How do I make a Wehi Latte at home?

Pull 2 shots of espresso into a 12 oz cup, stir in 2 oz of white mocha syrup, top with 8 oz of steamed almond milk dusted with cinnamon, and crown with real whipped cream. Recipe and pantry substitutions from Ani, the daughter who runs Sip N' Pretty in Hilo.

What is in a Wehi Latte?

White mocha, cinnamon, almond milk, and whipped cream. Named for Wehi, the founder of Wehi Boutique and the mother of Sip N' Pretty's owner, Ani. Sold at the cafe in Hilo for $10.50 (12 oz) or $12.50 (16 oz).

Can I make a Wehi Latte without an espresso machine?

Yes. Substitute 1/3 cup of strong brewed coffee or moka-pot coffee for the two shots. The drink is forgiving, the cinnamon and white mocha carry it.

Issue No. 01 · Make Her at Home

How to make the Wehi.

a letter from Ani

Ani at the Sip N' Pretty counter, holding a Wehi Latte in a clear cup, fresh plumeria leis at the bar.

Reel · @sipnprettycafecoming

Watch Ani make the Wehi from the bar. Reel embed coming soon.

The Wehi is my mother’s drink.

She’s warm, gently spiced, soft enough to drink slowly. I made the first one for her the morning the new boutique opened in Hilo. The espresso machine had been delivered the day before. The boxes weren’t unpacked. She stood in a half-finished room and asked, do you think we can do this? I told her yes by handing her this cup.

You can make her at home with five things you probably already have, plus one syrup you’ll want to find.

— Ani

Mise en place

What you’ll need.

i.2 shots espresso — or 1/3 cup strong brewed coffee
ii.2 oz white mocha syrup
iii.8 oz almond milk, steamed
iv.a generous pinch of cinnamon — Saigon, if you have it
v.fresh whipped cream — the real kind, please
vi.ice, if you want her iced

Method

How she comes together.

01.
Pull two shots of espresso into a 12 oz cup.
02.
Add the white mocha syrup. Stir until fully dissolved.
03.
Steam or warm the almond milk to about 150°F. Pour over the espresso, dusting cinnamon as it goes in.
04.
Crown with fresh whipped cream. One more dust of cinnamon on top.
05.
Drink slowly. She is not in a hurry.

For Cooks Off-Island

Pantry translation.

If you tasted her in Hilo and you’re trying to find her again in your kitchen on the mainland, here’s how to get close.

White mocha syrup
1.5 tbsp white chocolate chips melted into 1 tbsp hot water. Whisk until smooth, then use as a syrup. Torani and Monin white-chocolate syrup will both work straight from the bottle.
Saigon cinnamon
Any cinnamon you trust, but use more of it. McCormick’s ground works in a pinch. The Wehi wants presence, not a whisper.
Whipped cream
Don’t use the can. Whip 1/4 cup heavy cream with 1 tsp powdered sugar and a half-drop of vanilla. Soft peaks only, never stiff.
Almond milk
Barista blend if you can find it (Califia, Pacific). Standard unsweetened works, the white mocha already brings the sugar.

She drinks it like…

“in the morning,
before the boutique opens,
in the chair by the window.”

— Wehi

Shop Hawaiian

For the ones who want her to taste like home.

The closest you’ll get to the Hilo cup is sourcing from the same islands we do. These are the producers we trust.

Hawaiian Cinnamon

For the dust on top.

Sourced from Big Island producers. We are vetting partners now, this slot will link to the one we pour from.

Partner coming soon

Hāmākua Coffee

For the espresso shots.

The Hāmākua Coast grows some of the best coffee on this island. Use a medium-dark roast pulled fresh for the Wehi.

Partner coming soon

Wehi Boutique

For the mug she drinks from.

The pink scalloped mug, ceramic, available in the Hilo boutique.

wehisboutique.com

Next in the series

The Ani.

Golden, iced, finished with honey lilikoʻi cold foam. The daughter’s drink. Coming next.

See the full menu Order it at the bar