This Ube Latte recipe is creamy, earthy, vanilla-ish, and infused with the Philippines flavor of ube! It offers a unique blend of ube with coconut sweetness, making it one of the best ube latte recipes out there. Learn how to make ube latte at home to skip the lines, save some money, and add it to your weekly coffee morning rotation. Remember, it’s pronounced ooh-bey and not oob! Now let’s get into it.
Updated on April 23, 2026
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Ube lattes are becoming more popular and yet, that is bittersweet because people still need to know what an ube latte is.
Understanding that ube, is for one, not a purple sweet potato (it’s a yam with a different flavor), and that ube is very unique and special to the Philippines, makes this amethyst drink that much more meaningful and interesting.
Nowadays, you can go to Starbucks and order an ube latte or ube coconut latte… I’m not surprised! However, once you make this recipe, you might get closer to understanding the total cool factor of ube on another level.
I love making this at home. It’s much more “made with love” and you can give it more ube flavor if you want.
Let’s go!
What is Ube Latte?
Ube latte is easy to make and is a creamy, sweet, purple coffee beverage flavored with ube, a purple yam popular in Filipino cuisine.
Ube has really grown in ways it is used, as well as it has reached a global audience. So, how to make an ube latte shine is no exception. It’s modern, fun, and the subtle flavor is pretty addicting and comforting.
The drink combines ube’s earthy, nutty, vanilla-like flavor with coconut and evaporated milk.
Don’t forget the espresso (I know I don’t) to give it a kick! If you were wondering if ube latte is caffeinated, the answer is yes! Lattes have coffee, and in my momlife, that makes it so much better.
Taste Profile of Ube Latte
Ube lattes have a unique flavor profile that is sweet, creamy, and slightly nutty, like ube halaya.
Since ube yam itself is NOT sweet, the ube has to be sweetened with coconut milk and sugar. This is the island way and gives more Filipino vibes to the ube drink.
The ube’s earthy tones pair beautifully with the creaminess of coconut and evaporated milk, and are layered over espresso.
If you’re new to ube lattes, think of a cross between vanilla and purple sweet potato, with a hint of added coconut.
Calories in an Ube Latte
The calorie count of an ube latte depends on the ingredients used:
- With coconut milk, evaporated milk, and sugar: Around 250 calories per serving (without espresso).
- Low Cal Vegan version: Using almond or oat milk and a natural sweetener can lower the calorie count to 100-150 calories.
- With espresso: Adding a shot of espresso adds about 5 calories.
Can Ube Latte Be Made Vegan and Gluten-Free?
- Vegan: Yes! Swap dairy milk with plant-based alternatives like almond, oat, or coconut milk. Use a vegan sweetener like agave syrup.
- Gluten-Free: Naturally, ube and the typical ingredients in an ube latte are gluten-free. Just ensure any additional flavorings or toppings are certified gluten-free.
Using Real Ube vs. Ube Extract
- Real Ube: Using fresh or frozen ube gives your latte an authentic flavor and thicker consistency. It requires preparation, such as steaming and mashing the ube. Follow my ube halaya recipe and use that as the mix-in for all-natural ube flavor.
- Ube Extract: Convenient and widely available, ube extract provides a concentrated flavor and vibrant color. However, it may lack the depth of flavor or the natural wholesomeness you’d get from real ube.
Ingredients for Ube Latte
- 1/4 cup ube puree, ube halaya, or 1 teaspoon ube extract – Using ube halaya is the natural way to make this recipe, or use ube extract if you do not have ube halaya. You can also combine both. Using ube extract for ube lattes makes it more robust in purple color and ube flavor.
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener
- 2 shot of espresso
- Ice cubes (for iced version)
- Optional toppings:
- Whipped cream (dairy or non-dairy)
- Ube halaya (ube jam)
- Matcha whipped cream
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Pinipig (posted pounded rice flakes)
Equipment
- Frother (manual or electric)
- Small saucepan
- Whisk or spoon
- Wire mesh strainer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Glasses or mugs for serving
How to Make Ube Latte Instructions
- Prepare the Ube Base:
- If using real ube, steam and mash it until smooth. Mix with a splash of water or milk to create a paste.
- For ube extract, combine 1 teaspoon with sugar in a small bowl.
- Scoop the ube halaya (if using) and heat to soften if needed.
- Heat the Milk:
- In a small saucepan, warm the evaporated and coconut milk over medium heat. Do not boil.
