Why be basic when you can be BOLD?? This vibrant Iced Ube Coffee gives premium coffee vibes with just 5 ingredients! Layer fluffy sweet & salty ube foam over an ice cold cup of coffee for a drink so beautiful, you’ll want your camera to enjoy it first!
This creamy Ube Latte has been one of my fave creative twists to enjoy Vietnamese Coffee! It’s very similar to my Vietnamese Salt Coffee, but with an ube twist! Perfectly sweet with that creamy ube salted foam – without compromising my need of caffeine to get me through that afternoon slump! It’s almosssst like dessert in a cup, just like my Egg Coffee that tastes like tiramisu. And if you love coconut, swap out the milk & cream for coconut milk & cream – then use any leftovers to make a slushy Coconut Coffee!
🎥 Video: Watch How to Make the Recipe
🌟 What is Ube?
Ube is a purple yam originating from the Philippines and commonly used in Filipino recipes and desserts for its naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor! Heads up – it’s different from taro and purple sweet potatoes. They’re also used in savory dishes, but ube is for desserts and drinks!
I grew up eating ube desserts and drinks as a kid, but now it’s become so popular – even in Asian fusion food! You can find ube at local Asian or Filipino markets (like Seafood City) in various forms – fresh ube root, frozen ube root, ube jam (aka ube halayan), extract, and condensed milk!
Equipment
Need a few kitchen tools
- Immersion blender with Frother Attachment (my fave!), hand mixer, or hand-held frother: These tools are the fastest way to whip up the ube cream topping! My fave between the two is the immersion blender because it has a turbo mode for faster results AND you’ll be able to use the immersion attachment for other meals too!
- Vietnamese Coffee Phin Filter: If you’re making this ube coffee with Vietnamese coffee (HIGHLY recommend btw!), grab one of these phin filters to brew Vietnamese coffee. If you’re making a large batch, you could also use a french press. I outline how to make it in my Coconut Coffee recipe!
🥘 Ingredients
- Coffee: For this ube coffee, I’m using Vietnamese coffee because it’s strong in flavor (and caffeine hehe) but you can swap it for a double espresso or any of your favorite stronggg coffee. Use a BOLD coffee so you can taste the flavor through the milk & ube! cafe du monde is my fave brand when making Vietnamese coffee because it’s bold without being acidic (plus it’s super affordable and easy to find!). I outline more options & their flavor profiles in my Vietnamese coffee recipe!
- Ube Condensed Milk: This is key for this ube latte recipe! It adds the ube flavor with creaminess and sweetness! You can find it online or at your local Asian or Filipino market.
- Coconut Cream or Heavy Cream: This is what will thicken up the whipped topping! For a dairy-free version, you can use coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk.
- Coconut Milk or Milk: Use any of your favorite milk or non-dairy milk. Coconut milk would be delicious here because ube + coconut is *chef’s kiss*
- Salt: Just a pinch makes a world of difference! This adds flavor complexity – the saltiness balances the sweetness of the ube condensed milk.
- Toasted Coconut Chips: This is optional for garnish, but is a nice addition for crunch! And did I mention – ube + coconut is a match made in heaven!
For full ingredient list & measurements, see recipe card below.
🔪 How to Make Ube Latte
Step 1: Make Iced Coffee.
Again, these are the steps to make Vietnamese coffee BUT you can fast forward to using any of your fave double espresso or STRONG coffee! Now, on to making Vietnamese coffee!
Place the phin filter on top of your mug, add 2-3 tablespoons of Vietnamese coffee grounds in the chamber. If you want lighter coffee, go with 2 tablespoons, for stronger coffee (& love caffeine like me hehe) go for 3 tablespoons.
Use the coffee press to lightly pack down the coffee – don’t press coffee too tightly because it turns bitter while brewing. Pour about a tablespoon of hot water into the chamber and allow it to “bloom” for about 1 minute to help intensify the coffee flavor!
