How to Make Coffee Milk Tea: A Step-by-Step Guide To Hong Kong Style Milk Tea

Coffee milk tea, also known as boba coffee, is a popular drink that originated in Hong Kong but has now become popular around the world. It’s a delicious combination of coffee, milk, and tea with chewy tapioca pearls (also known as boba) added for extra texture.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to make Hong Kong-style coffee milk tea with boba at home. Whether you’re a seasoned bubble tea connoisseur or trying it for the first time, our recipe guide will help you create a delicious and unique flavor experience. We will also show you how to personalize your drink to your taste, as well as give ideas for alternative drinks to try that you might like..

Ingredients for coffee milk tea

Before we dive into the steps for making coffee milk tea, let’s take a look at the essential ingredients required for this delicious drink. While there are many variations of coffee milk tea, the basic recipe typically includes the following:

Tea bags – The type of tea used can vary based on personal preference, but black tea or green tea are popular choices. For an authentic Hong Kong-style coffee milk tea, try using Yuanyang tea, which is a mix of coffee and black tea.

Coffee – You can use any type of coffee for coffee milk tea, but strong coffee, such as espresso or cold brew coffee, works best. If you don’t have an espresso machine, instant coffee or brewed coffee can also be used.

Milk – Whole milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk can all be used depending on personal taste and dietary restrictions.

Sweetener – Simple syrup, brown sugar syrup, palm sugar syrup, maple syrup, or coconut sugar can be used to sweeten the drink. White sugar or brown sugar can also be used.

Tapioca pearls – Chewy tapioca pearls, also known as boba pearls, are a popular addition to coffee milk tea. They can be found at Asian grocery stores or online.

Water – You’ll need hot water to brew the tea and boiling water to cook the tapioca pearls.

Ice cubes – For a refreshing iced coffee milk tea, ice cubes are necessary.

As you can see, the ingredients for coffee milk tea are quite simple and easy to find. Next, we’ll go over the steps for making this delicious drink.

Adding boba or coffee jelly to your coffee milk tea

If you’re a fan of bubble tea, you’ll definitely want to add boba pearls to your coffee milk tea. We discussed boba pearls above. Boba pearls are small, chewy tapioca balls that add a fun texture to your drink. You can find them at most Asian grocery stores, or you can order them online.

To cook boba pearls, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the pearls. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the pearls are soft and chewy. Then, drain and rinse the pearls with cold water.

For coffee fanatics, you can also add coffee jelly to your coffee milk tea. To make coffee jelly, dissolve 2 packets of unflavored gelatin in 1 cup of hot coffee. Add 1 cup of cold water and 1 tablespoon of white sugar. Pour the mixture into a square baking dish and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Once the jelly is firm, cut it into small cubes and add to your coffee milk tea.

Making the perfect cup of coffee milk tea

Now that you know the ingredients needed, it’s time to make the perfect cup of coffee milk tea.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 tea bag (black tea is recommended)
• 1 cup water
• 2 shots of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong coffee
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp simple syrup
• 1/4 cup cooked boba pearls
• Ice cubes

Follow these steps to make coffee milk tea:

1. Brew the tea: Heat 1 cup of water until it’s boiling, then add a black tea bag and let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and set the tea aside to cool to room temperature.
2. Make the espresso or strong coffee: Brew 2 shots of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong coffee using your preferred method (espresso machine, French press, or Moka pot). Set the coffee aside to cool to room temperature.
3. Cook the boba pearls: Follow the cooking process on the boba pearl package. Generally, cook the tapioca pearls in boiling water for 5-7 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water.
4. Combine the tea, coffee, milk, and simple syrup: In a tall glass, combine the cooled tea, coffee, milk, and simple syrup. Stir until well combined.
5. Add the boba pearls and ice: Add the cooked boba pearls to the glass, then fill the glass with ice cubes.
6. Serve and enjoy: Use a wide straw to sip and chew on the boba pearls as you enjoy your delicious coffee milk tea.

Tips for customizing your coffee milk tea

While the above recipe is a general guideline for making coffee milk tea, you can easily customize it to your personal taste. Here are some tips for creating your perfect cup of coffee milk tea:

Type of milk: You can use non-dairy milk, such as almond milk or coconut milk, instead of whole milk for a vegan-friendly option.

Type of coffee: Use your favorite type of coffee, whether it’s cold brew or instant coffee, to create the perfect flavor profile.

Amount of sugar: Adjust the amount of simple syrup or substitute it with maple syrup or coconut sugar for a healthier option.

Type of boba pearls: Try different types of boba pearls, such as coffee

Alternatives to coffee milk tea

Here are some alternative drinks that offer similar flavors to coffee milk tea. It can be a great way to switch up your drink routine or cater to personal taste preferences.

Dalgona coffee: Dalgona coffee is a Korean whipped coffee drink that has a similar flavor to coffee milk tea. It is made by whipping equal parts of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water together until it becomes light and fluffy. The whipped coffee is then served over cold or hot milk.

Yuanyang tea: Yuanyang tea is a popular drink in Hong Kong that combines both tea and coffee. It is made by mixing equal parts of coffee and black tea leaves together and then adding milk and sugar to taste.

Southeast Asian coffee: Southeast Asian coffee, also known as Vietnamese coffee, is a strong and bold coffee that is sweetened with condensed milk. It is made by brewing a mix of coffee and chicory using a French press or a Vietnamese coffee filter.

Taro latte: Taro latte is a creamy and sweet drink that has a similar flavor to taro milk tea. It is made by combining taro powder with hot water or milk and sweetener to taste.

Coconut milk tea: Coconut milk tea is a creamy and tropical drink that can be made with different types of tea leaves. It is made by combining coconut milk, tea, and sweetener to create a delicious and refreshing drink.

We hope this guide has inspired you to try making coffee milk tea at home. If you’re looking for more tea recipes, be sure to check out our blog for other delicious drinks to try. And if you enjoyed this recipe guide, please consider sharing it on social media or with a friend. Happy sipping!

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below and we’ll be sure to answer!