Copycat Dutch Bros Annihilator

Skip the coffee-shop run and make a Copycat Dutch Bros Annihilator right at home! Bold espresso, creamy half-and-half, and chocolate macadamia nut syrup come together in one rich, smooth coffee that’s incredibly easy to make.

Serve it over ice, make it steaming hot, or blend it into a frozen coffee treat.

Best of all?

You only need a few ingredients and about five minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Annihilator

The Annihilator is perfect when you want something a little different from the usual vanilla or caramel latte.

Chocolate and macadamia nut create a rich, slightly nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with espresso.

You’ll love this homemade version because it’s:

• Ready in about 5 minutes
• Made with only a few ingredients
• Rich and creamy
• Delicious hot or iced
• Easy to make blended
• Easy to customize
• Less expensive than a coffee-shop drink
• Perfect year-round

Once you have chocolate macadamia nut syrup in your kitchen, this one is dangerously easy to make.

Ingredients

For the Annihilator

• 2 shots espresso
• 2 tablespoons chocolate macadamia nut syrup
• 1 cup half-and-half
• Ice, for iced version

Optional Toppings

• Whipped cream
• Chocolate drizzle
• Chopped macadamia nuts

How to Make a Copycat Dutch Bros Annihilator

Step 1: Brew the Espresso

Brew two shots of espresso.

Pour the hot espresso into a mug or heat-safe measuring cup.

Step 2: Add the Chocolate Macadamia Nut Syrup

Add 2 tablespoons of chocolate macadamia nut syrup to the hot espresso.

Stir until completely combined.

The heat from the espresso helps the syrup blend evenly into the coffee.

From here, you can make your Annihilator hot, iced, or blended.

How to Make an Iced Annihilator

Step 3: Fill a Glass With Ice

Fill a tall glass approximately three-quarters full with ice.

Step 4: Add Half-and-Half

Pour the cold half-and-half over the ice.

Step 5: Add the Espresso

Slowly pour the chocolate macadamia espresso over the half-and-half.

Leave it layered for a minute if you’d like that coffee-shop look.

Then stir before drinking.

Step 6: Add Toppings

The drink is delicious as-is, but you can add whipped cream and chocolate drizzle if you want to make it extra indulgent.

Serve immediately.

How to Make a Hot Annihilator

Prepare the espresso and chocolate macadamia nut syrup as directed.

Heat the half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot and steaming.

Don’t allow it to boil.

Froth the warm half-and-half until creamy.

Pour it slowly over the flavored espresso.

Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle if desired.

Serve immediately.

How to Make a Blended Annihilator

Want a frozen coffee?

Add to a blender:

• 2 shots espresso, cooled
• 2 tablespoons chocolate macadamia nut syrup
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/2 cups ice

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Pour into a tall glass.

Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Now you have a homemade frozen coffee-shop drink.

What Is an Annihilator?

The Dutch Bros-inspired Annihilator is essentially a chocolate macadamia nut breve.

A breve is an espresso drink made with half-and-half rather than regular milk.

That gives the drink its especially rich and creamy texture.

The chocolate macadamia nut flavor adds sweetness with a subtle toasted-nut flavor.

What Does an Annihilator Taste Like?

Think creamy chocolate coffee with a buttery, slightly toasted macadamia flavor.

It’s not quite a traditional mocha.

The nutty flavor makes it a little more interesting and helps balance the chocolate.

Half-and-half makes everything extra rich and smooth.

What Is Chocolate Macadamia Nut Syrup?

Chocolate macadamia nut syrup is a flavored coffee syrup that combines chocolate with buttery macadamia nut flavor.

You’ll often find it anywhere coffee syrups are sold.

If you can’t find a combined syrup, you can easily create a similar flavor using separate syrups.

Don’t Have Chocolate Macadamia Nut Syrup?

Use:

• 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
• 1 tablespoon macadamia nut syrup

Add both to the hot espresso and stir.

This also lets you customize the balance.

Want more chocolate?

Increase the chocolate.

Want more macadamia?

Increase the nut syrup.

Do I Need an Espresso Machine?

No.

You can use:

• An espresso machine
• A Nespresso-style machine
• A moka pot
• Instant espresso
• Strong brewed coffee

If you’re using regular coffee, use approximately 1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee.

You want a bold coffee flavor that won’t disappear once you add half-and-half and syrup.

What Is a Breve?

A breve is similar to a latte but uses half-and-half instead of milk.

Because half-and-half contains more fat than regular milk, the finished coffee is richer and creamier.

