How To Make Brown Sugar Syrup For Coffee

Making a brown sugar syrup makes a greater and better tasting cup of coffee. The reason why is very simple – you get a more even distribution of sweetness and flavor from the first sip to the very last.

This is probably why we get a lot of questions about brown sugar simple syrup, its use and how to make it.

By the time you have finished reading this article, you will be able to make an amazing and tasty syrup with brown sugar.

Keep reading and stay tuned as we dig into this topic and answer all of your questions.

What Is Brown Sugar Syrup?

At the heart of it brown sugar syrup is a slight variation of simple syrup (classic syrup at Starbucks) with the only difference being that brown sugar syrup is made with brown sugar instead of white sugar.

That is the only difference. It is a liquid sweetener that is made with the same ratio of water and brown sugar – both ingredients are used in equal parts.

Due to the molasses it has a good deep flavor with hints of caramel and toffee.

You can easily make your own at home or buy it ready-made from a number of brands, including Starbucks, Torani and Monin.

As a true coffee lover you will notice that when you use a liquid sweetener you will get a better distribution of sweetness when compared to sugar or other solid sweeteners.

Read: Starbucks simple syrup recipe

Brown Sugar Syrup For Coffee Recipe

Brown sugar syrup is a simple syrup that is made with only two ingredients – replacing white sugar with brown sugar and mixing it well in water.

I can’t push the point enough that using a simple syrup – be it regular sugar or brown sugar you get a slightly better tasting coffee due to a much better and more equal distribution of sweetness.

They are easily added to your hot and cold drinks and without that mass of sugar sitting at the bottom creating a sickly sweet taste at the bottom of your cup of coffee.

When making brown sugar syrup for coffee, you need to use the same amount of water and sugar.

This recipe will make you a cup of brown sugar syrup. You can use 1 or 2 tablespoons to sweeten and flavor your cup of coffee.

Brown sugar is made with molasses and has a caramel flavor. It is up to you if you use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. Each will produce a slightly different flavor, and thus I suggest you make both and find out which one you like the best. At Latte Love Brew we encourage you to use the best possible ingredients that you can find. 

Ingredients Needed To Make Brown Sugar Syrup

You need only two ingredients to make brown sugar syrup. The main ingredient is, of course, brown sugar.

It is not so important if you use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. The difference between the two is that the darker the sugar, the more molasses there are in it and a greater the toffee and caramel flavor there will be in your syrup.

For your water – use bottled water as your first choice, if you can’t most certainly you should use filtered water. The better the quality that your ingredients are, the better your end product will be.

The ingredients are as follows:

• 1 cup of brown sugar.
• 1 Cup of bottled or filtered water.

How To Make Brown Sugar Syrup – Step-by-Step Instructions

It is very easy to make brown sugar syrup as there are really only two steps.

Step 1

Measure one cup of brown sugar and add it to your saucepan. Measure 1 cup of bottled water and add it to your saucepan and sugar.

Step 2

Put your stovetop on a medium heat and slowly boil your sugar and water mix and stir the solution gently and evenly, letting it simmer until all your sugar dissolves.

Once you have syrup, take your saucepan off the heat and let it cool.

When it has completely cooled down, pour your syrup into a glass airtight bottle. Store your bottle of syrup in your fridge to keep it fresh.

Pro Tips

Any type of brown sugar will work for making an amazing brown sugar simple syrup.

But,

if you want a richer and better tasting simple syrup and a deeper and greater caramel flavor, use a high quality dark brown sugar as it has more molasses.

This recipe will make you a cup of brown sugar syrup and should yield 16 tablespoons, enough for 8 to 16 cups of coffee.

If you want to add an additional flavor you can add a little vanilla extract or better still make your brown sugar syrup with fresh organic French vanilla pod.

It is certainly not a “must do” but it adds a very nice additional flavor to the recipe that goes excellently well with your coffee.

Other variations you can experiment with include adding a cinnamon stick and maple syrup.

When you store your syrup well in an airtight container and in your fridge, it will stay fresh for around 3 weeks.

How To Make Thick Brown Sugar Syrup

To make your brown sugar syrup thicker, you can simmer your water and brown sugar until more of the water evaporates.

As the solution cools down, it naturally becomes thicker and more like a syrup.

Alternatively, you can use corn starch and mix it into your brown sugar and water mix while it is simmering and allow it to simmer until it thicker.

Corn starch adds no flavor or additional sweetness. It is simply a thickening agent.

Where To Buy Brown Sugar Syrup

You can buy a ready-made bottle of brown sugar syrup from your local supermarket in the baking supplies aisle.

Walmart, Amazon, Starbucks, eBay, Bed, Bath and Beyond all have the option for you to buy it online.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Sugar Syrup

Is Brown Sugar Syrup The Same As Brown Sugar?

Yes, brown sugar syrup is liquid brown sugar and is a variation of simple syrup which is made with white sugar. It is a liquid sweetener that helps you to make a better quality coffee due to the syrup mixing better than regular sugar. It is made with only two ingredients – brown sugar and water in equal parts. It is often called brown sugar simple syrup and has a flavor of toffee and caramel.

What Is In Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup?

The ingredients that are in Starbucks brown sugar syrup are listed as brown sugar, salt, natural flavors, preservatives and water. When you taste the syrup you will note hints of cinnamon, maple syrup and brown sugar.

Can I Use Brown Sugar Instead Of Syrup?

Yes, of course you can. The flavor of your resulting cup of coffee will be more or less the same. You might not get as even a distribution of sweetness in your coffee when you use a dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. Be sure to stir your coffee well to ensure that your brown sugar dissolves completely.

Is The Brown Sugar Syrup At Starbucks Sweet?

The brown sugar syrup that you get at Starbucks is no sweeter than regular brown sugar as brown sugar syrup is essentially a brown sugar simple syrup made with brown sugar and water as the base ingredients. It is not super sweet.

What Syrup Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks uses their own brand of syrups which are made for them by Fontana. If you want to make your own Starbucks copycat drinks at home, you can buy their coffee syrup from Amazon, Walmart and their own website.

Is Brown Sugar Healthy?

Brown sugar, be it regular brown sugar, dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, is nutritionally very similar to white sugar. It has a slightly greater amount of minerals than white sugar, but this slight difference does not give you any notable health benefits.

What Is Brown Sugar Syrup Made Of?

Brown sugar syrup is made with just two ingredients: 

• Brown sugar.
• Water.

The brown sugar and water are used in equal amounts. 

What Is Brown Sugar Syrup At Starbucks?

Starbucks brown sugar syrup is what the name suggests, it is a syrup made with brown sugar. The other ingredients is water. The syrup imparts a rich caramel flavor from the molasses. 

Final Thoughts – Brown Sugar Syrup

Now you know how to make an awesome brown sugar syrup for coffee and other drinks. You can use this syrup to sweeten tea, coffee, make cocktails and drizzle on your waffles, pancakes and ice cream.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location