Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso Review: A Filipino Flavor Surprise in Auburn, Alabama
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
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About Starbucks Coffee Company
Website: starbucks.com
Address: 1121 S College St, Auburn, AL 36832
Phone Number: (334) 728-7765
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Auburn’s Purple Surprise: The Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso Review
Written by Nancy Fae for His, Hers & the Good Life
Introduction
There’s something about summer travel that invites tiny, unexpected delights — the kind that slip into your day without warning and leave a mark. During my stay in Auburn, Alabama, I wandered into the Starbucks next to my hotel, not expecting much more than a quick caffeine fix. I don’t frequent Starbucks often, so their menu always feels like a maze of seasonal inventions and secret favorites.
But that morning, something familiar — something purple — caught my eye.
There it was: the Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso, featuring ube, the beloved purple yam from the Philippines, my birth country. I hadn’t expected to find a piece of home tucked inside a Starbucks menu in Auburn, of all places. And just like that, my quiet morning turned into a nostalgic little celebration.
About Ube
Ube is a vibrant purple yam native to the Philippines, known for its naturally sweet, nutty, almost vanilla-like flavor. It’s a staple in Filipino desserts, lending its signature color and comforting taste to cakes, ice creams, pastries, and the iconic ube halaya. In recent years, ube has become a global culinary darling — admired for its flavor, adored for its color, and embraced by chefs and home bakers alike.
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His Take (Jeff)
I wasn’t with Nancy Fae when she visited Starbucks that morning, but she told me all about it later. I smiled and said I wasn’t surprised she found something purple and Filipino to fall in love with.
I didn’t get to try the drink — ube is usually reserved for Nancy Fae and Ashley — but I'm always game for Filipino food, especially the savory dishes. Give me adobo, pancit, or lumpia, and I'm in heaven. When it comes to ube, though, I step aside and let the girls have their moment.
Her Take (Nancy Fae)
I ordered it in a venti, naturally — go big or go home, especially when ube is involved. The first sip was a rush of coconut cream, espresso, and that unmistakable ube sweetness. It tasted like childhood treats, like holidays in the Philippines or California, like the rare moments I find ube desserts here in Alabama.
It was delicious. It was nostalgic. It was mine.
Ashley and I always make time for ube when we’re in California — it’s everywhere there, from ice cream shops to bakeries. But in Alabama, it’s a rare find. So discovering it in Auburn felt like a small miracle.
And then, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. When I returned to order another, the barista told me it was a limited-time offering. Gone. Just my luck. I won’t pretend. I was genuinely sad. It felt like losing a tiny portal to home.
Photo Credit: UrbanFlissLife Photo Credit: FriendlyWell Photo Credit: UrbanFlissLife Photo Credit: UrbanFlissLife Photo Credit: UrbanFlissLife
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Closing in the His, Hers & the Good Life Style
His (Jeff)
Ube may be Nancy Fae’s and Ashley’s domain, but I love seeing how it connects them to their roots. Filipino food always brings warmth and flavor to our table, and hearing Nancy Fae describe that drink made me wish I’d been there to see her smile.
Her (Nancy Fae)
I’m still mourning the loss of that drink. It was a fleeting joy, a purple surprise in the middle of Auburn. But I’m grateful I caught it while it existed — even if only once.
The Good Life
The Good Life is built on moments like this: unexpected delights, nostalgic flavors, and the joy of sharing stories that make us feel connected — to home, to each other, and to the simple pleasures that color our days. This drink may have been temporary, but the memory is staying right here with us.
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Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
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