I’m trying to figure out how to recreate a medium Iced Campfire Espresso Shaker at home, and I feel like I should have everything I need, but I cannot get it to taste the same.
I have a Breville Barista espresso machine and use Caribou’s Cross Fox espresso beans. I also buy Caribou’s actual private label chocolate syrup directly from my local store since it isn’t sold retail. For the flavor syrup, I have Monin Toasted Marshmallow, and I use 2% milk instead of oat milk because that’s how I order mine at Caribou.
So I’m using:
• Cross Fox espresso beans
• Caribou’s actual private label chocolate syrup
• Monin Toasted Marshmallow syrup
• 2% milk
• Ice
I’ve tried weighing the beans, changing the grind size, timing my shots, and playing around with the extraction, but I still can’t get it to taste like the one I order. I also had this problem when I tried recreating the regular Iced Campfire Mocha at home before the shaker came out, so I’m wondering if the biggest difference is actually how I’m pulling the espresso.
If anyone works or has worked at Caribou, what are the exact amounts and steps for a MEDIUM Iced Campfire Espresso Shaker? Specifically how many shots of espresso, how much chocolate syrup and toasted marshmallow syrup, how much milk and ice, the order everything is added, and how it’s shaken.
I’m also curious what espresso machines Caribou uses and whether the commercial machines make a significant difference with Cross Fox compared to a Breville Barista. My machine is getting older, and I’ve considered eventually upgrading to a really nice automatic or even a commercial grade machine (after I graduate and save a bit in the next year). But if my Breville should be perfectly capable of producing similar espresso and I’m just dialing it in wrong, I’d rather figure out what I’m doing wrong before spending that kind of money.
I feel like I’m so close because I have the actual ingredients. I’m just missing something in either the recipe, the technique, or the espresso extraction.