Creating the perfect Ube Latte became a goal of ours as soon as we first laid eyes on this beautiful and eye-catching drink. Traditionally we have always seen coffee and espresso drinks as dark or creamy-looking shades of brown. However, seeing a purple drink for the first time and that it had espresso was amazing! We weren’t new to Ube and loved this Filipino delicious purple yam, it’s perfect in cakes, jams, cookies, pudding, ice cream, and more. Now knowing it also works perfectly in a drink format is even more phenomenal! So read on for our take on this popular and tasty espresso drink that’s loaded with the perfect amount of Ube and creaminess!
This post is all about creating the perfect Ube latte! We made sure to cover both versions of this popular drink, whether you love hot espresso in the morning with Ube goodness or an iced Ube latte t ogo, we got you covered!

Commonly Asked Questions For Ube Latte
Where can you get Ube?
Ube is essentially a sweet earthy tasting purple yam. This purple yam can be found at most Asian grocery stores and some regular grocery stores. You can purchase the yam either fresh, frozen, mashed, shredded, or cut up. Purple yams are different than purple sweet potatoes so be sure to get purple yams and not purple sweet potatoes.
Where can you get Ube flavoring?
Ube flavoring types consist of powders, extracts, and Ube pastes. These can be bought at most Asian grocery stores and sometimes regular grocery stores and can be ordered online of course. You can also find Ube flavored condensed milk which works amazing when baking or in this case when trying to sweeten an Ube Latte.
Should you use real Ube or Ube extract?
There are several ways to make an Ube latte. Most people use extracts because it is the simplest most cost-effective way of making an Ube latte. Other quick ways are to use store-bought powders or pastes. But if you have the time and would like a fully homemade Ube latte you can make an Ube jam, otherwise known as Ube Halaya, Ube simple syrup or you can use straight purple yams.

What is a Ube latte made of?
An Ube latte like any typical latte is made of steamed milk and espresso along with any special desired flavoring or sweeteners. In the case of an Ube latte, it will be a mixture of Ube (extract, powder, Halaya, syrup, etc.), steamed milk, and espresso.
Why You’ll love this recipe
- No nasty ingredients and add ons
- Easy and simple to make at home, anyone could make this =)
- Can be frozen when you can’t finish it up and made into a frappe
- Delicious and creamy, with a punch of real Ube!
- Versatile recipe can be customized for various diets such as dairy free, vegan, etc.

What does an Ube latte taste like?
Ube typically has a sweet, nutty, and earthy taste to it. These flavors really stand out when combined with espresso and milk to make the perfect creamy nutty latte that isn’t too sweet.
What flavor is Ube?
Ube is essentially a southeast Asian purple yam. The purple yam is a gently sweet yet earthy tasting tuber with a dark thick outer skin and a bright purple inside which is why anything Ube flavored has a nice purple color to it. Ube purple yams should not be confused with purple sweet potatoes as they are both different in taste and appearance.
How do you use Ube powder?
Ube powder is usually just ground-up dehydrated Ube. Depending on the use and the end product you can either use the powder form of the ube or you can boil the powder to get a soft smooth paste.
Hot Ube Latte Ingredients and Things You Need
Flavoring method: extract, powder, ube halaya, simple syrup
Espresso machine or coffee maker: Espresso or coffee
Milk steamer/frother
Milk
Ube sweetened condensed milk
Serving cup for hot drinks
Measuring cups and measuring spoons
Hot Ube Latte Recipe: 4 Different Ways
Ube Extract
2 oz espresso
1 tsp ube extract
8 oz steamed milk
2 oz milk foam
1-2 oz Ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
Ube Purple Yam Powder
2 oz espresso
1 tsp Ube purple yam powder
8 oz steamed milk
2 oz milk foam
1-2 oz Ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
Ube Halaya
2 oz espresso
2 tablespoons Ube Halaya
8 oz steamed milk
2 oz milk foam
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
Ube Simple Syrup
2 oz espresso
2 oz ube simple syrup
8 oz steamed milk
2 oz milk foam
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
How to make a Hot Ube Latte
First, prepare your ube flavoring method.
First, you will want to gather and prepare the ingredients for your ube flavoring. If you will be making an ube simple syrup or ube Halaya this is the time to prepare that (recipes for both in links below). Otherwise, purchase an ube powder or ube extract from the store or online.
Second, make your espresso or coffee.
After you have your ube flavoring ready for use, you will want to make your espresso or your coffee. For reference 2 oz espresso is roughly the same as 0.5 cup of strongly brewed coffee.
Third, steam/heat your milk and add flavoring.
The next step is to measure out your milk and ube sweetened condensed milk and heat it either in the microwave, over the stove or using a milk steamer. After your milk is heated you will add your ube extract, powder, ube halaya or ube simple syrup while the milk is still very hot and stir to combine.
Fourth, combine espresso and steamed milk.
Now that all the main ingredients are ready, now is time for combining them to create an ube latte. You will first pour your espresso in your cup, then the ube milk/condensed milk mixture and stir to combine.
Fifth, top with a warm frothy milk foam.
After combined you can now froth some heated milk to create a warm milk foam. After your milk is nice and frothy you can pour your milk foam over the top of your drink and its ready to enjoy.

