Add a pretty purple, international-inspired twist to your morning with this deliciously sweet Iced Coconut Ube Latte recipe. With a flavor that’s equal parts your favorite milk tea and a coconut whipped coffee, this simple stunner is certain to become a staple summer sipper.
Made with creamy coconut milk and vibrant purple ube extract, this iced latte is as gorgeous as it is tasty. Ube (pronounced oo-beh) is a sweet purple yam that’s popular in Filipino desserts, known for its striking color and subtle vanilla-like flavor. When paired with bold espresso and a hint of sweetness, it transforms your everyday coffee break into an artful expression.
What makes this recipe awesome is how easy it is to whip up at home. With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes, you can skip the long coffee shop lines and still get that coffeehouse-worthy drink in your own kitchen. Plus, it’s naturally dairy-free thanks to the coconut milk, making it a great option for anyone who’s plant-based or lactose intolerant.
But, what I love most about this iced ube latte is how balanced it is. The espresso brings a deep, roasted flavor, the ube extract adds a mellow nuttiness, coconut syrup brings tropical sweetness, and the coconut milk ties it all together with plenty of creaminess. If you’re getting bored with your current lineup of iced coffee recipes, this is the perfect way to shake things up.
Love unconventional coffee drinks? Give my coffee soda, coffee boba tea, and mystical matcha-laced Elphaba’s cold brew a try next!
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What does it taste like?
This iced coconut ube latte is sweet, nutty, and creamy with a beautiful balance of tropical and earthy flavors. The coconut syrup and coconut milk give it a creamy, subtly nutty sweetness that feels light and refreshing. The ube extract adds a vanilla-like flavor with hints of pistachio, marshmallow and white chocolate. Finally, the espresso cuts through with bold, roasty notes, balancing the sweetness and tying everything together.
The result is a drink that’s both refreshing and indulgent—smooth, lightly sweet, and perfectly chilled over ice. It’s like sipping on a coconut milk tea and an iced latte at the same time, with an extra pop of purple fun!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Iced Latte Recipe
- Just 4 Simple Ingredients - Despite looking like it belongs in a museum, this gorgeous ube latte is made with just a handful of simple ingredients—coffee, coconut milk, coffee syrup, and ube extract!
- Budget-Friendly - Get all the café-worthy flavors without paying café prices. This easy DIY can be made for just pennies on the dollar at home!
- Bold & Beautiful - Take it from someone who loves expanding my culinary horizons— the vibrant color and crave-worthy flavor of ube is absolutely worth your curiosity. Don’t worry, the extract isn’t a one-trick pony. Use it to make these festive halloween pancakes topped with a purple coconut glaze!
Ingredients Needed
- Coconut Syrup - My homemade recipe is cheap and simple to make, but feel free to swap in store-bought.
- Unsweetened Coconut Milk - Make sure to reach for a full-fat “barista blend” for the creamiest mouthfeel.
- Ube Extract - The purple powered star of our recipe! It’s easy to find at most international grocery stores and online.
- Espresso - The caffeinated heart of any iced latte recipe. No worries if you don’t have a fancy machine—my french-press espresso method gives you all the flavor without a massive monetary investment.
- Ice - If possible, start with filtered water for the best results. Also, note that the larger your ice cubes are, the more slowly they’ll melt—worth keeping in mind if you’re a slow sipper.
Substitutions
- Coconut Syrup - Not a huge fan of coconut? Swap in another complimentary flavor like vanilla syrup, toasted vanilla bean syrup, or toasted marshmallow syrup.
- Unsweetened Coconut Milk - Feel free to use the dairy or plant-based milk of your choosing.
- Ube Extract - There’s no real substitute for ube extract, but you can use a 50/50 mix of vanilla extract and coconut extract for a similar vibe. Feel free to add some beet powder or butterfly pea powder to replace the purple hue naturally.
- Espresso - Chilled strongly brewed conventional coffee or cold brew concentrate can be used instead. Alternatively, use reconstituted espresso powder.
- Ice - If dilution is a concern, swap in coffee ice cubes. As they melt, the coffee flavor just gets stronger!
How To Make Iced Coconut Ube Latte
Step 1: Prep. Fill a tall glass with ice and drizzle in the coconut syrup.
Step 2: Mix Ube Milk. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the coconut milk and ube extract until smooth. Pour it over the ice and syrup, then give it a quick stir to blend.
Step 3: Add Espresso. Pour the freshly brewed espresso over top, swirl to combine, and sip away!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Sugar-Free - Use a sugar-free coconut syrup or swap in a natural sweetener like monkfruit or stevia for a diabetic-friendly drink.
- Coconut-Free - If you’re not a fan of coconut, try oat milk, almond milk, or regular dairy milk instead. Vanilla syrup makes a great substitute for coconut syrup.
