Guides
How to Make an Ube Latte at Home (Hot & Iced)
An ube latte is creamy, gently sweet, and naturally purple, and it's surprisingly easy to make at home. With just ube powder, milk, and a few minutes, you can make a café-worthy drink that's completely caffeine-free. This guide walks you through hot and iced versions, plus tips to get it right every time.
In this guide:
- What you need, including equipment options
- Ube latte ratios: mild, classic, and strong
- Step-by-step hot ube latte
- Step-by-step iced ube latte
- Sweetener guide
- Make-ahead ube syrup
- Café-style foam tips
- Troubleshooting common problems
- Six easy variations
- Frequently asked questions
Why Make an Ube Latte?
Ube (purple yam) has a mellow flavor with notes of vanilla, nuttiness, and a little earthiness. In a latte, it tastes cozy and comforting without being overly sweet. If you're new to ube, our beginner's guide on what ube is covers its flavor and history in more detail.
Best of all, ube is naturally caffeine-free. That makes an ube latte a great choice for an afternoon treat, an evening wind-down, or anyone who wants a break from coffee.
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Ube powder: 5 g (about 2 teaspoons) of Pure Ube Latte Powder
- Hot water: 2 tablespoons, just off the boil or around 175°F
- Milk: 8 oz (1 cup) of whole, oat, coconut, almond, or soy milk
- Sweetener (optional): 1–2 teaspoons, to taste
- Vanilla (optional): a small splash of vanilla extract
- Ice: for the iced version
Equipment Options
You don't need fancy gear. Use whatever you already have:
- Handheld milk frother: Fast, inexpensive, and great for both mixing and foaming.
- Small whisk or bamboo whisk: Works well for making a smooth ube paste.
- Electric milk frother: Heats and foams at the same time for the most café-like texture.
- Blender: Excellent for a super-smooth latte, especially if you're making two or more.
- Mason jar with a lid: Shake warm milk for quick foam, or shake an iced latte to mix.
- Saucepan: For gently warming milk on the stove.
Ube Latte Ratios
Everyone's taste is a little different. Start with the classic ratio and adjust from there.
| Strength | Ube Powder | Hot Water | Milk | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 3 g (about 1 tsp) | 1 tbsp | 8 oz | First-timers, kids, subtle flavor |
| Classic | 5 g (about 2 tsp) | 2 tbsp | 8 oz | Everyday balanced latte |
| Strong | 7–8 g (about 1 tbsp) | 3 tbsp | 8 oz | Bold ube flavor and deeper color |
At the classic ratio, one 100 g pouch makes about 20 lattes.
How to Make a Hot Ube Latte
- Make the paste: Add 5 g of ube powder to your mug. Pour in 2 tablespoons of hot water and whisk or froth until completely smooth, with no lumps.
- Sweeten (optional): Stir your sweetener and vanilla into the paste while it's warm so they dissolve easily.
- Heat the milk: Warm 8 oz of milk on the stove or in the microwave until steaming but not boiling.
- Froth: Froth the milk until it's light and foamy.
- Combine: Pour the milk over the ube paste, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
- Enjoy: Give it a gentle stir and sip while it's warm.
How to Make an Iced Ube Latte
- Make the paste: Whisk 5 g of ube powder with 2 tablespoons of hot water until smooth.
- Sweeten: Stir in your sweetener while the paste is still warm.
- Add milk: Pour 6–8 oz of cold milk into the paste and stir or shake well.
- Pour over ice: Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the ube milk over it.
- Optional layers: For a layered look, pour the milk over ice first, then slowly add the ube mixture on top.
For a tropical twist, try our Iced Coconut Ube Latte recipe.
Pro tip: Always dissolve ube powder in a little hot water before adding milk. This simple step gives you a smooth, clump-free latte with deeper color and fuller flavor, whether you're making it hot or iced.
Hot or Iced: Which Should You Make?
Both versions use the same simple base, so it really comes down to mood and season. A hot ube latte feels cozy and dessert-like, and warming the milk helps bring out ube's vanilla and nutty notes. An iced ube latte is lighter and more refreshing, and it's perfect for showing off pretty purple layers in a clear glass.
If you're making ube for the first time, start with the hot version. It's the easiest way to taste ube's natural flavor before you start customizing.
