Small cup, big espresso
Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado: Calories and Caffeine
What is in the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado, how it compares with the other cortados on the Starbucks menu, and how to make it at home with brown sugar syrup and oat milk.
Quick answer. A cortado is a small coffee drink made with about equal parts espresso and warm milk. The name comes from the Spanish cortar, “to cut”: the milk cuts the espresso’s edge without hiding it. At Starbucks, every cortado is three ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso in an 8 oz Short cup, with about 230 mg of caffeine. The Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado adds brown sugar syrup, cinnamon and oat milk for 130 calories.
- Calories: 130
- Caffeine: 230 mg
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
New to cortados? Our cortado page covers what a cortado is, how it compares with a latte, flat white and cappuccino, and the classic recipe. Here we focus on the Starbucks versions, especially the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado.
Every Cortado at Starbucks
| Cortado (Short, 8 oz) | Calories | Sugar | Protein | Caffeine | Avg. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortado | 90 | 6 g | 5 g | 230 mg | $5.79 |
| Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado | 130 | 14 g | 1 g | 230 mg | $6.26 |
| Pecan Cortado | 130 | 17 g | 5 g | 230 mg | Check app |
| Pistachio Cortado | 150 | 19 g | 5 g | 230 mg | Check app |
Inside the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado
Starbucks lists four ingredients: oatmilk (water, oats, canola oil and added calcium and vitamins), brewed espresso, brown sugar syrup and cinnamon. It uses three ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso, cinnamon and brown sugar syrup topped with steamed oat milk and a dash of cinnamon. Its listed ingredients contain no dairy (though Starbucks prepares drinks on shared equipment), and it has only 3.5 g of fat. If your store is out of Blonde Espresso, Starbucks substitutes its Signature Espresso Roast.
It is the hot, small-cup cousin of the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (150 calories, 255 mg in a Grande), which uses the same brown sugar, cinnamon and oat milk combination.
Pecan and Pistachio cortados
The Pecan Cortado adds pecan flavor and is part of the fall lineup, and the Pistachio Cortado brings Starbucks’ sweet pistachio flavor. Both keep the same three Blonde ristretto shots and 230 mg of caffeine. See what else is seasonal on the Starbucks fall menu.
Make It at Home: Classic and Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado
Classic cortado
- Pull a double shot of espresso (about 2 oz) into a small 4 to 5 oz glass.
- Steam about 2 oz of whole milk to 140 to 150°F (60 to 65°C), keeping the foam very thin.
- Pour the milk into the espresso until the glass is full: roughly half and half.
- No espresso machine? Use 2 oz of very strong moka pot coffee or 2 teaspoons of instant espresso in 2 oz of hot water.
How to make Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado
Ingredients
- 3 ristretto shots (about 1 ½ oz) Blonde espresso, or a double shot (2 oz) of any espresso
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar syrup (below)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon, plus more to finish
- 3 to 4 oz (6 to 8 tablespoons) oat milk, barista style if possible
- Brown sugar syrup: ½ cup packed light brown sugar, ½ cup water, pinch of salt
Instructions
- Make the brown sugar syrup. Simmer the brown sugar, water and salt, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Cool. It keeps 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Pull the shots. Brew 3 ristretto shots (short, concentrated shots) of Blonde espresso, or a regular double shot, into a small 5 to 8 oz cup.
- Sweeten. Stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar syrup and a pinch of cinnamon.
- Steam the oat milk. Steam or heat the oat milk to about 140°F (60°C), just warm, with only a thin layer of foam. Barista oat milk steams smoother.
- Pour and finish. Pour the milk over the espresso until the cup is about half espresso, half milk. Dust with cinnamon and serve right away.
Tips and variations
- Iced cortado: stir the syrup into the espresso, pour over a few ice cubes in a small glass and add an equal amount of cold oat milk.
- No syrup: stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of brown sugar straight into the hot espresso until it dissolves.
- Pecan cortado: use 1 tablespoon of pecan or maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- Matcha cortado: replace the espresso with 1 teaspoon of matcha whisked into 2 oz of hot water.
- Keep it small: more than about 4 oz of milk and you have made a flat white or latte.
Watch: Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado at Home
Find the cortados with their prices on the Starbucks menu, or learn why Starbucks uses Blonde shots in our Blonde Espresso page.
Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado FAQs
What is a cortado?
A cortado is a small espresso drink made with about equal parts espresso and warm steamed milk, with little or no foam. The name comes from the Spanish word cortar, “to cut,” because the milk cuts the espresso’s intensity.
What is a cortado at Starbucks?
Starbucks’ Cortado is three ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso with steamed whole milk in a Short (8 oz) cup. It has 90 calories and about 230 mg of caffeine. Starbucks also sells Brown Sugar Oatmilk, Pecan and Pistachio cortados.
How many shots are in a cortado?
A traditional cortado has a double shot (about 2 oz) of espresso. Starbucks uses three ristretto shots, which are shorter, sweeter-tasting shots.
How much caffeine is in a Starbucks cortado?
About 230 mg in every Starbucks cortado, which is more than a Grande Caffè Latte (150 mg), because of the three ristretto shots.
How many ounces is a cortado?
A traditional cortado is about 4 to 4.5 oz, half espresso and half milk. The Starbucks version is served in an 8 oz Short cup.
Does Starbucks have an iced cortado?
Not on the US menu in October 2026; Starbucks cortados are served hot. At home, pour espresso and brown sugar syrup over ice and add an equal amount of cold milk.
What is the difference between a cortado and a flat white?
A cortado is smaller and stronger, with about a 1:1 ratio of espresso to milk. A flat white has more milk (about 1:2 or more) with a thin layer of microfoam. At Starbucks, a Short Cortado has 230 mg of caffeine and a Tall Flat White 130 mg.
Starbucks nutrition, caffeine and ingredients are from starbucks.com (checked October 2026). The homemade recipe is our own home version, not an official Starbucks recipe. Prices are average US prices and vary by store. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
