How to Make an Ube Latte at Home: The Purple Yam Latte
Share
Purple drinks are everywhere, and this one tastes as good as it looks. An ube latte combines espresso and milk with ube, the purple yam from the Philippines, which brings a mild, nutty, vanilla-like sweetness and a lavender color that comes from the yam itself. If you have been wondering how to make an ube latte at home, you need three things: a source of ube (halaya, powder or extract), a shot of espresso or strong coffee, and milk.
Below you will find a hot version, an iced layered version, an ube cold foam and tips for picking the right coffee.
In this article
- What is ube?
- Halaya, powder or extract?
- How to make an ube latte (hot)
- Iced ube latte and ube cold foam
- Which coffee works with ube
- FAQ
What is ube, and why is it in your latte?
Ube (pronounced roughly “OO-beh”) is a purple yam, Dioscorea alata, long a staple of Filipino cooking, where it stars in desserts like ube halaya, a thick, sweet jam made from cooked, mashed yam. Its purple comes from anthocyanins, the same family of natural pigments found in blueberries and red cabbage.
It is often confused with two other purple foods. Purple sweet potato looks very similar but belongs to a different plant family, and taro is a different root altogether, with a paler, speckled flesh. In drinks, ube tastes softer and sweeter than either, with notes people describe as vanilla, pistachio or white chocolate.
Why ube is trending
Ube went viral on social media in the mid-2010s, with ube doughnuts in New York among the early hits, and reached US cafés by around 2020. Flavor house T. Hasegawa named it its 2024 Flavor of the Year, Pret A Manger launched an iced ube latte in the US and Europe in 2025, and in 2026 European media were calling ube the next matcha, with chains such as Starbucks and Costa adding ube coffee drinks. The appeal is easy to understand: it is photogenic, but its flavor is familiar and gentle rather than bitter or grassy.
Ube halaya, powder or extract: which should you use?
Fresh ube is hard to find outside Asian grocers, so most home baristas use one of these. Each gives a different result.
| Form | Flavor | Color | How much per latte | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ube halaya (jam) | Richest, sweet, creamy | Soft violet | 2 tbsp (about 30 g) | Already sweetened; adds body |
| Ube powder | Earthy, mild | Medium violet | 1 to 2 tsp, whisked into hot water | Unsweetened; can be slightly gritty unless well whisked |
| Ube extract | Strong vanilla-ube aroma | Bright purple | 1/4 to 1/2 tsp | Many contain added flavor and coloring; check the label |
| Frozen grated ube | Natural, vegetal-sweet | Pale to medium violet | Cook into halaya first | Best flavor if you have time |
For the best flavor with the least fuss, use halaya. For the most dramatic color, add a few drops of extract on top of either.
Quick homemade ube halaya (makes about 1 cup)
Recipes vary from family to family, but a simple version works well in drinks. In a nonstick pan, combine 1 cup (about 230 g) thawed grated ube, 1/2 cup (120 ml) coconut milk or whole milk, 1/3 cup (100 g) sweetened condensed milk and 1 tablespoon (14 g) butter. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 15 to 20 minutes until thick enough to hold a line when you drag a spatula through it. Cool and refrigerate in a jar for up to a week.
How to make an ube latte (hot)
Makes one 12 oz (350 ml) latte. Time: 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (30 g) ube halaya, or 1 1/2 tsp ube powder plus 2 tbsp (30 ml) hot water
- 1 double shot espresso, about 2 oz (60 ml), or 1/2 cup (120 ml) strong brewed coffee
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) whole milk or oat milk
- 1 to 2 tsp sugar, honey or vanilla syrup, to taste (skip if using halaya)
- Optional: 2 drops ube extract for extra color, a tiny pinch of salt
Steps
- Make the ube base. In your mug, whisk the halaya with 2 tablespoons of the milk until smooth, or whisk the powder with the hot water until no lumps remain. Add sweetener and extract if using.
- Steam the milk. Heat and froth the remaining milk to about 140 to 150°F (60 to 65°C). No steam wand? Our guide to frothing milk at home covers jars, whisks and French presses.
- Brew the espresso. Pull a double shot, or brew a small cup of strong coffee in a moka pot or AeroPress.
- Assemble. Pour the espresso over the ube base and stir. Pour in the steamed milk, holding back the foam, then spoon foam on top.
- Taste and adjust. Ube is subtle. If the coffee dominates, add another spoon of halaya next time rather than more sugar.
Iced ube latte and ube cold foam
Layered iced ube latte
- Whisk 2 tbsp (30 g) ube halaya with 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold milk until smooth (a jar with a lid, shaken hard, works well).
- Fill a 16 oz (475 ml) glass with ice and pour in the purple milk.
- Slowly pour a double espresso (2 oz / 60 ml) over the back of a spoon so it floats as a dark layer on top.
- Stir before drinking. For general iced latte ratios, see our iced latte recipe.
Ube cold foam
Café menus often pair ube with cold foam. Combine 2 tbsp (30 ml) heavy cream, 3 tbsp (45 ml) cold 2% milk, 1 tbsp (15 g) ube halaya or 1 tsp ube powder and 1 tsp sugar. Froth with a handheld frother for 20 to 30 seconds until thick and pourable, then spoon over iced coffee or cold brew. Our sweet cream cold foam guide has more texture tips.
Dairy-free version
Use oat milk for steaming (barista versions foam best) and coconut milk in the halaya. Coconut and ube are a classic pairing in Filipino desserts. For the cold foam, swap the cream for chilled full-fat coconut milk.
Which coffee works best in an ube latte?
Ube’s flavor is delicate, so the coffee should support it rather than drown it. Very dark, smoky roasts tend to cover the yam completely; very bright, acidic coffees can clash with the sweet, starchy base. Aim for something sweet, nutty and medium in body.
- Best match: a sweet, lighter espresso blend. Our Blonde is a light, caramel-sweet blend from Central America and Africa, made for smooth espresso.
- Nutty and low-acid: Brazil Santos brings cocoa and roasted nut notes that sit nicely under ube.
- Iced and cold foam versions: Cold Brew Coffee makes a smooth, low-acid concentrate for topping with ube cold foam.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Latte tastes only of coffee | Use a single shot or more halaya; choose a lighter roast |
| Gritty texture | Whisk powder into hot water first, or strain the base |
| Grayish color | Coffee mutes purple; layer the espresso on top or add a drop of extract |
| Too sweet | Halaya is sweetened; skip other syrups |
| Tastes artificial | Check whether your extract contains artificial flavor; switch to halaya or powder |
Ube latte FAQ
What does an ube latte taste like?
Mild, nutty and gently sweet, with vanilla-like and slightly earthy notes under the coffee. It is much softer than a matcha latte.
Is ube the same as taro?
No. Taro is a different root with paler flesh and a starchier, more neutral flavor. Many “taro” drinks are colored purple, which adds to the confusion.
Does an ube latte have caffeine?
Ube itself has no caffeine; the caffeine comes from the espresso. For a caffeine-free version, make an ube steamer with just milk and ube.
Why is my ube latte not purple?
Coffee darkens everything. For a vivid look, layer the espresso on top of iced ube milk, or add a few drops of ube extract.
Sources
- Ube lattes and coffee shop flavor trends, Perfect Daily Grind, 2025.
- Ube over matcha? New trend tuber takes over coffee, cake and ice cream, Euronews, 2026.
Facts checked in October 2026.
Keep reading: Coffee trends 2026 · Dirty matcha latte · Our blends