Ube is finally having a main character moment beyond its traditional role as a classic Filipino dessert ingredient.
Ube has been a Filipino comfort staple for generations, flavoring everything from snacks and birthday cakes to classic halo-halo. But while the purple root crop is far from a stranger to our dessert bowls, today’s local café and brewery scene is giving it a serious, modern overhaul.
Here are six spots serving creative ube drinks worth checking out.
Photo sourced from Cooper’s Coffee Haus
1. Cooper’s Coffee Haus
With various branches across Metro Manila, Cooper’s Coffee Haus brings its two ube blends closer to local purple yam enthusiasts. Its signature Dirty Ube drink is an elevated café favorite that combines the bold, rich kick of espresso with the distinctly nutty taste of ube. For its non-coffee option, the Ube Latte offers a creamy and comforting dessert-forward treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Operating hours vary by branch, with some locations opening as early as 7:00 AM and closing as late as 11:00 PM. Visit their official Facebook page for specific store details and upcoming events.
Photo courtesy of Kenji’s Cafe
2. Kenji’s Cafe
Founded in 2020, Kenji’s Cafe at 258 Tomas Morato Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, specializes in its Iced Ube Latte. The signature ube drink stands out as one of the closest café-style interpretations of traditional Filipino ube halaya. The blend balances sweetness with the natural earthiness of real purple yam jam.
If that purple yam overload isn’t enough, you can even pair your drink with their lineup of ube-flavored pastries like ube cheese pandesal, ube chip cookies, ube leche flan cupcakes and cakes, ube crinkles, ube brownies, and ube halaya.
The café is open daily starting at 7:00 AM, extending its hours until midnight on Sundays through Thursdays and until 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. You can also follow their Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest menu updates.
Photo from ZUS Coffee Philippines
3. ZUS Coffee
Established in 2019, ZUS Coffee offers a budget-friendly entry point for anyone looking to dive into the ube trend.
Its Ube Series starts with the Ube Latte, a dessert-like indulgence that blends bold espresso with velvety purple yam. For a combination of two current café trends, Iced Ube Matcha Latte delivers a vibrant, creamy fusion. Rounding out the trio is the thick, milkshake-like Ube Frappe. They also serve a classic Ube Halaya Cake that can be paired with any of the drinks.
ZUS Coffee typically opens from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Check out their official Facebook and Instagram pages for the newest promos and branch announcements.
Photo from Retro Coffee House PH
4. Retro Coffee House PH
The vintage-themed Retro Coffee House PH, located at 91C Susano Road, Novaliches, features one of the most inventive ube drink selections available. While they do serve reliable classics like Ube Latte and Ube Matcha, they also push boundaries with Ube Blueberry, which contrasts a slightly tangy fruit profile with ube’s nutty depth.
You may visit their Novaliches location from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM and follow their Facebook page for updates.
Photo sourced from Engkanto Brewery
5. Engkanto Brewery
The Cavite-based multi-award-winning Engkanto Brewery pushes creative limits with its Paint Me Purple Ube Lager. Brewed using local ube, desiccated coconut, and imported brewing ingredients, this distinct artisanal beer delivers a subtle, aromatic, yet familiar flavor combination.
Securing a bottle is easy through their official website, quick-commerce apps, or select supermarkets, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants.
Photo courtesy of PICKUP COFFEE
6. PICKUP COFFEE
Known for budget-friendly, grab-and-go drinks, PICKUP COFFEE has also introduced its own take on the local ube trend.
You can keep things classic and caffeine-free with the straightforward, smooth Iced Ube Milk. If you want a lighter, plant-based alternative with a dairy-free finish, Ube Oat Milk is the perfect choice. For a decadent sweet drink with a savory-sweet cheese cap, Ube Cheese Cream Milk delivers the ultimate indulgence.
Depending on the branch, locations may open as early as 6:00 AM and close as late as 11:00 PM. Stay updated on their new drink offers by following their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Ube has firmly stepped out of the background and into its long-overdue spotlight. These six local spots prove that the beloved purple yam’s reinvention is only just beginning.