Summer recipes

Boba Coffee (Bubble Coffee)

Boba Coffee (Bubble Coffee)

This Homemade boba coffee or perhaps better referred to as bubble coffee is an ideal invigorating chilled beverage, exquisite creamy coffee served over delectable chewy tapioca pearls. Skip the line and also save some cash by crafting this drink at home in less than 15 minutes.

Instant tapioca pearls

I began preparing my own bubble tea and coffee at home since the onset of the lockdown, and it was no longer financially sensible to travel miles for just one. Honestly, it wasn’t long before I started yearning for a cup of the bubble beverage, leading me to Amazon for premade instant tapioca pearls.

Joyous days, I could create my own boba coffee and tea at home in under 15 minutes. At any given time, I maintain a stash of cold brew tea or cold brew coffee and simple syrup in my refrigerator, simplifying the recipe to recreate as easy as ABC.

This homemade bubble coffee (boba coffee) recipe is

  • Ideal for using leftover coffee
  • Vegetarian and free from gluten
  • Cost-effective, particularly if prepared at home.
  • Not excessively sweet yet invigorating
  • Fantastic for hosting; you can certainly impress your guests with this refreshing beverage

What are tapioca pearls

Tapioca pearls or balls, commonly referred to as boba, are small chewy edible spheres made from tapioca starch. Composed of basic ingredients—tapioca, black food coloring, sugar, and water—they are fashioned to the size of small marbles with a texture akin to a gummy bear, albeit slightly softer resembling jelly.

Traditionally, tapioca pearls are paired with milk teas or flavored teas, known as bubble tea or boba tea, originally from Taiwan but now found in many regions globally.

You can prepare your own tapioca pearls at home if desired, though it can be time-consuming, which is why I consistently purchase the ready-made variety from Amazon.

What you’ll require to create boba coffee at home

Cooked tapioca pearls: homemade or store-bought

Brewed coffee: this could be instant coffee, cold brew, espresso, or cooled freshly brewed coffee

Milk: any preferred type of milk; both dairy and plant-based options work well here, including whole milk, heavy cream, semi-skimmed, half and half, coffee creamer, condensed milk, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and more.

Vanilla syrup: this is optional

Honey: for sweetening the cooked tapioca pearls, brown sugar syrup may serve as a substitute

Ice: this is optional if you plan to serve the coffee warm or hot.

How to prepare boba coffee (Boba coffee)

Cook the boba pearls: place tapioca pearls in a large pot, add adequate water, and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the pearls turn translucent and float above the water. Alternatively, refer to the packet instructions for cooking the pearls.

Drain the cooked boba in a colander and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process (this prevents the pearls from clumping together) and transfer them to a bowl. Add a bit of honey and stir to combine, then proceed to create the drink.

Assemble the beverage: in a coffee glass, add about 3 tablespoons of sweetened tapioca pearls to the bottom or as desired. Add ice, pour in the coffee, add sugar syrup if preferred, and top with milk. Stir to blend and serve.

Variations

Aside from coffee, include cooked boba in any of the following drinks for enjoyable variations

Coffee tea beverage

Vietnamese iced boba coffee

Brown sugar boba tea

Brown sugar boba milk

Dalgona coffee with boba

How to preserve leftover cooked boba

While the directions on most instant tapioca pearls indicate storing leftovers for a few days in the refrigerator, it’s advisable to prepare only what you need at a time. If you have excess, keep them in the fridge for no longer than 24 hours.

Watch how to create it