Dirty Chai Latte
Let’s make a dirty chai latte! (Also known as a red-eye chai!) This espresso drink combines coffee and spiced tea in a warm and cozy way that is incredibly delicious. I was a little unsure of this combination, but it is a good one. Made with warm and mildly spicy chai and a bold shot of espresso, it’s the perfect blend of sweetness, spice, and caffeine. It’s popular at coffee shops because it’s so good, and it’s easy enough for you to make at home!
It’s the perfect blend of sweet, spice, and cozy flavors.
And dare I say, better than a PSL! This dirty chai is the ultimate multitasker. Part cozy tea latte, part energizing espresso, and fully delicious.
In an ideal world, you would make homemade chai, which honestly if you are a chai fan and haven’t done it I highly recommend it, it’s SO much better, but it does require a bit more time and effort as it is made with fresh chai spices (cardamom pods, cloves, nutmeg, and sometimes ginger and star anise) and black tea. But for this dirty chai, I kept it simple and used a chai tea bag, and it’s also delicious. It’s…
🧋 Bold and cozy: Warm chai spices with rich espresso are a surprisingly delicious flavor combo. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the two together!
💥 Extra energy boost: We have both black tea and espresso in this one!
🫶 Perfectly balanced: This drink is sweet, spicy, creamy, and strong while also feeling mellow thanks to the milk.
🌿 Easy to customize: It’s easy to make this drink vegan by using your favorite plant-based milk. Add sweetener to taste so it has just the right flavor for you.
☕ Coffee shop vibes at home: Made in minutes with minimal effort, this is an easy drink to make at home.
You’ll want to also try a classic latte, cappuccino, Americano, or iced shaken espresso next time.
Love this drink so much. –Kristen
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to make a dirty chai latte: espresso, chai tea, milk of choice, and a sweetener like sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: To ensure your dirty chai is perfectly balanced, you’ll want to brew your chai strong enough to stand up to the espresso, which is why we are using one or two tea bags and a small amount of water. We also don’t want to over-steep the tea so it turns bitter, so follow the instructions on your tea or tea bags for the perfect steeping time.
- Shortcuts: You can use chai concentrate to skip a step, but that will be sweetened, so take that into account, you may not need as much sweetener.
- Variations: Try adding pumpkin spice syrup to this drink for the ultimate fall drink!
Dirty Chai Latte Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Drink
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make a dirty chai latte at home! This popular drink combines espresso and tea in a warm and cozy way that’s incredibly delicious.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 1–2 Chai tea bags
- sugar to taste (start with 1 teaspoon sugar)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1–2 shots espresso (or 2–3 ounces strong coffee or coffee concentrate)
Instructions
- Brew tea. Pour boiling water over the tea bags in a mug and let steep for 4-5 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
- Meanwhile, steam milk and prepare espresso. (I like to brew the espresso right over the sugar to help it dissolve; otherwise, stir sugar into tea.)
- Pour espresso into a mug and stir to dissolve any sugar.
- Pour steamed milk into the mug and top with a thin layer of foam.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are an estimate and will vary depending on type of milk and how much sugar you use.
- Storage: Best enjoyed immediately. Do not store for later as foam will deflate.
- Ingredient notes: Use your favorite chai tea bags, or you can also use a chai tea concentrate. You can find this in most grocery stores, and it’s how Starbucks makes its chai drinks. The concentrates are typically sweetened, so you may not need extra sugar. Use your favorite milk or dairy-free milk alternative (almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, etc.) for a vegan drink. I tend to use whole milk in my coffee drinks as that’s what we use at home and I like it best, but any milk will work. If you are using a milk alternative, look for the “barista blends” as they are designed to steam better and will give a similar creamy and frothy texture to your drink.
- Special tools: Espresso machine, nespresso, moka pot, or strong coffee maker; handheld milk frother, steam wand, or French press for frothing milk.
- Serve with: Ricotta toast, brown sugar oatmeal, or protein overnight oats.
FAQs
It’s super easy – just ask for a dirty chai latte. Another option is to order a chai latte and add a shot of espresso.
Yes! Both the chai (it’s made with black tea that has caffeine) and espresso have caffeine in them so this drink has caffeine. I have seen some decaf chai concentrates so if you use that and decaf espresso you can make a caffeine-free version.
Yes! You’ll prepare the tea and espresso in the same way, but instead of steaming the milk. Add ice to a glass and pour in milk. Pour tea and espresso over milk and stir.
You don’t need to add “tea” to chai as chai means tea. 🙂
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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Love this drink so much.
So cozy and delicious!
Hi, I’m diabetic. Would it work to substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar? Thank you!
Absolutely, you could use any type of sweetener.
Delicious!