- Whisk in the ube puree or extract and sweetener until fully combined. Use a frother or hand whisk.
- If using ube halaya, whisk it in very well.
- Strain the mixture over the sieve to smooth it.
- Froth the Milk:
- Use a frother to create a creamy, frothy texture.
- Optional Espresso:
- Brew a shot of espresso and pour it into your serving glass or mug.
- Combine and Serve:
- Pour the ube milk mixture over the espresso (if using).
- For an iced version, pour over a glass filled with ice cubes.
- Top with whipped cream, more ube halaya, or coconut flakes if desired.
Notes and Tips
- Adjust sweetness to taste. Some prefer a more subtle sweetness, while others enjoy a rich, dessert-like latte.
- Experiment with milk types for different flavor profiles. Coconut milk enhances the ube’s earthy flavor and is a Filipino way of making ube latte.
Foodie Elevation Tip
Layer the drink.
- In the glass, add the shot of espresso or concentrated coffee.
- Next add ice and slowly pour in the sweetened milk over a spoon so it makes a white, milky layer.
- Lastly, froth the ube halaya with some milk and make a foamy and creamy top purple layer.
Add-ins and Variations
How to make ube latte is easy and fun. Create more versions with some of these ideas:
- Vanilla or Almond Extract: For extra depth of flavor.
- Spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Taro: Mix in a bit of taro paste for a unique twist.
- Matcha: In place of espresso for a matcha ube latte.
- Add boba balls, coconut gel jellies, pandan jelly, pandan extract, or grass jelly for unique flavors in iced versions of ube latte.
- Use condensed milk instead of sugar.
- Add perfectly cooked tapioca pearls and make a coffee ube sago drink.
- Make a Batch: Have ube latte anytime by making a batch of Asian Milk (milk base) and you can add that to the ube mixture whenever you are in the mood.
How to Serve Ube Latte
- Hot Ube Latte: Perfect for cozy mornings. Serve in a mug and enjoy warm.
- Iced Ube Latte: A refreshing treat for warmer days. Serve over ice in a tall glass.
Storage and Leftovers
You can easily store and make extra of this ube latte recipe.
This is how to do it:
- Make a batch of the sweetened milk, blended with ube halaya. Strain the mix so it’s not grainy. You can also use ube extract.
- Keep this mixture in an airtight container in the fridge, for use for 5-7 days. You can use this ube milk mixture for ube latte, iced or hot, and with or without espresso.
- For assembling the ube latte, just make espresso or concentrated coffee separately and then add the ube milk mixture whenever you want.
Use nice, glass to-go cups with straws for a portable ube latte experience, just like you visted the coffee shop!
Ube Latte Recipe
Equipment
- Frother optional
- Small saucepan
- Whisk or spoon
- Glasses or mugs for serving
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ube puree ube halaya, or 1 teaspoon ube extract
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener
- 2 shot of espresso
- Ice cubes for iced version
- Optional toppings:
- Whipped cream dairy or non-dairy
- Ube halaya ube jam
Instructions
Prepare the Ube Base:
- If using real ube, steam and mash it until smooth. Mix with a splash of water or milk to create a paste.For ube extract, combine 1 teaspoon with sugar in a small bowl.Scoop the ube halaya (if using) and heat to soften if needed.¼ cup ube puree
Heat the Milk:
- In a small saucepan, warm the evaporated and coconut milk over medium heat. Do not boil.Whisk in the ube puree or extract and sweetener until fully combined.If using ube halaya, whisk it in very well.½ cup evaporated milk, ½ cup coconut milk, 2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener
- Strain the mixture over the sieve to smooth it.
Froth the Milk:
- Use a frother to create a creamy, frothy texture.
Optional Espresso:
- Brew a shot of espresso and pour it into your serving glass or mug.2 shot of espresso
Combine and Serve:
- Pour the ube milk mixture over the espresso (if using).For an iced version, pour over a glass filled with ice cubes.Ice cubes
- Top with whipped cream, ube halaya, or coconut flakes if desired.Optional toppings:, Whipped cream, Ube halaya
Notes
- Vanilla or Almond Extract: For extra depth of flavor.
- Spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Taro: Mix in a bit of taro paste for a unique twist.
- Espresso Shot: For a caffeine boost.
- Matcha: In place of espresso.
- Add boba balls, coconut gel jellies, pandan jelly, pandan extract, or grass jelly for unique flavors in iced versions of ube latte. Use condensed milk instead of sugar.
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