Iced Ube Latte (Creamy & Easy!)
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.With its vibrant purple color and creamy texture, my quick and easy ube latte recipe is perfect for anyone who enjoys a fun morning treat or midday pick-me-up. Just mix up some ube extract with almond milk and ice, then add a shot of espresso for a refreshing homemade iced latte. With just three simple steps, I’ll show you how to become a pro barista while enjoying the most delicious, satisfying ube drink ever!
As much as I love my morning drip coffee, sometimes I’m in the mood for something more special and flavorful. Given the growing popularity and perfectly sweet taste of ube, I felt inspired to add an iced ube coffee to my repertoire of latte recipes.
Starbucks and other popular coffee shops are still behind on adding their own specialty ube drinks to their menus, but when they do, they always tend to be loaded with sugar and other processed ingredients.
I knew I had to make my own healthier, lower-sugar version at home, that tastes just as good as any ube latte I might find at a coffee shop!
And thanks to ube extract being increasingly easy to find, it is more convenient than ever to whip up your own homemade ube drinks.
So what does an ube latte taste like? It combines pleasant, earthy flavors like vanilla, coconut, and pistachio. Read on to learn more about why I love this drink so much, and how to make it in just 5 minutes!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
There is just something so fun (and tasty) about an ube latte! Honestly, after seeing the gorgeous lavender hue that is created when ube extract and milk combine, I was hooked! The sweet vanilla and nutty notes are just icing on the cake for me!
Ube, or purple yam, is a vegetable that has been a staple in the Philippines for a long time, and I totally understand the hype behind all these ube extract recipes. Not only is it a fun ingredient that works well in so many formats, it also provides a unique flavor profile perfect for switching things up.
When I want to really spice up my day, I love to pair this sweet drink with a comforting snack. It tastes amazing alongside homemade pastries like my gooey healthy cinnamon rolls!
I also have made sure that this dirty ube latte recipe can accommodate as many dietary needs as possible, keeping it low in sugar, dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free!
Not to mention, ube is also rich in antioxidants (source). Just be sure to use a higher quality extract for all the benefits of ube.
With its versatility, you can easily customize the drink to match your personal preferences. While I have tested out various versions of this recipe and found these ingredients and measurements to give the best results, I will share my top substitution suggestions and variations below!
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🥘 Ingredients
My ube coffee latte uses only five simple ingredients that come together to craft the most delicious and refreshing beverage. See the recipe card at the end of this post for nutritional information.
Ube Extract: Capture the flavor of this purple yam without the fuss of roasting or pureeing the ube, by using ube extract which I will typically buy on Amazon. Ube tea drops or ube jam, though sometimes harder to find than ube extract, can substitute for the extract. If using jam, I just warm 2 to 3 tablespoons of the jam and mix with the milk until dissolved before continuing with the recipe as directed.
Almond Milk: I prefer to use unsweetened almond milk so that I have more control over the sweetness. If using sweetened milk, you may want to omit the sugar from the recipe. Other plant-based milks like oat, cashew, or coconut milk will keep this recipe vegan and dairy-free. For a non-vegan option, whole milk will give you more of a rich feel, but low-fat or nonfat will work too.
Sugar: While sugar is optional, I find that it adds a nice sweet touch. Maple syrup, vanilla syrup, brown sugar, coconut sugar, and honey are great options as well.
Espresso: I use two shots of espresso for this ube drink, which adds the perfect amount of nutty flavor and caffeine boost for energy! If you don’t have an espresso machine, instant coffee and hot water work in a pinch, as does coffee from a Moka. Sometimes I use a French press and just make a more concentrated coffee for my latte. You can also use decaf if you don’t want or need the caffeine!
Ice: To keep your creamy iced ube latte refreshingly cold, you’ll need some ice! I like to go heavy on the ice since the espresso melts some of it.
🔪 How To Make An Ube Latte
Making my homemade ube coffee recipe is as easy as 1-2-3! Literally, it only requires 3 steps!
Add Ube Extract & Ice: First, I add the teaspoon of purple yam extract into the bottom of a tall glass and fill the glass with ice cubes.
Add Milk: Next, I pour cold almond milk into the glass and stir until the ube mixture is well combined.
Top With Espresso: Finally, I combine the sugar with the hot espresso until it fully dissolves. Then I pour the espresso into the ube milk mixture. Enjoy immediately!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to make sure you mix sugar in hot espresso.
For best results, ensure you mix the sugar into the espresso while it’s still hot. This step is crucial as it allows the sugar to fully dissolve, preventing any unwanted sugar crystals from settling at the bottom of your glass.
