Ube Sunset Latte with Coffee: Recipe (Iced)

01 // The recipe

Ube sunset latte with coffee (1 glass).

A drink you taste with your eyes first: a deep purple ube base, a warm espresso layer and a creamy cold foam. Perfect for a summer menu and for anyone who likes to put something striking on the bar.

Ingredients

Ube milk

1 scoop ube powder (8-10 g)
30 ml warm water
150 ml cold milk or plant-based milk
Sweetener or simple syrup to taste (optional)

Coffee & ice

2 shots espresso (±60 ml), slightly cooled
A glass full of ice cubes

Ube cold foam

60 ml heavy cream or cold barista oat milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp powdered sugar
Pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp ube powder for the purple foam (optional)

Method (±5 min)

Make the ube milk. Stir 1 scoop of ube powder into 30 ml warm water until smooth and lump-free. Stir through 150 ml cold milk and sweeten to taste.
Make the cold foam. Add heavy cream (or cold barista oat), vanilla, powdered sugar, a pinch of salt and optionally 1/4 tsp ube powder to a jug. Froth until thick and just pourable.
Build the sunset. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the ube milk. Pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon so the coffee sinks and a purple-to-amber gradient forms. Do not stir.
Finish with foam. Spoon the cold foam slowly on top into a thick layer. Dust with a little ube powder. Stir just before drinking.

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Layered ube sunset latte with coffee: purple ube milk fading into espresso with cold foam

Ube sunset latte // iced & layered

02 // How to get the sunset effect

The secret is in the layers.

Plenty of ice and a cold ube base make the espresso sink slowly instead of mixing straight away. So pour the coffee over the back of a spoon: the stream spreads out and the purple-to-amber gradient forms.

Cold foam that holds comes from cold heavy cream or barista oat. The powdered sugar and the pinch of salt stabilize the foam layer so it floats on top like a thick cloud.

Only stir just before drinking. That keeps the sunset photo-ready, and then you taste all the layers together: creamy ube, full-bodied coffee and soft vanilla.

03 // Variations & tips

Make it your own.

🌱

Plant-based

Use oat or soy milk and cold barista oat for the foam. Just as creamy, fully plant-based.

❄️

Sharper gradient

Use lots of ice and well-chilled espresso. The bigger the temperature gap, the crisper the layers.

☕

Caffeine-free

Leave out the espresso for a classic ube latte with no caffeine — just as purple.

Common mistakes (and quick fixes)

Lumps in the ube milk? Dissolve the powder in warm water into a smooth paste first, then stir in the milk.
Foam too thin? Use cold heavy cream or barista oat and froth longer. The powdered sugar helps keep the foam stable.
Layers mixing instantly? Too little ice or coffee that's too hot. Add ice and let the espresso cool briefly first.

04 // The base: 100% pure ube powder

Start with the right ube.

A good sunset latte lives or dies by 100% pure ube powder: dried purple yam, with no sugar, coloring or flavoring. That gives the real ube taste — soft and creamy with notes of vanilla and pistachio — and the deep purple color that makes the sunset effect pop.

Curious how ube actually tastes or what it is? Read what does ube taste like? and what is ube?

View ube powder Classic ube latte recipe

100% Pure Ube Powder

05 // Frequently asked questions

FAQ about the ube sunset latte.

What is an ube sunset latte with coffee?

An ube sunset latte is an iced ube latte with espresso, built in layers. The purple ube milk and the warm coffee band blend into each other like a sunset, topped with a thick ube cold foam.

Does an ube sunset latte contain caffeine?

Yes. Ube itself is naturally caffeine-free, but this version contains espresso and therefore caffeine. Want a caffeine-free version? Leave out the coffee for a classic ube latte.

How do I get the layered sunset gradient?

Fill the glass with plenty of ice, pour in the ube milk first, then pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon. The cold ube milk and ice make the coffee sink gradually, creating the purple-to-amber gradient. Only stir just before drinking.

Can I make the ube sunset latte plant-based?

Yes. Use plant-based milk for the ube milk and cold barista oat milk instead of heavy cream for the cold foam. With a pinch of salt and powdered sugar, barista oat froths beautifully.

Which ube should I use for this recipe?

Use 100% pure ube powder with no added sugar or flavoring. Dissolve it first in a little warm water into a smooth paste; that prevents lumps and gives a deep purple color. See our ube powder.

Ready to pour your own sunset?

Our 100% pure ube powder gives the deep purple color and creamy taste this drink is all about. One pouch makes around 10 lattes.

Buy ube powder Classic ube latte recipe

Want more ube? Read what does ube taste like? and what is ube?