That’s why drinks like the Annihilator have such an indulgent texture.

Can I Use Regular Milk?

Absolutely.

Try:

• Whole milk
• 2% milk
• Skim milk
• Oat milk
• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk

Technically it won’t be a traditional breve, but it’ll still taste great.

Make It Dairy-Free

Use your favorite plant-based milk.

Oat milk is especially good if you want a creamy texture.

Make sure your chocolate and macadamia syrups are dairy-free as well if necessary.

Make It Extra Chocolatey

Add 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce along with the chocolate macadamia nut syrup.

You can also drizzle chocolate around the inside of your glass.

Finish with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Add Real Macadamia Nuts

For a little extra nutty flavor and crunch, sprinkle finely chopped roasted macadamia nuts over whipped cream.

Just make sure anyone drinking it knows there are nuts in the topping.

Make It Sweeter

Add another tablespoon of chocolate macadamia nut syrup.

You can also add vanilla syrup or chocolate sauce.

Taste first because coffee syrups vary considerably in sweetness.

Make It Less Sweet

Start with only 1 tablespoon of syrup.

You can always add more after tasting.

You can also use unsweetened milk if you’re replacing the half-and-half with plant-based milk.

Make a White Chocolate Annihilator

Replace the chocolate component with white chocolate.

Use:

• 1 tablespoon white chocolate sauce
• 1 tablespoon macadamia nut syrup

Combine with espresso and half-and-half.

The result is extra creamy and sweet.

Make a Salted Chocolate Macadamia Annihilator

Add a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt to the flavored espresso.

Salt works beautifully with chocolate and nuts.

Finish with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and a couple flakes of sea salt.

Make a Caramel Annihilator

Add 1 tablespoon caramel sauce to the hot espresso.

Caramel, chocolate, and macadamia nut create an incredibly rich combination.

Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and chocolate drizzle.

Make a Fall Annihilator

Want to pull this evergreen drink into September?

Add a tiny pinch of cinnamon to the espresso.

You can also add a teaspoon of maple syrup.

Chocolate, macadamia, maple, and cinnamon give the drink a subtle fall twist without turning it into another pumpkin drink.

Make Coffee Ice Cubes

If you’re making the iced version, coffee ice cubes help prevent your drink from becoming watered down.

Pour leftover coffee into an ice cube tray.

Freeze until solid.

Use the frozen coffee cubes instead of regular ice.

What to Serve With an Annihilator

This rich coffee pairs beautifully with:

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Brownies
• Croissants
• Banana bread
• Coffee cake
• Chocolate muffins
• Cinnamon rolls
• Macadamia nut cookies
• Donuts
• Chocolate croissants

White chocolate macadamia nut cookies would be especially good.

Tips for the Best Homemade Annihilator

Use strong espresso. The coffee needs to balance the rich half-and-half.

Add syrup while espresso is hot. It mixes much more easily.

Use cold half-and-half for iced drinks. This keeps your ice from melting too quickly.

Don’t boil half-and-half. For hot drinks, heat it only until steaming.

Start with less syrup. You can always add more.

Try it blended. This flavor combination makes an especially good frozen coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Dutch Bros Annihilator?

It’s a chocolate macadamia nut breve-style espresso drink that can be enjoyed hot, iced, or blended.

What Does an Annihilator Taste Like?

It’s creamy and chocolatey with a buttery, nutty macadamia flavor.

Does an Annihilator Have Coffee?

Yes. This homemade recipe uses two shots of espresso.

Can I Make It Decaf?

Absolutely.

Use decaffeinated espresso.

Can I Make It Iced?

Yes. It’s delicious over ice.

Can I Make It Blended?

Yes! Blend cooled espresso, syrup, half-and-half, and ice until smooth.

Can I Use Regular Milk?

Yes. The drink won’t technically be a breve, but it will still taste delicious.

What Can I Use Instead of Chocolate Macadamia Nut Syrup?

Combine chocolate syrup with macadamia nut syrup.

Copycat Dutch Bros Annihilator

If you’re ready for something besides pumpkin and caramel, this Copycat Dutch Bros Annihilator deserves a spot in your homemade coffee rotation.

Bold espresso, creamy half-and-half, chocolate, and buttery macadamia nut flavor come together in a drink that’s ridiculously easy to make.

Serve it hot.

Pour it over ice.

Or blend the whole thing into a frozen coffee.

Three ways to make it means there’s really no wrong season for an Annihilator.