If you skip this step, you’ll find that the first half of your latte is underwhelmingly sweet, while the last few sips become overly sweet due to the concentration of remaining sugar.
However, if you’re using a liquid sweetener, there’s no need to mix it with hot espresso first. It’s already dissolved and ready to go into your iced drink.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Coffee Type Matters: For the best results, use high-quality dark roast coffee beans or an espresso coffee blend.
- Measure Precisely: After playing around with the ratios of this recipe’s ingredients, I think I’ve found the perfect balance of flavors. Too much or too little ube extract, espresso, or almond milk could overpower or weaken the taste of the latte.
- Melted Ice: If you are worried about the ice diluting your drink, you can let the espresso cool first or place it in the fridge for a little bit. Chilled espresso will slow down the melting of the ice and keep the drink’s flavor more potent!
- How to make simple syrup: If you prefer to make your own simple syrup, boil equal parts sugar and water, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, and refrigerate the ube coffee syrup for up to 1 month.
- How to make ube syrup for coffee: Make this ube syrup recipe for coffee by mixing 1 part ube extract with 2 parts simple syrup. Stir the ube simple syrup in with the ice cubes and follow the rest of the recipe as directed, omitting the additional sugar from the recipe.
- Double The Recipe: This iced ube latte recipe is super easy to double: just double all the ingredients and follow the recipe directions as listed, dividing the ingredients between two glasses.
📖 Variations
Here are a few of my favorite ways to switch up this homemade ube latte – adding in different flavors and textures, or experimenting with other caffeine sources like matcha and cold brew:
Toppings: For an extra indulgent drink, I love adding a dollop of whipped cream or whipped coconut cream and a sprinkle of ube powder for a bright and cheery finish!
Sweetened Condensed Milk: My purple latte is also excellent when made with sweetened condensed milk! For a simple ube condensed milk recipe, stir together 1 teaspoon ube extract with 1-2 teaspoons of sweetened condensed milk and follow the recipe as directed, omitting the extra sugar from the recipe. To keep this latte dairy-free, I like to use sweetened condensed coconut milk!
Ube Matcha Latte: If you are a matcha lover like me, turn this into an ube matcha drink! Whisk a teaspoon of matcha powder into the milk and ube extract until dissolved, then add milk and enjoy. Top with hot espresso for a dirty matcha latte or keep the caffeine lower by sticking with just matcha.
Purple Yam Coffee: If you prefer a cup of coffee to espresso, make a coffee latte instead! I stir in 1/2 cup of hot coffee with the ube extract, then top with frothed hot milk!
Ube Cold Brew: Sometimes I use cold brew instead of espresso for a lighter drink. Mix the purple yam extract with the cold brew, then top it with milk of choice. This version is also delicious sweetened with vanilla extract.
Ube Horchata: In a tall glass, combine ube simple syrup, rice milk, and cinnamon. My family loves to top this with lots of ice. My kids love it too!
Ube Bubble Tea: I will often make homemade bubble tea, and then I’ll give it a twist adding ube extract to it!
Hot Ube Latte: On colder weather days, I like to enjoy this drink warm. Heat the milk in the microwave, then use a milk frother to froth it.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
My ube iced latte is best served fresh! Since it is ultra refreshing and cooling, I think it’s the perfect option for a warm spring or summer day but equally delicious year round! Here are some of my all time favorite ways to enjoy this beverage:
With A Healthy Breakfast: I love to pair my latte with an easy yet nourishing breakfast to kick off the day right! High-protein overnight oats, dairy-free blueberry muffins, or these easy croffles are my absolute favorite pairings. On busy mornings I’ll keep things simple with some homemade granola and yogurt or toast spread with nut butter and jam.
For An Afternoon Boost: On those days that just seem to drag on and on I find myself really needing a pick-me-up, and this drink is my go-to lately! I like to serve it alongside some of my easy snack recipes like these vegan protein balls or savory vegetable muffins.
🫙 Storage Instructions
This latte is best served immediately, but you can store it for up to 2 days in the fridge. In general, I find it best to brew fresh espresso or coffee for this recipe, but sometimes I’ll make the ube milk ahead of time.
For a make-ahead version, I recommend adding the ube extract (or ube simple syrup) and milk to a mason jar or glass and store it covered in the refrigerator. It will last up to two days, so you can even make a double batch. Before serving, I simply add ice to the jar, pour in the hot espresso or coffee, and enjoy!
❓Recipe FAQs
Are ube lattes healthy?