Iced Ube latte ingredients and things you need
Flavoring method: extract, powder, ube halaya, simple syrup
Espresso machine or coffee maker: Espresso or coffee
Milk frother
Ice
Milk
Ube sweetened condensed milk
Serving cup
Measuring cups and measuring spoons
Iced Ube latte recipe
Ube Extract
6 oz ice
2 tsp ube extract
8 oz milk
2 oz milk foam
3oz espresso
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
Ube Purple Yam Powder
6 oz ice
1 tsp ube purple yam powder
8 oz milk
2 oz milk foam
3 oz espresso
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)

Ube Halaya
6 oz ice
2 tablespoons ube halaya
8 oz milk
2 oz milk foam
3 oz espresso
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)
Ube Simple Syrup
6 oz ice
2 tablespoons ube simple syrup
8 oz milk
2 oz milk foam
3 oz espresso
1-2 oz ube sweetened condensed milk (depending on desired sweetness level)

How to make an iced ube latte
First, prepare your ube flavoring.
First you will want to gather and prepare your ingredients for your ube flavoring. If you will be making an ube simple syrup or ube Halaya this is the time to prepare that (recipes for both in links below). Otherwise purchase an ube powder or ube extract from the store or online.
Second, make your espresso or coffee and incorporate your ube flavoring.
After you have your ube flavoring ready for use, you will want to make your espresso or your coffee. For reference 2 oz espresso is roughly the same as 0.5 cup of strongly brewed coffee. Since the espresso is the only portion of this drink that will be heated you will need to add your ube sweetened condensed milk, ube powder, simple syrup, ube halaya or ube extract to the espresso/coffee while it’s still hot. This is because the heat makes dissolving the different ingredients easier since sugars, syrups and powders will dissolve at higher temperatures rather than not melting or clumping up in cold temperatures.
Third, measure out your milk for using in the drink and for the milk foam.
The next step is to measure out your milk which is roughly 8 oz of milk to be used inside the drink and 2oz of milk to be frothed up later and made into a cold milk foam to top off your drink.
Fourth, combine espresso and milk
Now that all the main ingredients are ready, now is time for combining them to create an ube latte. You will first pour your ube-flavored espresso in your cup, then the milk and stir to combine.
Fifth, top with cold milk foam.
After combined you can now froth your 2 oz of previously measured milk using a milk frother, french press, mason jar, etc. This will create a cold milk foam. Once your milk foam is ready you can pour it over the top of your drink and its ready to enjoy.
That wraps up our post on creating the perfect Ube latte! We hope you enjoyed this recipe and if you did dont forget to pin it for later =)
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