The weather is finally starting to warm up here in Chicago, and that means it’s time to replace my typical hot coffee order with something iced. Starbucks recently dropped its summer menu for 2025, and I immediately wanted to order the Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
Regular horchata is sweet yet refreshing, and I can’t make it through a day without some form of coffee. This shaken espresso felt like it could be the best of both worlds!
What’s in the Starbucks Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?
COURTESY STARBUCKS
This drink is a mix of blonde espresso and horchata syrup shaken with ice and topped with creamy oat milk. According to the Starbucks app, the horchata syrup is “a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors.”
If you haven’t ventured into the realm of shaken espresso yet, I highly recommend it. Inspired by the Italian shakerato (aka chilled espresso), the Starbucks version also incorporates milk for a creamy element. I find it so much tastier than a basic iced coffee, even though they’re quite similar.
How does it compare to a classic horchata?
I don’t think the two are meant to be compared. Because the Starbucks drink is made with horchata syrup rather than real horchata, I wouldn’t have known it was a horchata-inspired drink if I tasted it in a lineup of unmarked iced coffees. The cinnamon flavor stood out, but the sweet rice milk was totally lacking.
That being said, the drink is good! You really can’t go wrong with cinnamon, vanilla, espresso and oat milk. It would have been a real winner if it were made with a base of horchata s