Home » How to Make Ube Latte Recipe at Home

How to Make Ube Latte Recipe at Home

Jacob Yaze

June 1, 2026

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An ube latte is one of those drinks that looks beautiful before you even taste it. The soft purple color, creamy milk, sweet vanilla-like ube flavor, and bold coffee layer make it feel like a café drink, but it is actually very easy to make at home. Ube has a naturally mellow, nutty, vanilla-like sweetness that pairs surprisingly well with espresso or strong coffee.

I like this drink because it is sweet and creamy without tasting like a basic syrup latte. The ube gives it more depth. It tastes a little earthy, a little dessert-like, and very smooth when mixed with milk. Espresso adds contrast, so the drink does not become too heavy or one-dimensional.

For the best version, use ube halaya if you want a richer, more authentic purple yam flavor. Use ube extract if you want a stronger color and easier mixing. You can also use both together for the best café-style result.

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Best Coffee Beans for Ube Latte Recipes

Image	Product	Features	Price
Best Creamy Ube	Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean	Smooth crema-friendly blend Medium espresso roast Creamy latte body Mild nutty sweetness Great purple latte	Price on Amazon
Best Gentle Ube	illy Classico Whole Bean	Caramel-jasmine smoothness 100% Arabica blend Medium roast balance Soft floral aroma Elegant milk cup	Price on Amazon
Best Honey Ube	Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema	Honeyed espresso profile Full-bodied espresso Honey aromatic note Rich milk texture Balanced sweet latte	Price on Amazon
Best Light Ube	Starbucks Blonde Espresso Whole Bean	Mellow sweet espresso Blonde roast profile Soft sweet taste Less bitter finish Good vanilla pairing	Price on Amazon
Best Chocolate Ube	Stumptown Hair Bender Whole Bean	Citrus chocolate balance Medium roast beans Dark chocolate finish Bright milk contrast Great dessert latte	Price on Amazon
Best Smooth Ube	Lavazza Espresso Italiano Whole Bean	Sweet aromatic Arabica 100% Arabica beans Floral-fruity notes Smooth espresso base Gentle ube finish	Price on Amazon
Best Specialty Ube	Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso	Syrupy espresso balance Light roast espresso Sweet cup structure Floral milk friendly Clean dessert finish	Price on Amazon
Best Smooth Medium	Kicking Horse Three Sisters Whole Bean	Cocoa fruit balance Organic whole beans Medium roast profile Cocoa sweetness Smooth milk texture	Price on Amazon
Best Bold Ube	Peet’s Major Dickason’s Whole Bean	Deep full-bodied roast Dark roast richness Strong milk presence Cocoa-like depth Cuts sweet ube	Price on Amazon
Best Clean Ube	Blue Bottle Balanced Whole Bean Coffee	Caramel cocoa balance Medium-light roast Clean espresso cup Balanced milk taste Smooth sweet finish	Price on Amazon

Ube Latte Recipe Card

Ingredients You Need

For one ube latte, you will need:

• 1 to 2 espresso shots or 3 oz strong brewed coffee
• ¾ cup milk of choice
• 1½ to 2 tablespoons ube halaya
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon ube extract, optional
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, honey, or condensed milk, optional
• Ice cubes for the iced version
• Whipped cream or purple yam crumbs, optional garnish

Ube halaya gives the drink its creamy purple yam flavor. It is thicker and more natural-tasting than extract alone. Ube extract gives a stronger purple color and a more direct ube aroma. I like using both when I want the drink to look vibrant and still taste rich.

For milk, whole milk gives the creamiest version. Oat milk works very well because it has a naturally sweet, rounded texture. Coconut milk gives the drink a more tropical flavor. Almond milk is lighter, but it can make the latte thinner.

How to Make an Iced Ube Latte

Start by brewing your espresso or strong coffee. Let it cool slightly so it does not melt the ice too quickly. If you are using strong-brewed coffee instead of espresso, make it stronger than normal so the coffee flavor does not disappear under the milk and ube.

