This ube latte recipe makes a delicious blend of coffee with rich, earthy notes of ube (purple yam). With its creamy texture and lovely aroma, this iced vibrant purple ube milk coffee makes a perfect drink on a hot day. You can easily tweak the recipe to make hot ube latte too.
The latte consists of 2 distinct layers. The bottom layer is ube flavored milk, made with ube halaya, ube extract and milk. The drink is then topped with whipped coffee made using instant coffee powder and sugar (or ube syrup). To drink, you stir the latte until the whipped coffee is mixed with the ube milk for a cool and refreshing drink.
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❤️Why you will love this recipe
- There are 2 options to make the latte, one with ube halaya or ube jam which can be prepared in advance or bought, and two, with ube extract for a quick ube latte fix.
- You get to adjust the sweetness in the drink.
- The recipe is easy and you can make it any time you want.
- You can enjoy the drink hot or cold.
❓What is ube?
Ube, also known as purple yam, is a root vegetable well known for its vibrant purple hue. It has a nutty taste with subtle floral notes. Ube looks and tastes similar to purple sweet potatoes but is not the same. Widely used in Filipino cuisine, ube adds both color and a delightful taste to various sweet treats and savory dishes.
You can find other dishes made using ube on this blog such as ube rolls, ube brownies, ube ice cream, ube leche flan and ube milk tea.
📋Ingredients
- Ube halaya – this is the star ingredient for this ube latte. It gives the latte a lightly thick texture. You can make it on your own with this ube halaya recipe or purchase it ready made from stores, though the store bought ones tend to be sweeter.
- Milk – full cream milk is the best to make this latte.
- Ube extract – this is in concentrated liquid form. It is optional to use, but adds a lovely aroma and color to the latte. I used McCormick ube extract.
- Instant espresso or coffee powder – I used instant water soluble coffee powder. This is the best to make whipped coffee.
- White sugar - This is added to the coffee when making whipped coffee. Use granulated sugar as it dissolves faster than coarse sugar.
- Water - to make the whipped coffee. Use filtered or drinking water.
*Refer to the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and exact quantities. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*
🧾Substitution and variations
- If you do not have ube halaya, you can omit from the recipe but increase the amount of extract used.
- Full cream milk can be substituted with skimmed milk, oat milk or almond milk.
- White sugar can be replaced with ube syrup or simple syrup (made with one part sugar and one part water). Use 1 and a half tablespoons of syrup for every 1 tablespoon of white sugar.
- The amount of milk and coffee used in the recipe can be adjusted to suit your liking. For less milky option, replace some of the milk with water.
- For a quick version of ube latte, omit the ube halaya. Double the amount of extract used in the milk and top the milk with whipped coffee.
- To make hot ube latte, heat up the milk before making the drink and omit the ice cubes.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you do try, please let me know in the comments section below!
👩🏻🍳How to make
Step 1: Prepare the ube halaya. Follow the ube halaya recipe here if making on your own.
Step 2: Make the ube milk. Pour a little milk into ube halaya and mix well to thin it (image 1). Pour the ube mixture into the remaining milk and mix well (image 2). Add the extract and mix again. Keep the milk chilled.
Note: It is easier to thin the ube halaya with a small amount of liquid.
Step 3: Make the whipped coffee. Mix the instant coffee powder with hot water. Add it to a medium mixing bowl or jar and add the white sugar (image 3).
Whip the mixture until it increases in volume and turns light (image 4). You can do with a cake mixer or hand held milk frother or a hand whisk. Whisking by hand will take a longer time.
Note: You can also opt not to whisk the coffee. Simply mix it with water and sugar and add it to the ube milk. Mix well to dissolve the sugar and coffee before pouring into the milk.
Step 4: Assemble the latte. Add ice cubes into serving glasses. Pour the ube milk (image 5) and top with the whipped coffee (image 6). Serve with a drizzle of ube syrup if preferred.
💡Expert tips
- Well whipped coffee – using hot water to mix the coffee will help the coffee whip faster. Also, use a reasonable sized bowl to whip the coffee as it increases in volume when whipped. More space in the bowl also helps the coffee to incorporate more air and whip faster.
- Do not overheat the milk - When making hot ube latte, keep close watch on the milk as you heat it up as it tends to overflow if it starts boiling.
- Mix well before drinking – stir to mix the coffee and ube milk for best flavor.
💭FAQs
This drink has a creamy coffee flavor, with subtle nutty undertones and a touch of sweetness.
This latte is best consumed immediately after making. If you wish to keep it longer, it can be refrigerated but consume within the same day.
The milk is best prepared before serving, unless you need to make this drink in a large batch. In such case, you can make in advance and keep the milk in the fridge. Stir before using to make sure the ube halaya does not settle to the bottom.
The ube flavor is generally subtle, allowing the coffee and milk flavors to complement it. You can adjust the ube quantity to suit your taste preferences.
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📖Recipe
Ube Latte
For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.
Ingredients
- 550 ml milk
- 80 g ube halaya
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon instant powder powder
- ½ teaspoon ube extract
- 2 tablespoon hot water
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Prepare the ube halaya. Follow the ube halaya recipe or use store bought.
- Place ube halaya into a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of milk and mix to form a smooth sauce or paste. Use a small hand whisk or spoon (see Note 1).
- Pour the mixture into the remaining milk and mix well.
- Add ube extract (if using) and mix again. Keep the milk refrigerated while making the whipped coffee.
- To make whipped coffee, add instant coffee granules or powder into a tall and wide bowl or container. Add the hot water and mix to dissolve the coffee. Add the granulated sugar and whip until the coffee becomes light and foamy and increases in size (see Note 2).
- To assemble the latte, add ice cubes into drinking glasses. Divide the ube milk into each glass and top with the whipped coffee. Serve with a drizzle of ube syrup if preferred.
Notes
- It is easier to thin the ube halaya with a small amount of liquid.
- You can also opt not to whisk the coffee. Simply mix it with water and sugar and pour it into the ube milk. Mix well to dissolve the sugar and coffee before pouring into the milk.
- To make hot ube latte, heat up the milk after adding ube halaya. Pour it into cups and top with whipped coffee. Omit the ice cubes.
- For a quick version of ube latte, omit the ube halaya. Double the amount of extract used in the milk and top the milk with whipped coffee.
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