This Starbucks Oleato copycat is an iced shaken espresso that’s smooth and creamy with a subtle sweetness, a hint of hazelnut, and notes of warm, toasted coffee. You only need 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to make this at home before it hits the market. It’s also naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Last week, I posted this Olive Oil Coffee recipe with a nod to the new Starbucks Oleato line. Today we’re taking it up a notch by adding hazelnut syrup with a lightly shaken espresso drink that’s refreshing and relatively healthy.
Ingredients
- Slightly cooled espresso
- Hazelnut coffee syrup
- Oat milk (or milk of choice)
- Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
What kind of olive oil?
The Oleato line uses Partanna Cold-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Although the specific blend is not yet available in stores, you can find Partanna Olive Oil at World Market and on Amazon.
You need a high-quality extra virgin olive oil that is a finishing oil; not an all-around cooking oil.
A reader, Laurie, commented on my olive oil coffee recipe, saying that she used avocado oil because her olive oil was a bit dated. Here’s what she said, “Super creamy, silky! Reminds of my first buttered espresso years ago at MOMA. Great recipe!”
So if you have avocado oil, you can also give that a try.
For those that can have dairy, melted butter is also an option.
Why add olive oil to coffee?
Besides turning coffee into a velvety drink, there are many health benefits.
Fat added to coffee gives you sustained energy because the fat slows down the absorption of caffeine, prolongs the effects, and helps prevent insulin spikes and sugar crashes. It also makes coffee less bitter and acidic, which is better for your gut and the taste of the coffee.
Extra virgin olive oil has omega-9 fatty acids that are known to balance cholesterol and help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidant content and polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.
You also get a good dose of vitamins E and K and some iron.
The most noticeable thing I encountered after drinking coffee with olive oil was how smooth it was and not disruptive to my digestive system. I no longer need two cups of coffee because I’m satisfied with the first cup.
It’s amazing how adding olive oil to coffee can have significant effects.
How to make espresso without a machine
If you don’t have an espresso machine, no worries. There are several ways to make robust espresso-like coffee at home.
Since this is an iced latte, I recommend planning ahead and making Cold Brew Espresso. Or you can make Mason Jar Cold Brew or French Press Cold Brew.
If you can’t wait to try this drink and don’t want to wait 24 hours for the cold brew, you can make French Press Espresso. This is the method I usually use because I’m not good at planning and waiting.
Which espresso to use
If you want it to taste as close to Starbucks as possible, then you’ll want to use the Starbucks original espresso pods. But any full-bodied espresso will work.
Regarding the type of beans and grind, check out this Espresso Beans vs Coffee Beans post.
Milk type
Starbucks uses Oatly Barista Edition, but you can use any brand of oat milk. Or any type of milk!
I think hazelnut milk would be a super creamy, delicious option here.
Hazelnut coffee syrup
To be as close to Starbucks as possible, you’ll want to use Starbucks Naturally Flavored Hazelnut Coffee Syrup. The ingredients are potassium sorbate, natural flavor, citric acid, water and sugar.
For a sugar-free option, both Torani and Monin make sugar-free hazelnut syrup! Then your drink would be sugar-free.
Monin’s ingredients are: water, erythritol, natural and artificial flavors, cellulose gum, sucralose, citric acid, sea salt, potassium sorbate (preservative).
Torani’s ingredients are: water, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, acesulfame potassium, potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness), sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness), xanthan gum, sucralose, caramel color.
I’m not too wild about those ingredients, so I made my own, this Hazelnut Coffee Syrup.
Notes
- I used 2 teaspoons of hazelnut syrup, but you could halve that depending on your preferences.
- Starbucks adds hazelnut flavor to this drink, but you could add any flavor you like: vanilla, maple syrup or Vegan Caramel Sauce.
If you’re not vegan and want to indulge, try this Maple Caramel Sauce. These sauces are also great drizzled over baked goods. - You can sweeten the espresso naturally with maple syrup or leave it unsweetened. Or use whatever sweetener you’d like, as long as you think it’d pair well with the other flavors.
- I used regular ice cubes, but you can make coffee ice cubes if you don’t want to dilute the taste.
Other cool drinks to try
- Iced Chai Latte
- Starbucks Matcha Latte
- Baileys Iced Coffee
- Pineapple Matcha
- Turmeric Ginger Shots
- Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
If you try this drink, I would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below, or if you share it on social media, tag #texanerin so I can be sure to see it. Thanks!
Sources:
- Harvard.edu
- Potential Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols
- Olive Oil: Antioxidant Compounds and Their Potential Effects over Health
Starbucks Oleato Copycat (Iced Shaken Espresso)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 1
See notes if you're gluten-free/vegan!
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso, cooled slightly
- 2 teaspoons hazelnut coffee syrup
- 1/3 cup (80ml) oat milk or milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon cold -pressed extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Add the espresso and hazelnut syrup to a mason jar filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until foamy. Strain into your glass.
- Stir together the oat milk and olive oil and whisk or froth them quickly to combine. Pour into your glass and top with ice. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- If you're gluten-free, make sure to use gluten-free oat milk (it needs to be labeled as gluten-free) and hazelnut syrup (most brands are gluten-free).
- If you're vegan, use plant-based milk and vegan hazelnut syrup (most brands are).
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21 comments on “Starbucks Oleato Copycat (Iced Shaken Espresso)” — Add one!
5 comments are awaiting moderation!
This was sooo so good. I made it for the first time yesterday and I’m about to make it again. Had to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for saving me so much money and time. Glad I don’t have to make the annoying detour to STarbucks anymore. Yay!
Haha. I’m so happy for you! I’m glad to have helped. :) Thanks for your comment!
I used almond milk instead of oat milk, and it worked just as well. I also made coffee ice cubes as suggested and it kept the drink from getting watered down. Such a simple yet brilliant idea! Definitely making this again.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it and will be making it again! And awesome that almond milk worked out well. :) Thanks for your feedback!
My husband and I love this! It was super creamy and slightly sweet. Who needs Starbucks when you can make this at home anyway? lol I’ve had the one at Starbucks but this was just as good. Thanks so much.
Haha. I agree with you! I’m glad that you liked it and found it just as good as Starbucks. :) Thanks so much for your comment!
The hubby is a huge coffee lover and he raved over this recipe! It’s so light and refreshing! LOVING the olive oil addition!
I’m so glad that he enjoyed it! Thanks for your feedback. :)
Who needs Starbucks when you can make the most delicious Oleato at home? Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe. I would have never thought about adding olive oil to my coffee but now this is all I want.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you liked it and want to make it again. :) Thanks for your comment!
Great recipe for an inexpensive, copycat shaken espresso. I used avocado oil and it was absolutely delicious!
Yay! I’m glad to hear that it came out well with avocado oil. Thanks for the suggestion! I still really need to try that.
I wasn’t sure about how using olive oil in my coffee would taste but I am glad I tried it because it was really good and I would defintiely make it again.
I know it sounds strange! I’m glad that you gave it a try anyway and that you enjoyed it. Thank you for your comment! :)
We thoroughly enjoyed this ice shaken espresso recipe. Gonna come back to it time and again this summer. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear that you’re going to make it again. :) Thanks for your comment!
I would never have thought adding olive oil to coffee was a thing. But this iced shaken espresso is a fabulous drink. Will be making it again.
I know! Whoever came up with this idea… I wonder what they were thinking. ;) I’m glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment.
This is a delicious, refreshing drink! I’ll make it again and I want to try it with hazlenut milk, as you suggested.
I hope you’ll enjoy that version just as much! I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for your feedback!