Fill the chamber with boiling water, cover with the lid, and let the coffee slowly drip while you make your ube foam.
Step 2: Make Ube Foam.
In a bowl or spouted measuring cup, whisk heavy cream, milk, ube condensed milk, and salt with a hand-held frother or immersion blender with frother attachment until thick with soft peaks. About 3 minutes.
Step 3: Assemble.
Once your brewed coffee is done dripping, remove the phin filter, then add ice. Keep in mind, adding more ice will dilute the coffee over time as it melts.
Layer the ube foam on top & garnish with toasted coconut chips if you’re feeling fancy. Serve with a straw, stir, and enjoy!
👩🏽🍳 Key Tips
- Chill Milk & Condensed Milk for Easier Whipping: Pop the milk & condensed milk in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or until cold. You’ll get a voluminous whipped topping much faster!
- Use Strong Coffee: If you don’t want to use Vietnamese coffee, use your fave strong coffee or espresso! It’s important to use strong coffee so it doesn’t get muted by the milk & ube flavors.
- Use More Coffee Grounds for Stronger Coffee: Instead of 2 tablespoons of Vietnamese coffee grounds, up it to 3 tablespoons if you like stronger coffee!
- Adjusting Sweetness & Creaminess: If you want your ube coffee sweeter, add more condensed milk. Craving it creamier? Add a splash more milk!
- Making in a Large Batch: If you’re multiplying the recipe for family and friends, use a french press to make a larger batch of coffee at once! Bring water to off the boil, pour coffee grounds into the french press, and pour just enough water to cover the coffee. Allow it to bloom for about a minute, then pour remaining water & steep for about 4 minutes. Divide the coffee into the cups, then follow steps to make ube cream.
💭 Recipe FAQs
☕ More Easy Coffee Recipes You’ll Love!
Craving more coffee?? I gotchu. Sip on rich Egg Coffee that tastes like drinking tiramisu! My husband’s favorite is Vietnamese Coconut Coffee because the thick frosty coconut slush is SO refreshing with the bold Vietnamese Coffee. And don’t forget the Vietnamese Salt Coffee if you love sweet & salty combos like salted caramel!
Let’s get cooking!
Get into my secret stash of Goody-Packed Newsletters with meals planned for you & time-saving tips! Want step-by-step videos of how to make my recipes too? I gotchu over at my youtube channel. Aight, enough chatting, more eating!
Ube Coffee
Ingredients
COFFEE:
- ½ cup Vietnamese coffee or 2 shots espresso
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon ube condensed milk adjust to your taste
- Ice
UBE CREAM:
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon ube condensed milk
- 1/8 teaspoon salt just a pinch
- Toasted coconut chips optional for garnish
Instructions
- To make the coffee, place the phin filter on top of a mug and scoop the coffee grounds into the filter in an even layer. Be careful not to shake the filter so coffee grounds don’t spill into the mug.
- Gently press the coffee grounds in the filter (this will slow down the drip process for a more flavorful coffee).
- Pour about 2 tablespoons of boiling water onto the coffee grounds and wait for about 5 seconds to allow the coffee grounds to “bloom”.
- Slowly pour the boiling water over the coffee. Wait for about 5 minutes, or until the coffee finishes dripping. Remove phin filter and stir in milk and ube condensed milk into the coffee. Set aside.
- In a mug or small bowl, whisk heavy cream, milk, ube condensed milk, and salt until it forms fluffy soft peaks – about 5 minutes.
- To assemble, layer coffee with ice, then ube cream, and garnish with coconut flakes if you’re feeling fancy. Serve with a straw and stir before enjoying!
Notes
- Coffee: I like using Vietnamese coffee (Cafe du Monde brand), but you can swap it for any of your fave strong coffee or a double shot of espresso.
- Ube Condensed Milk: Find it at local Asian markets or online!
- For faster whipping, chill your milk, cream, and ube condensed milk. My fave tool is used an immersion blender with frother attachment, handheld whisker, or handheld mixer.
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
