This is a Korean winter café drink recipe called Korean Sweet Potato Latte, which is called Goguma Latte (고구마라떼) on the menu. The soft and sweet sweet potato latte warms both the body and heart during the cold winter, making it a beloved drink among Koreans.
I once worked at a Korean café in Korea, and most cafés there use sweet potato powder to make this drink. However, in this blog post, I’ll show you a healthier version using real sweet potatoes, so you can easily make it at home.
Table of Contents
What Is Korean Sweet Potato Latte (Goguma Latte)?
The Meaning of “Goguma” in Korean
“Goguma” 고구마 means sweet potato in Korean. So, Goguma Latte simply means Sweet Potato Latte in Korean. In fact, the sweet potatoes eaten in Korea are different from those commonly found in Western countries like Europe. In Korea, there are two main types of sweet potatoes: bam-goguma, which has yellow flesh and a dry, chestnut-like texture, and hobak-goguma, which has more moisture and is very sweet.
Compared to Western sweet potatoes, Korean sweet potatoes are much sweeter. Western varieties are often orange or sometimes purple, larger in size, and have a wetter, mushier texture.
After moving from Korea to Belgium, I used the orange variety of sweet potatoes commonly sold in Europe. Because they are less sweet than Korean ones, I added more sugar or honey than I usually would in Korea.
Why Koreans Love Sweet Potato Latte in Winter
In Korea, sweet potatoes are one of the most popular winter snacks. After being harvested in the fall, sweet potatoes become sweeter when stored for a while, making them the tastiest during winter.
That’s why many Korean cafés start offering sweet potato drinks and desserts such as Goguma Latte and sweet potato cakes in the winter season. For Koreans, sweet potatoes represent warmth and sweetness — a perfect ingredient for cozy winter treats.
Drinking a warm sweet potato latte on a cold day not only warms your body but also your hands as you hold the mug. It feels more filling than a regular latte, giving you a comforting and cozy feeling from the inside out.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Latte
Main Ingredients
Sweet potato, milk
Additional Ingredients
To make the flavor richer, heavy cream and sugar or honey are added. You can skip the heavy cream if you don’t have it, but adding it makes the latte much creamier and more flavorful.
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great source of healthy carbohydrates. They are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and potassium, and packed with antioxidants like beta-carotene, which help prevent cancer and slow down aging.
How to Make Korean Sweet Potato Latte (Step-by-Step Recipe)
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes Perfectly in the Microwave
Peel the sweet potato and cut it into small cubes. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and add a small amount of water. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap (poke a few holes on top), then microwave for about 5 minutes. The moisture from the sweet potato and the small amount of water you added will create steam that perfectly steams the sweet potato.
Making the Sweet and Creamy Milk Mixture
Pour milk, heavy cream, and sugar or honey into a cup and mix well. Microwave for 1 to 1½ minutes until it becomes warm.
Blending the Sweet Potato and Milk Mixture
Put the cooked sweet potato into a blender and pour in the warm milk mixture. Blend until smooth and creamy. Since both the sweet potato and milk mixture are hot, make sure to close the blender lid securely before blending.
Serving
Pour the sweet potato latte into a cup and sprinkle cinnamon powder on top. Most Korean cafés don’t add cinnamon powder to Goguma Latte, so you can skip it if you prefer a more traditional version.
Optional: Making Milk Foam Like in Korean Cafes
If you want to make milk foam like the one in the photo, use an electric milk frother to whip warm milk and spoon it over the latte.
Vegan Sweet Potato Latte
- Vegan Milk: You can use oat milk or almond milk instead of regular milk. However, keep in mind that the pure flavor of sweet potato will slightly mix with the aroma of oat or almond milk.
- Coconut Cream: Although it’s not as rich as heavy cream, coconut cream adds a light creaminess, making the sweet potato latte smooth and soft.
More Korean Cafe Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Korean Strawberry Latte
This is a Korean strawberry latte recipe made with strawberry syrup (strawberry chung) that went viral on TikTok. The drink has real strawberry chunks, giving it a sweet and refreshing flavor. It’s a popular seasonal menu item at Korean cafés, usually available during the strawberry season from winter to spring.
Korean Strawberry Bingsu
If you love Korean food, you’ll probably enjoy bingsu, too. This is a sweet and creamy strawberry shaved ice dessert made with milk ice, strawberries, and a scoop of ice cream on top. I prepared an easy version you can make at home — simple yet delicious!
Korean Flat Croissant, Crungji
In Korea, there’s a dish called nurungji, made by pressing and toasting rice. Inspired by that, Crungji is made by pressing croissants flat and baking the
m until crisp. It’s then topped with syrup and ice cream for a sweet and crunchy Korean café-style dessert. Try this Crungji recipe for a fun and easy dessert at home!
FAQs about Sweet Potato Latte
What is in a sweet potato latte?
A Korean sweet potato latte (Goguma Latte) is made from steamed sweet potatoes blended with milk, cream, and a bit of sugar or honey. Unlike coffee lattes, it doesn’t contain espresso — it’s a smooth, creamy, and naturally sweet drink that highlights the rich flavor of sweet potatoes.
What is a sweet potato latte in Korean?
In Korean, sweet potato latte is called 고구마라떼 (Goguma Latte) — “고구마” means sweet potato, and “라떼” means latte. It’s a popular non-coffee drink often found in Korean cafés, especially during the winter season.
Is sweet potato good with milk?
Yes. Sweet potatoes go very well with milk. The milk makes it smoother to drink and enhances the naturally sweet and nutty flavor of the sweet potato.
What does sweet potato latte taste like?
It tastes sweet, creamy, and nutty. It’s sweeter than a pumpkin latte and often doesn’t include cinnamon, giving it a pure, comforting flavor.
What is the famous Korean drink in winter?
Traditional Korean winter drinks include yujacha (citron tea) made with yuja syrup, saenggangcha (ginger tea), and daechucha (jujube tea). However, these days most people mainly drink coffee — especially Americano or hot café lattes. Interestingly, iced Americanos are still very popular even in winter!
Why is the Korean café culture so popular?
In Korea, cafés are more than just places to drink coffee. They’re cozy spaces to chat with friends and enjoy unique desserts that each café is known for. While people in Europe often enjoy outdoor activities like biking, in Korea it’s common to say “Shall we go to a café?” because cafés play such an important role in everyday social life.
Korean Cafe Sweet Potato Latte: Goguma Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g peeled sweet potato
- 180 ml milk
- 30 ml heavy cream
- 1 tbsp sugar or honey (you can add more or less depending on your sweet potato sweetness)
- 1 pinch cinnamon powder (optional, normally Korean cafes don't add this)
Equipment
- 1 Knife & cutting board
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Blender
- 1 cup
Method
- Peel the sweet potato and cut it into small pieces.
- Place the sweet potato pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 3 tbsp of water, cover with a lid or plastic wrap (poke a few holes), and microwave for 5 minutes until soft.
- In a cup, combine milk, heavy cream, and sugar (or honey). Microwave for 1 minute to warm it up.
- Transfer the cooked sweet potato and the warm milk mix into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the sweet potato latte into a cup and sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon powder on top.
- If you want milk foam like in the photo, use an electric milk frother to whip warm milk and spoon it over the latte.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
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