Holy YUM, you guys are going to love this one.
The Dutch Bros Golden Eagle recipe has bold espresso layered with steamed, creamy half-and-half and kissed with vanilla syrup and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
A very dessert-like coffee, this delicious drink can be made in the comfort of your own home in just minutes!
And once it hits your taste buds, I’m betting it becomes your new favorite drink.
Ingredients for the Dutch Bros Golden Eagle Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious copycat recipe:
- Brewed espresso. No worries if you don’t have an espresso machine. I’ll provide several alternatives further down in this post.
- Half-and-half. This is exactly what its name implies: It’s half cream and half milk. And it’s what sets the breve apart from the latte. The use of half-and-half is what qualifies this rich drink as a breve.
- Vanilla syrup
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream. Optional, but so yummy.
How to Make this Dutch Bros Golden Eagle Recipe
Follow these simple steps to create one of the most classic drinks on the Dutch Bros menu:
Brew the Espresso Shots
In the bartending world, one shot is equal to 1.5 ounces. But in the barista world, one shot is equal to just one ounce. So one shot of espresso = one ounce.
We’re going to use two espresso shots, or two ounces, to make this Dutch Bros drink. If you prefer a stronger beverage, feel free to add more shots of espresso. It’s a matter of personal preference.
Pour the espresso into your glass or mug of choice.
Steam the Half-and-Half
If you have an espresso maker with a milk frother attachment (i.e. steam wand), you can use it to steam the cold half-and-half.
Place the frother attachment just underneath the surface of the milk without going too deep. When the cup of milk becomes almost too hot to handle, you’ll know that it’s ready to add to the espresso.
You can also steam the half-and-half in a small saucepan on the stove, watching it carefully so that it doesn’t boil over and scorch. The microwave also works!
Add the Vanilla and Caramel Syrups
Pour the vanilla syrup and caramel sauce right into your steamed milk and froth it while it’s still very hot.
Froth the Half-and-Half
There are different ways to froth milk, and the easiest way is to use a handheld frother. Seems like everyone has one of those handheld frothers these days. They make it so easy to create pretty coffee drinks, homemade whipped cream, omelettes and more.
If you don’t have a handheld frother, pour the hot milk into a French press coffee maker and plunge up and down vigorously until foam forms.
You could also pour it into a mason jar, seal the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Combine the Cream and Espresso
Pour your steamed and flavored half-and-half over the espresso and stir gently to combine.
How to Serve the Golden Eagle
Whether you’re enjoying the hot version or iced version of the Golden Eagle, whipped cream on top is always a nice treat!
Then, add a caramel sauce drizzle over top for the perfect finishing touch.
Variations and Substitutions
Iced Golden Eagle: At Dutch Bros coffee shop, the Golden Eagle can be made hot, cold or blended. It’s easy to make this hot beverage into an iced coffee. Simply skip the step where you’d steam the half-and-half and stir it directly into the espresso. Use a tall glass and leave room for plenty of ice cubes.
Blended Golden Eagle: Coffee milkshake anyone? Pour all of your ingredients into a blender along with a cup of ice and blend until frosty.
Dairy Free Golden Eagle: For a plant-based option, substitute oat milk, soy milk, almond milk or coconut milk for the half-and-half.
Nonfat Golden Eagle: To reduce the overall fat content in this drink, use non-fat milk instead of half-and-half.
Reduced Sugar Golden Eagle: If you’re looking to reduce the extra sugar, carbohydrates and calories in this coffee drink, grab the sugar free version of Torani vanilla syrup at your local grocery store or on Amazon.
Is the Golden Eagle a Breve?
One of the signature drinks at Dutch Bros, a breve is a coffee drink made with strong brewed espresso, half-and-half and sugar.
The sugar often takes the form of a flavored syrup like chocolate macadamia nut syrup, like in my Annihilator recipe or Irish cream syrup, as with my Irish Cream Breve recipe.
So the Golden Eagle is basically just a vanilla caramel breve.
No type of milk – not even whole milk – will cut it here. If you want a breve, you’ve got to use half-and-half.
What’s the difference between a Breve and a Latte?
The main difference between a cafe breve and a traditional latte is the type of milk used. A latte can be made with skim milk, 2% milk or whole milk to create a smooth, frothy drink.
A cafe breve, on the other hand, is always made with half-and-half.
You may see breve recipes out there that call for heavy cream, but most of them are going to use half-and-half.
The cream used in a Golden Eagle provides an indulgent, creamy texture, making it a more decadent coffee experience compared to a latte’s lighter and frothier texture.
What if you don’t have an espresso machine?
Many coffee lovers out there think that they can’t make fancy espresso drinks without a machine. Not the case!
Here are alternative ways to get it done:
- Instant Espresso: Dissolve instant espresso powder in hot water to create a concentrated coffee. I keep espresso powder on hand to use in many cookie and baking recipes, and it’s an easy way to create the base for macchiatos, lattes and other specialty coffee drinks.
- Stovetop Moka Pot: A stovetop moka pot is a classic Italian coffee pot that can produce a strong, espresso-like coffee. It might not be true espresso, but it’s a great option for home brewing.
- French Press: While traditionally used for making coffee, a French press can be used to brew a strong coffee concentrate that can serve as the base for espresso-based beverages.
- Aeropress: The Aeropress is a versatile coffee maker that can produce a concentrated coffee shot akin to espresso. It’s a popular choice among coffee aficionados.
- Nespresso Machine: Another popular choice, you can have espresso in just the press of a button if you choose the right capsule.
When you make this Dutch Bros Golden Eagle recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more coffee drink recipes, try these:
- Easy Vanilla Iced Latte (Starbucks Copycat)
- Salted Caramel Mocha Hot Coffee (Homemade Recipe)
- Iced Mocha Macchiato Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
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How to Make a Golden Eagle Coffee (Dutch Bros Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 oz. brewed espresso
- 6 oz. half-and-half
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla syrup
- 1 Tbsp. caramel sauce
- whipped cream garnish, optional
Instructions
- Brew the espresso in a large mug.
- Steam the half-and-half using the wand on an espresso maker or in a saucepan on the stove top.
- Froth the half-and-half using a handheld milk frother. Alternatively, use the steamer wand on an espresso maker or pour steamed milk into a jar with lid and shake vigorously.
- Stir the vanilla syrup and caramel sauce into the half-and-half. Pour over the espresso. Stir gently.
- Top with whipped cream and more caramel sauce.
Raymond Klouda says
Nice!!! and easy. I will add a shot of Baileys.
Jackie says
Now you’re talkin!