Meet the best of both worlds, bold espresso meets cozy chai spices in this warming dirty chai latte. Perfect for crisp mornings or afternoon pick-me-ups, this espresso chai latte recipe brings together the comfort of chai tea with the rich intensity of Everyday People Coffee & Tea espresso.
If you love both coffee and chai, the dirty chai is your perfect drink. The "dirty" part? That's the shot of espresso added to traditional chai, creating a caffeinated powerhouse with layers of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and bold coffee flavor.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes | Servings: 1 latte
Why You'll Love This Dirty Chai Recipe
- Double the caffeine boost from espresso and chai tea
- Warming spices perfect for fall and winter mornings
- Customizable sweetness and milk options
- Costs under $3 vs. $6-7 at coffee shops
- Works hot or iced year-round
Ingredients for Dirty Chai Latte
- 1 shot (1 oz) espresso or 2 oz strong brewed coffee
- ½ cup chai concentrate or 1 chai tea bag brewed strong (about ½ cup)
- ½ cup milk or plant-based milk (oat or almond work beautifully)
- 1–2 tsp honey or brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- Optional toppings: cinnamon dusting, whipped cream, or vanilla syrup drizzle
How to Make a Dirty Chai Latte
Step 1: Brew Your Chai Base
If using a chai tea bag, steep in ½ cup hot water for 5 minutes to develop strong, spiced flavor. For chai concentrate, measure ½ cup and set aside. The stronger your chai, the better it balances with the espresso.
Step 2: Pull Your Espresso Shot
Brew 1 oz of espresso using your espresso machine. Lelit or Breville users should aim for a classic 1:2 ratio (18g coffee to 36g liquid). If you don't have an espresso machine, brew 2 oz of very strong coffee using a Moka pot or Aeropress.
Step 3: Combine Chai and Espresso
Pour the hot chai into your favorite mug. Add the fresh espresso shot directly to the chai. The espresso "dirties" the chai, creating beautiful swirls. Sweeten with honey or brown sugar while the mixture is hot, stirring to dissolve completely.
Step 4: Steam or Froth Your Milk
Heat your milk until steaming hot (about 150-160°F). If you have a steam wand, create microfoam by positioning the wand just below the milk surface. No steam wand? Heat milk in a saucepan or microwave, then froth using a handheld frother or whisk vigorously.
Step 5: Pour and Finish
Pour the steamed milk over your espresso-chai mixture, holding back foam with a spoon. Top with the remaining foam. Dust with ground cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg for a café-style presentation.
Tips for the Perfect Dirty Chai
Use Quality Espresso: The espresso is half the drink, so quality matters. We recommend using Everyday People Coffee Bali Blue for its natural chocolate notes that complement chai spices, or our African Sunrise Espresso for bright, fruity complexity.
Choose Your Chai Wisely: Chai concentrate brands like Tazo or Oregon Chai offer bold spice profiles. For tea bags, steep longer than usual (5-7 minutes) to ensure the spices aren't overwhelmed by the espresso.
Best Milk for Frothing: Whole milk creates the creamiest foam, but oat milk (especially barista blends) froths beautifully and adds natural sweetness. Almond milk works but creates thinner foam.
Adjust Sweetness: Chai is often pre-sweetened, so taste before adding honey or sugar. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more if needed. The spices and milk both add natural sweetness.
Make it Extra Spicy: Add a pinch of ground cardamom, ginger, or black pepper to amplify the chai spice profile.
Variations and Substitutions
Iced Dirty Chai Latte: Use cold chai concentrate or cold-brewed chai tea. Pull your espresso shot over ice to cool it quickly, or let it cool to room temperature. Combine cold chai, espresso, and milk over ice. Perfect for warmer months!
Dirty Chai Latte with Vanilla: Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup for a sweeter, dessert-like version.
Extra Dirty Chai: Want more caffeine? Add a double shot of espresso (2 oz) instead of a single shot. This intensifies the coffee flavor and gives you an extra energy boost.
Sugar-Free Dirty Chai: Skip the sweetener or use monk fruit sweetener or stevia. Many chai concentrates are already sweetened, so you may not need additional sweetener.
Vegan Dirty Chai: Use oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Swap honey for maple syrup or agave nectar.
Dirty Matcha Chai: Replace espresso with a shot of matcha for a caffeine boost without coffee flavor. Creates a beautiful green-spiced latte.
What Makes a Chai "Dirty"?
The term "dirty chai" comes from adding espresso to traditional masala chai tea. The espresso "dirties" the pure chai, creating a hybrid drink that coffee and tea lovers both adore. It originated in cafés as a way to give chai drinkers an extra caffeine kick without losing the spiced, warming flavors they love.
Traditional chai contains black tea, but the caffeine content is much lower than espresso. A dirty chai combines both, offering roughly 100-150mg of caffeine per serving—equivalent to a strong cup of coffee with the added complexity of chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and black pepper.
Best Coffee for Dirty Chai
Medium to Dark Roasts: These complement chai spices without overpowering them. Our Bali Blue offers chocolate and molasses notes that enhance cinnamon and cardamom.
Single-Origin Espresso: Try our African Sunrise Espresso for bright, fruity notes that add complexity to traditional chai spices.
Avoid Light Roasts: Very light roasts can taste acidic against sweet, spiced chai. Stick with medium or darker roasts for balanced flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between chai latte and dirty chai latte?
A chai latte is spiced chai tea with steamed milk. A dirty chai latte adds a shot of espresso to the chai latte, combining coffee and tea for extra caffeine and bolder flavor. The espresso "dirties" the chai, hence the name.
How much caffeine is in a dirty chai?
A typical dirty chai contains 100-150mg of caffeine—about 60-80mg from the espresso shot and 40-70mg from the chai tea (black tea base). This is comparable to a strong cup of coffee but with the added complexity of tea tannins and chai spices.
Can I make dirty chai without an espresso machine?
Yes! Use a Moka pot, Aeropress, or very strong French press coffee as your espresso substitute. Brew 2 oz of concentrated coffee. While it won't have true espresso crema, it provides the bold coffee flavor needed to stand up to chai spices.
What's the best chai concentrate for dirty chai?
Tazo Chai Concentrate and Oregon Chai are popular options with strong spice profiles. For tea bags, look for brands like Tazo Chai or Stash Chai Spice tea. Steep longer than package directions (5-7 minutes) for maximum spice intensity that won't be overwhelmed by espresso.
Can I make dirty chai ahead of time?
You can brew chai in advance and store it refrigerated for up to 3 days. However, espresso should be pulled fresh for best flavor. Assemble the full dirty chai right before drinking for optimal taste and temperature. For iced dirty chai, you can prep cold chai concentrate and cold brew espresso in advance.