The answer is, it depends! Ube lattes can be really healthy if they’re made with minimal added sugar, as the ube and coffee provide powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants (source 1, source 2). Just watch out for any ube latte recipes that have a lot of syrups or added sugars – that would be more of a dessert than a healthy drink. My purple yam latte recipe is on the healthier side and happens to be vegan, low in calories, low in sugar, and gluten-free!
WHAT BRANDS OF UBE EXTRACT SHOULD I USE?
The two brands of ube that I recommend are McCormick and Butterfly. Both of these brands are affordable and potent, providing the best flavor for this drink as well as for an ube coffee syrup recipe!
HOW DO I PREVENT MY ICED LATTE FROM GETTING TOO WATERY?
As I mentioned above in the expert tips, adding in the hot espresso will inevitably begin to melt the ice and dilute the drink. While I do not personally mind this, I know some of you might prefer a stronger flavor or be slower sippers.
To prevent a watered down latte, combine the sugar and hot espresso until dissolved and then allow it to cool. To speed up the cooling process you can put the espresso in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes (or longer depending on how much time you have).
WHY DOES MY UBE LATTE HAVE CLUMPS OF UBE EXTRACT?
Sometimes the ube extract clumps when mixed with cold liquids. While I find that the two brands mentioned above to not be as prone to clumping, if you are experiencing any issues it is an easy fix! Combine the ube extract with a smaller portion of the almond milk first, stirring until fully immersed into the milk. You can use a handheld milk frother or whisk here too!
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Easy Iced Ube Latte
My creamy and colorful ube latte is sweet and refreshing! Ube extract is mixed with ice and almond milk, then topped with strong espresso. Skip the coffee shop and enjoy this simple iced latte at home!
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 38kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tsp ube extract
- 1 cup ice
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk chilled
- 1 tsp sugar optional
- 2 shots espresso or ½ cup of instant coffee
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the ube extract to the serving glass.
- Fill with ice cubes.
- Pour in the chilled almond milk and stir until well combined.
- Top with espresso or instant coffee. If adding sugar combine it with the hot espresso before adding it to the milk.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Any milk can be used instead of almond milk.
- Top with whipped cream as an added option.
- Recipe can be doubled and is best served immediately.
- Ube latte can also be made without coffee by simply removing the coffee and adding an extra ½ cup milk.
- Be sure to mix the sugar with the hot espresso so it dissolves. But if you’re using a liquid sweetener, there’s no need to mix it with hot espresso first, because it’s already dissolved and ready to go into your iced drink.
- I prefer ube extract, but ube tea drops or ube jam work great too.
- Use high-quality dark roast coffee beans for best results.
- For a hot ube latte, heat the milk in the microwave, then use a milk frother to froth it.
- Make your own simple syrup to sweeten all your coffee drinks! Simply boil equal parts sugar and water, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
I loved your iced ube latte! The creamy texture and unique ube flavor made it a standout drink. It was super easy to make and turned out beautifully. This will definitely be a regular in my iced coffee rotation!
Aw yay, so happy to hear that Gustavo!
This iced ube latte is stunning! Perfectly refreshing on a hot day, too!
Thanks Shelby! 🙂
The color was awesome, and the latte was light and refreshing. Loved this recipe!
Thanks so much!
I absolutely love the unique flavor of ube latte. It’s such a refreshing and delicious way to start my day! The combination of the smooth latte and the distinct taste of purple yam in Ube Latte Iced Purple Yam Coffee is truly one-of-a-kind. Refreshing!!!
Thank you so much Alison!! So happy to hear you liked this recipe!
I made one of these lattes this morning and OMG what a fun color and flavor! Definitely my new go to pick me up!
Thank you so much Tayler! 🙂
Such a gorgeous drink and the flavors sound amazing too! Love that color from the ube extract.
Thanks Tara! You will love this recipe!
The colour of this is amazing. Such a a great way to enjoy coffee.
I know right?? It’s a great morning pick me up!
The colour is so beautiful and it tasted so smooth. Loved it.
Yay! So happy to hear that!
I must say this purple tone is so gorgeous, it is to die for! I have to give this latte a try now!
Thanks Neha! Enjoy!
Refreshing, not to mention GORGEOUS! I loved this drink!
Yay! So happy to hear that Casey!
Oh, dear, this color is mesmerizing. I will definitely be trying this soon. I love how creative your recipes are!
Thanks so much Kechi! Enjoy!
I’ve not heard of ube before, but now I want to find it so I can make my own gorgeous purple latte! My daughter would love this too. Lovely photos.
Thanks Jill! I’m sure you will both love this recipe!