This Dirty Chai Latte is a delicious and cozy drink that combines the comforting flavors of chai tea concentrate with the sweetness of steamed milk and a shot of espresso.
Dirty chai is a delicious beverage that combines the subtle sweetness of chai concentrate with the kick of caffeine from freshly brewed espresso. To make this creamy latte at home, you’ll need to brew some espresso, mix it with your favorite chai concentrate, and then add the steamed milk of your choice.
Not only will making this drink at home save you money, but it will also save you from making multiple trips to the coffee shop.
To try some different chai latte flavors, try this Rose Chai Latte or this Matcha Chai Latte.
Try this butterfly pea latte, matcha turmeric latte, oat milk matcha latte, Serbian caramel milk, apple kompot, or oat milk hot chocolate for other hot beverages.
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Why You’ll Love this Chai Latte
- Easy to make: You can easily make this tasty latte at home with only 3 ingredients and a few minutes.
- Customizable: This dirty chai is easily customizable. Starting with the coffee beans, type of milk or chai concentrate, and the ratio of espresso vs chai concentrate.
- Best of both worlds: With an espresso base, hot-frothed milk, and warm spices, this drink has a concentrated tea body and a delightful aroma.
What is a Dirty Chai Latte
A Dirty Chai Latte is a chai latte with a shot of espresso and can be served hot or iced. You may come across various names for this drink, such as Java chai, Red Eye chai, or chai charger.
Ingredients
- Chai concentrate: I used Tazo classic chai latte concentrate for this recipe.
- Espresso: You will need a shot of freshly brewed espresso. You don’t need a fancy coffee machine. A simple Nespresso Vertuo machine works just fine. Use mild coffee beans because if you use a strong espresso, you might need to add additional sweetener.
- Steamed milk: For this recipe, I used whole milk. Feel free to use other milk of your choice, but note that it might alter the taste of the latte.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Make an iced dirty chai latte: If you prefer the iced drink, prepare the iced dirty chai. To prepare this version, skip heating the chai, cool down the espresso slightly before assembling the latte, and add lots of ice.
- Make it dairy-free: To make it dairy-free, use oat milk or any other milk you choose.
- Add a sweetener: I prefer my lattes without any additional sweetener or with the least amount possible. But if you prefer a sweeter option, add a brown sugar simple syrup, maple syrup, or any other sweetener you prefer.
- Make it decaf: To make it decaf, use decaf coffee beans and decaf chai latte concentrate.
- Brew your chai tea: If you are not a fan of chai concentrate, then you can brew your chai tea using tea bags.
- Use different chai tea concentrates: Tazo has several different chai concentrate options, so pick your favorite. Also, you can use any other brand you prefer.
How to Froth the Milk
- Using the milk frother: The easiest, hassle-free method is using the milk frother. I prefer this option because it’s the fastest and you can froth milk cold or hot.
- Using a whisk: Another option would be to warm up the milk on the stove, but ensure it does not boil, and then use a whisk to froth the milk until you get fine bubbles and foam.
How to Make a Dirty Chai Latte
To speed up the preparation time, gather all ingredients and any equipment and tools you will use.
Step 1: Brew the espresso and set aside.
Step 2: Warm the chai in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and set aside.
Step 3: Add the warm chai to a mug.
Step 4: Pour the espresso into a mug with chai.
Step 5: Froth the milk using frother and pour the milk into a mug.
Step 6: Add optional garnishes, like cinnamon sugar, grated nutmeg, or star anis,e for a beautiful presentation.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use quality ingredients: This latte requires only 3 main ingredients, so it’s essential to use high-quality ingredients.
- Make fresh espresso: I recommend you prepare the fresh espresso shot for this latte for the best flavor.
- Gather all ingredients and equipment: To speed up the preparation time, gather all the ingredients and equipment you will use to make this latte.
How to Serve
This dirty chai tea latte can be served hot or cold. Serve it in the afternoon on a cold winter day, or enjoy it with walnut cookies, gurabije – lard cookies, walnut strudel, or walnut bund cake.
Recipe FAQs
The main difference is that dirty chai has a shot of espresso added, whereas chai latte has only chai concentrate and steamed milk.
The delicious and flavorful dirty chai latte combines the warmth and spice of chai with bold espresso and steamed milk.
A Dirty Chai combines chai tea and espresso, giving the tea a darker color. The name “dirty” comes from the addition of coffee.
Chai tea contains caffeine, like all black teas. Typically, it has about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, but the exact amount can vary depending on the blend.
Related Latte Recipes
Looking for other latte recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Dirty Chai Latte or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below!
Recipe
Dirty Chai Latte
Equipment
- Espresso machine (Nespresso vertuo machine or any espresso machine you have)
- milk frother
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chai concentrate
- 1 shot espresso
- ½ cup whole milk
Instructions
- Make the espresso: Brew the espresso and set it aside.
- Heat the chai: Heat the chai in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
- Froth the milk: Froth the milk using milk frother.
- Assemble the drink: Add the warmed chai and espresso to a mug. Top with steamed milk.
- Optional garnishes: Add garnishes like cinnamon sugar, grated nutmeg, or star anise for a beautiful presentation.
Notes
- Gather all ingredients and equipment: To speed up the preparation time, gather all the ingredients and equipment you will use to make this latte.
- Add a sweetener: This recipe does not require additional sweetener, but if you prefer your lattes sweet, add a sweetener.
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