Treat yourself to a rich, sweet, and milky Iced Coffee Boba. With chewy and sweet cooked tapioca pearls, nutty and bold fresh brewed coffee, and your milk of choice, coffee milk tea is never a bad idea! Naturally gluten-free and easy dairy-free and vegan variations!
Table of Contents
Also known as coffee bubble tea, coffee boba is a true delight. An iced latte that is made by pouring hot coffee, milk, and simple syrup over chewy tapioca pearls, iced bubble coffee is sweet, nutty, milky, bold, and comforting.
Whether it's the first time you've had this boba coffee recipe or your 100th, bring the magic of bubble tea shops to your own kitchen. Premade tapioca pearls make this recipe accessible and easy to make, regardless of your cooking experience, and the ingredient list is short.
Why You'll Love Coffee Boba
- A Fun Coffee Treat. Treat yourself or your favorite coffee lover in your life to this coffee milk tea. It's rich, sweet, and the chewy tapioca balls really make it a special experience.
- Short Ingredient List. Once you have the Boba pearls (easily found at Asian markets and online), all of the other ingredients you need to make for this coffee drink recipe or pantry staples.
- Simple Preparation. If you know how to boil water you will be able to make this bubble coffee recipe. You will need a few minutes for the tapioca pearls to soak but otherwise, the recipe is ready with minimal fuss and active cooking time.
- Budget-Friendly. Save yourself the expense of going to a local boba shop by making your coffee milk tea at home! This recipe cost me less than $1 per serving to make; even more of a season to be a fan of bubble tea!
Ingredients
- Boba Pearls: Made from tapioca starch, these neutral-flavored balls have a delightfully chewy texture and are a perfect complement to the bold and nutty flavor of the coffee. Find tapioca balls at your local Asian grocery store or online on Amazon. Both black and tan boba pearls both work for the iced coffee recipe.
- Granulated Sugar: The basis for the simple syrup. White sugar will dissolve the easiest and make a classic simple syrup, though coconut sugar can substitute if desired.
- Espresso: Use Italian espresso beans for the richest coffee flavor, though any type of dark roast coffee can be prepared in an espresso or pressed style.
- Milk: Plant milk or dairy milk. Some of my favorite options are oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, skim milk, or whole milk, though you could also make it with half and half or heavy cream.
How to Make Coffee Boba
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Make this delicious milky coffee in just a handful of simple steps. Here's how:
Step 1: Cook the boba in a large pot of boiling water, according to the package instructions.
Step 2: While the boba cooks: make simple syrup. Boil ¼ cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan on the stove. Whisk the sugar into the hot water until dissolved.
Step 3: Drain the cooked boba. Add it to the hot simple syrup and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
Step 4: Add large handfuls of ice to two tall glasses. Pour 1 espresso shot onto each cup of ice.
Step 5: Stir in the boba and your desired amount of simple syrup. Pour in milk to fill to the top.
Step 6: Stir and sweeten with additional simple syrup to taste. Serve immediately with boba straws to suck up the boba pearls!
Recipe Pro-Tips
- How to Make Espresso: Make espresso in an espresso machine or with a Moka pot. Alternatively, you can also make concentrated coffee using a French press by using half the usual amount of boiling water with the same amount of coffee grounds. For the most ease, you can also make this boba latte with instant coffee granules.
- How to Make Simple Syrup in the Microwave: Bring the water to a boil by heating it in the microwave for 45-second to 1-minute intervals. Whisk the sugar in until dissolved.
Recipe Variations
- Switch up p the sweetener. Add delightful caramel flavors to the coffee milk tea by using maple or brown sugar syrup. To make either, simply substitute maple syrup or brown sugar for the granulated sugar and follow the recipe directions as listed.
- Cold Brew Coffee: Substitute cold brew coffee for espresso or Instant coffee for a more mellow and cocoa-like flavor to the boba coffee recipe.
- Mocha Coffee Boba: Take the sweet Boba to a new coffee chocolate heights by stirring in 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup before serving
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy boba iced coffee any time of the day. Serve it with toasted zucchini banana bread or peanut butter overnight oats for breakfast on a warm summer day, or brew a large glass for a zippy afternoon pick-me-up drink.
Dietary Adaptations
This boba tea recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian. To make vegan and dairy-free coffee boba, simply use plant-based milk and follow the recipe as directed.
Storage Directions
- Storage: This boba coffee recipe is best enjoyed fresh, as the boba pearls get gummy and stiff upon storage. If you'd like to make the iced coffee ahead of time, however, you can brew it and mix it with your desired type of milk before storing it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
FAQs
Coffee boba is made of just a handful of ingredients: fresh espresso or coffee, cooked tapioca pearls, simple syrup, ice, and milk. The acidic and bold coffee is mellowed out by the creaminess and sweetness of the milk and sweetener, making it one of our favorite drinks.
Though some coffee boba recipes do have tea in them, most do not. They are usually called coffee milk teas, however, because they are made very similarly to traditional milk tea recipes, with the coffee substituting for the traditional tea.
Tools Needed to Make This Recipe
- Measuring Cup
- Saucepan
- Boba Straws (Optional)
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Recipe Card
Coffee Boba
Email FacebookIngredients
- ½ cup boba pearls
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 shots espresso
- Ice
- 1 ½ cup milk dairy, plant, etc.
Instructions
- Cook the boba in a large pot of boiling water, according to the package instructions.
- While the boba cooks: make simple syrup. Boil ¼ cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan on the stove. Whisk the sugar into the water until dissolved. (Note: you can also boil the water in the microwave for 45 seconds - 1 minute, or until boiling before whisking in the sugar).
- Drain the cooked boba. Add it to the simple syrup and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Add large handfuls of ice to two glasses. Pour 1 espresso shot onto each cup of ice. Stir in the boba and your desired amount of simple syrup. Pour in milk to fill to the top. Stir and sweeten with additional simple syrup to taste. Serve immediately!
Notes
- Dairy-Free & Vegan: To make dairy-free and vegan coffee boba, use non-dairy plant milk like oat, almond, soy, or cashew milk.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: Add delightful caramel flavors to the coffee milk tea by using brown sugar syrup. To make it, simply substitute brown sugar for the granulated sugar and follow the recipe directions as listed.
- Espresso Making Options: Make espresso in an espresso machine or with a Moka pot. Alternatively, you can also make concentrated coffee using a French press by using half the usual amount of boiling water with the same amount of coffee grounds. For the most ease, you can also make this boba latte with instant coffee granules.
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