In a small cup, mix the ube halaya with ube extract, vanilla, and sweetener. Add a few tablespoons of milk and stir until the mixture becomes smoother. If your ube halaya is very thick, blending is the easiest way to remove small lumps.

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the ube milk mixture, then add the rest of the milk. Stir until the drink becomes creamy and purple. Pour the espresso over the top for a layered look.

Before drinking, stir everything together so the coffee, milk, and ube blend evenly.

How to Make a Hot Ube Latte

For a hot ube latte, warm the milk first. Do not boil it. Add the ube halaya, vanilla, ube extract, and sweetener to the warm milk, then whisk until smooth. A handheld frother works very well here.

Brew 1 to 2 espresso shots and pour them into a mug. Add the warm ube milk over the espresso. Stir gently and top with foam if you like.

The hot version tastes softer and more dessert-like, while the iced version tastes more refreshing and visually layered.

Best Coffee to Use

The best coffee for an ube latte is smooth and medium-bodied. Ube has a sweet, nutty, vanilla-like flavor, so it pairs best with coffee that has chocolate, caramel, toasted nut, brown sugar, or vanilla-like notes.

Good coffee profiles for ube latte include:

• Medium roast espresso
• Medium-dark espresso blend
• Chocolatey cold brew
• Smooth Colombian coffee
• Brazilian coffee
• Low-acid coffee

Avoid very smoky dark roasts because they can overpower the ube. Also, be careful with very bright citrusy beans because they may clash with the creamy purple yam flavor.

Flavor Variations

For a sweeter ube latte, add condensed milk instead of sugar. It gives a richer dessert-style flavor.

For a coconut ube latte, use coconut milk and garnish with toasted coconut flakes.

For an ube white mocha latte, add 1 tablespoon white chocolate syrup.

For a stronger coffee flavor, use two espresso shots or reduce the milk slightly.

For a blended ube latte, add the ube mixture, milk, coffee, and ice to a blender and blend until smooth.

For a creamier version, use half milk and half evaporated milk.

For a lighter version, use unsweetened oat milk and reduce the sweetener.

Best Ratio for Ube Latte

My favorite starting ratio is:

• 1 to 2 parts coffee
• 4 parts milk
• 1 part ube mixture
• Ice for the iced version

For one drink, that usually means:

• 1 to 2 espresso shots
• ¾ cup milk
• 1½ to 2 tablespoons ube halaya
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon ube extract
• Optional sweetener

This gives a creamy latte where the ube is noticeable, but the coffee still comes through. If you want it more dessert-like, add more ube halaya and sweetener. If you want it more coffee-forward, use two espresso shots.

Final Taste

A good ube latte should taste creamy, softly sweet, nutty, vanilla-like, and lightly earthy, with coffee in the background adding depth. The drink should not taste like plain milk with a purple color. It should also not taste so sweet that the coffee disappears.

When balanced well, an ube latte feels cozy, colorful, and café-style. It is perfect as an iced afternoon drink, a brunch coffee, a dessert-style latte, or a fun recipe when you want something different from vanilla, caramel, or mocha.

FAQ

Can I make an ube latte without espresso?

Yes. Use 3 oz strong brewed coffee or cold brew concentrate. Make the coffee stronger than usual so it still shows through the milk and ube.

Can I use only ube extract?

Yes, but the flavor will be lighter and less creamy. Ube halaya gives a richer, more natural purple yam taste.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Yes. Use oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk. Oat milk and coconut milk are the best options for creaminess.

Can I make it hot?

Yes. Warm the milk, whisk in the ube mixture, then pour it over espresso or strong coffee.

Why is my ube latte lumpy?

Ube halaya can be thick. Mix it with a little milk first, or blend it with milk before adding it to the glass.

What sweetener works best?

Condensed milk gives the richest dessert flavor. Sugar, honey, maple syrup, or vanilla syrup also works.

What coffee beans work best?

Medium roast or medium-dark beans with chocolate, caramel, nutty, or brown sugar notes work best. Avoid very smoky or very acidic beans.