage container and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.
- Fill a cocktail shaker cup with ice. Add your espresso shots, 1-3 teaspoons of the spice syrup (depending on how sweet you want your drink) and the pumpkin puree. Shake for 2 minutes.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour the shaken espresso over the ice. Finish with a splash of oat milk and enjoy! Although not in the original recipe, you could add a dash of caramel sauce for an extra indulgent experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an espresso shaker and an iced latte?
Because the espresso shaker contains less milk than an iced latte, it’s a much more espresso forward drink.
The espresso shaker also has a slightly frothier texture than an iced latte, thanks to all that shaking!
How much sugar is in a pumpkin espresso shaker?
A medium sized pumpkin espresso shaker from Caribou contains around 55 grams of sugar. To put this into perspective, current dietary recommendations advise that women consume no more than 25 grams of sugar (6 teaspoons) and men no more than 36 grams (9 teaspoons) of sugar daily.
But by whipping up your coffee house drinks at home, you can save several grams of sugar without sacrificing flavor.
Not to mention that making drinks at home allows you to make endless customizations with no additional charge.
Why won’t the milk float on top of the drink?
Without frothing the milk, it likely won’t be light enough to sit on top of the shaken espresso and will sink to the bottom.
Even when you get this drink directly from Caribou, the milk sits on top for barely enough time to drive out the parking lot.
If you’d like the milk to sit on top, give it a quick froth to add texture.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to a wide variety of menu items, fall is one of the most exciting times of year at most coffee shops!
Most coffee shops offer an extensive pumpkin menu featuring a beloved offering of handcrafted pumpkin beverages.
Starbucks’s extensive fall menu additionally features baked goods, including the pumpkin cream cheese muffin and many other seasonal treats.
Caribou’s extensive menu features the ever popular iced pumpkin white mocha.
The new fall menus from several coffee shops featured different Honeycrisp apple drinks, which are unfortunately now off the menu in most shops.
But I’ve got you covered with copycat recipes that taste as indulgent as the original.
And if you’re looking for more fall-themed coffee shop inspiration, check out my previous posts!
- How to Make an Iced Pumpkin Chai
- Best Copycat Iced Pumpkin Latte
- What is a Chai Tea Latte? Breakdown and Tasty Upgrade Ideas!
- Real Honeycrisp Apple Caramel Espresso Shaker Copycat Recipe
- How to Make a Copycat Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte
- How to Make the Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai at Home
- How to Make a Copycat Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso
- How to Make a Golden Milk Latte with Turmeric
