Top tips for making Shaken espresso at home

• Gather all of the necessary ingredients and supplies – espresso beans, coffee grinder, cocktail shaker or a jar with a lid that seals, bar spoon, cold milk, simple syrup and ice cubes.
• For an extra flavor boost you can warm some syrup before adding it to the shaker - it will help it to mix easily with the espresso. Check out my Guide to flavored syrups for coffee. And don't forget, simple syrup is super easy to make at home, just follow my homemade simple syrup recipe - and never pay shop prices again.
• Make sure you are using a safe jar or cocktail shaker. Don't just reuse any old jar as it could break and cut you from all the ice being shaken around.
• I sometimes use a plastic beaker with a secure lid. It's tough and can take the high-speed ice shaking around inside.
• Not sure which milk to use? If you prefer dairy, I would recommend 2%. It's rich and creamy enough to stand its ground when added to two shots of espresso.
• If you don't like or want to use dairy, there are plenty of great options. I enjoy using barista-grade oat milk. But I've made great shaken espressos with Almond, soy and other non-dairy milks.
• As with any skill, practice helps improve your technique. So don’t worry if it takes some trial and error. Once you have perfected a regular shaken espresso you're ready to make some exciting variations.