Easy Iced Homemade Boba Coffee Recipe

Calling all coffee lovers! This easy recipe requires a few simple ingredients to make your own boba coffee. This popular drink will become your new favorite!

A glass of iced bubble tea with black tapioca pearls, a transparent straw, and a black straw, set on a wooden cutting board with scattered coffee beans nearby.

A coffee lover looking to try something new should taste boba coffee, a cold beverage that originated in South Korea and has become popular all over the world.

Boba coffee is made by mixing coffee and tapioca pearls, which are usually used in bubble tea.

The result is a refreshing and unique drink, which is often sold at boba stores or made at home and requires just a few ingredients.

It is a delicious milky coffee, served both hot and cold, sweetened with white sugar or with a milk alternative,

Coffee drinkers of all ages are sure to like this drink!

What are Boba Drinks

Bubble tea or boba drinks are one of the most popular beverages across the world.

The boba drink is a beverage that can be made with caffeinated or non-caffeinated base liquid such as black tea or cold brew coffee with chewy tapioca balls.

This recipe starts with creating your tapioca balls and brewing your coffee then adding it all together.

The beverage can also be sweetened by adding coconut sugar as desired or homemade brown sugar syrup.

A close-up shot of a glass filled with milk tea and tapioca pearls, with text "SARAHSCOOP.COM" visible at the bottom.

Boba Pearls 101

Boba pearls, also called tapioca pearls or boba balls, are the main ingredient in the popular Taiwanese beverage, bubble tea.

Made from tapioca starch extracted from the cassava root, these small spheres are typically added to the bottom of a bubble tea glass before it is filled with a flavored tea or coffee base.

These little spheres are the base of any boba drink and come in different colors and flavors.

Chewy tapioca pearls will add a taste that is both flavorful and enjoyable

The tapioca pearls need to be cooked in boiling water until translucent and chewy.

They can also be adjusted according to taste, texture, sweetness level, or size.

Any coffee drinker or fan of iced drinks will enjoy the addition of chewiness.

A glass of iced bubble tea with a straw sits on a wooden tray beside a bowl of tapioca pearls.

Boba Coffee Recipe Ingredients

Tapioca pearls: ½ cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls (or according to package instructions)
Water: 2 cups of cold water (for cooking boba)
Coffee: 1 cup brewed coffee (hot or cold)
Milk: ½ cup milk of your choice (whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.)
Syrup: ¼ cup simple syrup (or to taste)
Ice Cubes: Cup ice for your drink!
Wide straw(Optional)
Toppings: Whipped cream, caramel drizzle, or flavored syrups (optional)

A glass of iced bubble tea with tapioca pearls on a wooden table. A small bowl of additional tapioca pearls is in the background.

How to Make Boba Coffee

If this is your first time making this you can buy an instant boba drink pack or cooked tapioca pearls already ready for you.

Many online stores sell things as well that can help you get started.

Cook the Boba: Bring 2 cups of water (the amount depends on the package instructions) to a boil over medium heat to high heat in a small saucepan.
Add the tapioca pearls: Boil for 5-7 minutes (again, check package instructions). The Boba cooks so that it can create a flavorful, soft texture. (Be sure to use these right away, when sitting out at room temperature they will start to harden)
Stir occasionally: Make sure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
Steep the Boba: After 5-7 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the Boba steep for 5 minutes covered.
Strain the Boba: Strain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.
Create your drink: Place some ice cubes in a tall glass and add the cooked boba pearls. Pour in the chilled coffee and your favorite choice of milk.
Add Sweetener: Sweeten to taste with simple syrup or your sweetener of choice.
Toppings: Try adding whipped cream, caramel, or flavored syrup, or maple syrup to the top of the boba on your iced coffee! You can even add some caramel to the bottom of the glass to enhance the flavor.

While we used tapioca pearls in this recipe, there are many other boba topping options to explore, like popping boba or flavored jellies!

Two glasses of bubble tea with tapioca pearls, one in the foreground with visible layers of milk tea and another blurred in the background on a wooden surface.

Possible Variations

This boba coffee recipe can be customized to your liking!

Whether you prefer instant coffee or hot coffee you can let this recipe be your own making.

Coffee: The coffee you choose to add can be to your liking. You can use a French press or Keurig to make a large pot of your coffee. You can even create this recipe into an iced latte.
Milk: Plant-based milk, whole milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and more can be used. Your milk of choice can enhance the flavor of your recipe even more. Heavy cream can be added to increase the richness and texture of your drink.
Tapioca pearls: At local Boba shops or your local Asian grocery store you can find instant tapioca pearl options already packaged and ready to go. You can even make your own!
Dalgona coffee boba: With most of the same ingredients and some algona coffee whip you can create this delicious boba latte.

A close-up of a glass of milk tea with visible layers of milk and tea, featuring black tapioca pearls at the bottom.

Tips to Remember

While you can find these drinks at your local coffee shops or bubble tea shops there's no better way to enjoy this drink than making it your own.

Here are some iced bubble coffee tips for you:

For a richer coffee flavor, use a strong coffee brew or cold brew concentrate. You can even try this with tea to create Boba tea.
Cook the boba pearls as directed, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a little hot water before use.
No boba pearls? Try substituting with coffee jelly cubes for a similar chewy texture.
Experiment with different milk alternatives like almond milk, oat milk, or even coconut milk. This is a great way to get different flavor profiles.
Want a lighter option? Use skim milk or a lower-fat milk alternative.
Want to make it feel extra decadent? Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a coffee boba milkshake.