Sweetener Guide
Our ube powder has no added sugar, so you're in full control of sweetness. Each option brings something a little different.
| Sweetener | Flavor | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetened condensed milk | Rich, creamy, classic Filipino-style | Start with 1 tbsp; reduce other sweeteners |
| Maple syrup | Warm, slightly caramel | Dissolves easily in hot or cold drinks |
| Honey | Floral, gentle | Stir into the warm paste before adding milk |
| Brown sugar | Molasses-like, cozy | Dissolve in the hot water first |
| Vanilla syrup | Sweet, café-style | Pairs naturally with ube's vanilla notes |
| Coconut sugar | Earthy, caramel-like | Works well with coconut milk |
Make-Ahead Ube Syrup (Concentrate)
If you drink ube lattes often, a batch of ube concentrate saves time on busy mornings.
Ingredients
- 25 g ube powder (about 10 teaspoons)
- ½ cup hot water
- ¼ cup sweetener of choice (optional)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Method
- Whisk the ube powder and hot water together until completely smooth.
- Stir in sweetener and vanilla until dissolved.
- Let cool, then pour into a clean, airtight jar.
- Store in the fridge for up to about 5 days. Shake before using.
Use roughly 2–3 tablespoons of concentrate per 8 oz of milk. It makes enough for about five lattes.
Café-Style Foam Tips
- Choose the right milk: Whole milk and barista-style oat milk foam the best. Many almond and coconut milks foam less.
- Watch the temperature: Aim for warm and steaming, around 140–155°F. Milk that's too hot won't hold foam as well and can taste flat.
- Froth just below the surface: Keep your frother near the top of the milk at first to pull in air, then lower it to smooth the texture.
- Tap and swirl: Tap the jug on the counter and swirl to break up big bubbles for silky microfoam.
- Dust the top: Sprinkle a pinch of ube powder over the foam for a pretty finish.
Troubleshooting Your Ube Latte
Clumps
Clumps happen when powder hits cold liquid. Always make a paste with hot water first. If you still see lumps, use a frother or blender, or pour through a fine sieve.
Pale Color
Natural ube gives a soft lavender color, not a neon purple. For a deeper shade, use the strong ratio or less milk. Very bright purple lattes at cafés often get their color from added dyes or extracts.
Grainy Texture
Ube is a real root vegetable, so a tiny bit of body is normal. To make it smoother, whisk the paste longer, let it sit for a minute to hydrate, or blend the whole latte.
Color Turning Bluish or Grayish
Ube's color comes from anthocyanins, which change shade depending on pH. More acidic conditions push the color toward pink or red, while more alkaline conditions push it toward blue, green, or gray. Some plant milks and hard tap water can shift the color slightly. It's still perfectly fine to drink. Try a different milk or filtered water if you want a truer purple.
Weak Flavor
Increase the ube powder before adding more sweetener. A splash of vanilla or a pinch of salt can also help bring ube's flavor forward.
Six Ube Latte Variations
- Coconut Ube Latte: Use coconut milk and top with toasted coconut flakes.
- Ube Vanilla Cloud: Add vanilla syrup and finish with a thick layer of cold foam.
- Ube Dirty Latte: Add a shot of espresso if you want caffeine (note that it will no longer be caffeine-free).
- Ube Brown Sugar Latte: Dissolve brown sugar in the hot water for a cozy, caramel-like flavor.
- Ube Matcha Layered Latte: Layer matcha and ube over ice for a two-tone drink. See our ube vs. matcha guide for the recipe.
- Ube Cinnamon Latte: Add a pinch of cinnamon to the paste for warmth in cooler months.
Want to keep the ube going beyond your mug? Pair your latte with a stack of Fluffy Ube Pancakes for the ultimate purple brunch.
FAQ
Does an ube latte have caffeine?
No. Ube is naturally caffeine-free. An ube latte only has caffeine if you add espresso, tea, or another caffeinated ingredient.
What milk is best for an ube latte?
Whole milk and oat milk give the creamiest texture and best foam. Coconut milk adds a lovely tropical flavor that pairs naturally with ube.
How much ube powder should I use?
Start with 5 g (about 2 teaspoons) per 8 oz of milk. Use less for a mild drink or more for a stronger flavor and deeper color.
Can I make an ube latte without a frother?
Yes. Whisk the paste with a small whisk or fork, then shake warm milk in a sealed jar to create foam.
How long does ube syrup last?
Homemade ube concentrate keeps in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to about 5 days. Shake well before using.
Ready to make your first cup? Grab a pouch of our Pure Ube Latte Powder, made from 100% ube with no added sugar, dyes, or fillers. Each 100 g pouch makes about 20 lattes, so you'll have plenty to experiment with.