- Extra Creamy - Use full-fat canned coconut milk for a supremely rich and indulgent latte.
- With Boba Pearls - Turn this into a fun coffee bubble tea mashup by adding chewy tapioca pearls to the bottom of your glass.
- Hot Version - Steam the coconut milk with ube extract, then pour it into a mug with coconut syrup and espresso for a cozy hot latte.
- Blended - Toss everything into a blender with extra ice and a pinch of xanthan gum to create a frosty, frappuccino-style drink.
- Flavor Boosts - Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top for extra flair.
- Decaf/Caffeine-Free - Make it with decaf espresso or strong brewed coffee if you want the flavor without the buzz. For a fully de-fanged version, use Dandy Blend or roasted chicory to make the “espresso.”
Serving Suggestions
This iced coconut ube latte is perfect as a refreshing pick-me-up on a warm afternoon, but it’s versatile enough for any time of day. Serve it alongside a light breakfast like protein overnight oats or fresh strawberry waffles for a cheerfully colorful start to your morning.
It also pairs beautifully with tropical-inspired sweets—think coconut pineapple banana bread, matcha cupcakes, or coconut ginger key lime pie bars. Leaning more savory? Try serving it alongside blackened tilapia with mango avocado slaw or grilled bang bang chicken skewers.
Ube’s gorgeous purple hue makes this frosty latte a fun centerpiece at brunch spreads, baby showers, or girls’ night gatherings. Feel free to zhuzh it up with some protein cold foam or flavored whipped cream and a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes for added Instagrammability.
Recipe Success Tips
- Use good espresso. The coffee flavor really shines through, so use a freshly brewed shot of espresso or very strong coffee for the best taste.
- Stir well. Ube extract is potent and can settle—mix it thoroughly into the coconut milk before pouring so the flavor is even and the color is vibrant.
- Chill your milk. Cold coconut milk helps keep the drink refreshing and prevents the ice from melting too quickly.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. Start with less coconut syrup, then add more if you prefer a sweeter latte.
- Layer for presentation. If you want a pretty ombré effect, pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon to let it float on top before stirring.
- Serve right away. Like most iced drinks, this ube latte is best enjoyed fresh—letting it sit too long can water down the flavors.
FAQs
It depends on the recipe, but here we use unsweetened coconut milk, toasted coconut coffee syrup, ube extract, espresso, and ice.
Ube flavor comes from a purple yam popular in Filipino desserts. It’s subtly sweet with notes of vanilla, pistachio, and white chocolate, giving it a nutty, dessert-like taste.
While it does have a sweet, vanilla-like undertone, ube’s flavor is more complex, with nutty, earthy notes that hint at pistachio and white chocolate. It comes from a variety of purple sweet potato that’s native to the Philippines—not from the vanilla plant.
No, taro and ube aren’t the same, though they’re often confused. Ube is a purple yam from the Philippines with a naturally sweet, nutty flavor and vibrant violet color. Taro, on the other hand, is a root vegetable that’s light brown on the outside with white flesh that is sometimes flecked with purple. Taro has a more mild, starchy, and slightly nutty taste that usually needs added sugar for drinks and desserts.
Homemade Iced Ube Latte Nutrition
Each glass of this iced coconut ube latte comes in at around 151 calories, making it relatively light compared to many café-style drinks. Most of the calories come from the 28 grams of carbohydrates, with about 24 grams of sugar provided by the coconut syrup and ube extract. In other words, it’s definitely a sweet treat.
The 4 grams of fat from the coconut milk add a touch of creaminess without making the drink too heavy, while the protein is minimal at just 1 gram. You’re welcome to boost that by blending in collagen powder or adding a layer of protein cold foam. Sodium is very low at only 29 mg, which means this recipe is a great fit if you’re watching salt intake.
Overall, this coconut ube latte is a joyful kind of recipe—perfect when you want something colorful and flavorful without the heaviness of a higher-calorie drink. If you’d like to lighten it up even more, you can use a sugar-free coconut syrup or reduce the amount of syrup for fewer carbs and sugars. Enjoy every sip!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 151 calories
- Total Fat: 4 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Sodium: 29 mg
- Carbohydrates: 28 grams
- Sugar: 24 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Iced Coffee Recipes
Iced Coconut Ube Latte
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon coconut syrup
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon ube extract
- 1 ½ oz espresso
- ice
Instructions
- Add ice to a glass, then pour in the coconut syrup.
- Stir together the coconut milk and ube extract, then pour the ube milk over the coconut syrup. Stir to combine.
- Top with espresso, then drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
Guilaine says
There is no UBE at all in the item you’re proposing with your link to Amazon. It is made with very bad products, flavoring and artificial color !