The Ingredient Swap For A More Intense Starbucks Shaken Espresso

The Starbucks brand was born in 1971, per Insider, and today it is the biggest coffee chain in the world. The endlessly customizable drinks Starbucks serves up are a coffee connoisseur's dream. From the company's tall, skinny vanilla lattes to the irresistible pumpkin spice lattes when fall rolls around, Starbucks keeps us caffeinated. 

According to the National Coffee Association, an overwhelming 70% of Americans drink coffee weekly, and 62% fuel up with it every day. They also note that if you are drinking coffee on a daily basis, you likely have three cups within a 24-hour period. That's a lot of coffee and Starbucks definitely sells its fair share of those cups, especially when you consider that in 2021, the company generated over $18 billion in drink sales, per Statista. 

If you are among those who contributed to that eye-popping dollar figure or like to make copycat espresso drinks at home, you are going to want to try this ingredient swap for your next Starbucks shaken espresso drink. 

A shaken espresso drink, which is made using a couple of shots of espresso, sugar, and ice, might be just what your body wants on a hot day or mid-afternoon to wake you up out of your afternoon slump (via Brew Coffee At Home). However, if you want a more intense coffee flavor in your drink, a ristretto shot is also a great option. 

If you are unfamiliar, Full Coffee Roast explains that ristretto is a short shot that is stronger than an espresso shot because it is made using the same amount of coffee, but less water. Even though it sounds like ristretto would be more bitter than typical espresso since it is stronger, the end result is actually sweeter on your taste buds. 

Starbucks reveals that a ristretto shot is not only a great substitution in shaken espresso drinks but can also be added to iced Americanos for a more concentrated flavor. Full Coffee Roast goes on to share that while ristretto creates a full-bodied flavor, it doesn't increase the amount of caffeine, so you won't be bouncing off the walls with this alternative shot. So, the next time you order a shaken espresso drink, try it with a ristretto to really make it special.