What Is Blonde Espresso? Light Roast Espresso Explained

Blonde espresso is espresso made from lightly roasted coffee beans — beans pulled from the roaster earlier in the process than traditional dark roast espresso. The result is a shot that tastes brighter, fruitier, and naturally sweeter than regular espresso, with slightly more caffeine and a lighter body. The term “blonde” refers to the light color of the roasted beans. Starbucks popularized the name when they launched their Blonde Espresso in January 2018, but the concept — making espresso from light roast coffee — predates Starbucks by decades in specialty coffee. ...

April 23, 2026 · 6 min · Barista At Home

Shaken Espresso: What It Is and How to Make It at Home

Shaken espresso is espresso shots shaken vigorously with ice (and usually a sweetener) in a cocktail shaker, then poured over fresh ice and topped with milk or cream. The shaking aerates the espresso, creating a frothy, chilled drink with a silky, lighter texture than a standard iced latte. Starbucks popularized shaken espresso with their Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, but the technique — shaking espresso with ice — has existed in coffee culture for decades. The Italian-inspired “shakerato” (espresso shaken with ice and sugar) is the original version. ...

April 12, 2026 · 6 min · Barista At Home