This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
Here’s how to make a Dirty Chai Latte: this espresso drink has the best warm-spiced flavor and frothy foam top. As two home barista experts, this is one of our favorite coffee drinks to whip up (or order).
What’s one of our favorite coffee drinks for a splurge? A Dirty Chai Latte! Adding a shot of espresso to masala chai gives it a jolt of caffeine. Even better, the bitterness of coffee is just right for rounding out the subtle creamy sweetness.
Usually Alex and I order black coffee at coffee shops, but every now and then we’ll go crazy and order a dirty chai latte. Here’s our spin on this coffee house special—it’s just sweet enough, and spiced gently with a special blend of chai spices!
What’s a dirty chai latte?
A chai latte takes traditional masala chai, a milky spiced tea from India, and combines it with frothy steamed milk of a cafe latte. The “dirty” version of it adds a shot of espresso. The story goes that the dirty chai latte was accidentally invented in England in the 1990’s, when a barista making a chai latte for an American added a shot of espresso by mistake. He loved it, and kept ordering it everywhere he traveled.
Other names for a dirty chai latte you might see in other coffee shops? Terms you might hear for this drink around the world are Java chai, red eye chai, or chai charger.
How to make a dirty chai latte: basic steps
Making a dirty chai latte involves three basic steps (or skip to the recipe below). Here’s the main outline of you’ll need to do to make this tea latte:
- Make the espresso. Use your favorite method! Use an espresso maker or simply make strong coffee (we used our Aeropress).
- Make the masala chai. Next you’ll make the masala chai, or spiced milk tea. Our method takes only a few minutes using a homemade spice blend.
- Froth the milk. The last step is frothing the milk! See below for tips.
Notes on the spice blend
There are a few misconceptions about chai, so before we go any further:
- The word chai translates to “tea” in Hindi, so saying chai tea is technically saying “tea tea.” The correct term for the Indian tea blend is masala chai, where the word masala refers to a blend of spices used in cooking. Just like the word curry, a Westernized reduction of a complex blend of Indian spices, the American concept of chai can oversimplify and appropriate a rich Indian cultural tradition.
- Masala chai spices can include many different ingredients based on the cook, just like curry powder. Our chai spice mix uses common masala chai spices, but keep in mind there are many more used regionally in Indian blends.
- This recipe uses ground spices to make it quick and easy, including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, and fennel seed. Many traditional Indian recipes use whole spices, other use spices ground in a mortar and pestle.
How to froth milk for a dirty chai latte
The most important part of a dirty chai latte: frothing the milk! If it’s your first time frothing, we recommend reading How to Froth Milk first. Here are a few tips on how to get the perfect foam on a dirty chai latte:
- The best milk for a chai latte is 2% or whole milk. Don’t use skim milk, as it doesn’t foam enough.
- Heat the milk to 150°F (scalding). The exact temperature is important to get the right frothy foam, so use a food thermometer if you have one. Or, simply heat the milk until it’s hot to the touch with some small bubbles starting to form on the outside, but it’s not yet simmering.
- Use a French press, hand frother, or whisk. A French press works great; you can also use a hand frother or vigorously whisk the milk. For the French press, pump 100 times or 1 minute for the best creamy, frothy foam.
Variations: vegan and iced
Our favorite way to make a vegan dirty chai latte is with oat milk. It froths up with a beautiful foam, almost like a dairy milk! It also has a nice creamy neutral flavor. While the foam isn’t quite as thick as dairy milk, it’s still quite good. Go to this vegan chai latte recipe, then add 4 ounces of espresso.
Want an iced dirty chai latte? Try this iced chai latte recipe and add 4 ounces of espresso (works with dairy or non-dairy milk).
Serving your dirty chai latte
It’s nice to serve this dirty chai latte in a clear glass so you can see the lovely separation of the foam, but a mug works too. We like to add a sprinkle of chai spices as a finishing touch.
*Want to make dirty chai lattes throughout the week? Make a big batch of the spiced tea and refrigerate. When you’re craving a latte, warm up ¾ cup of the tea, add espresso and froth the ½ cup milk.
Dietary notes
This dirty chai latte recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, go to Vegan Chai Latte.
Frequently asked questions
The flavor of a dirty chai latte is complex and layered. You’ll experience the warmth of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, balanced by the sweetness of milk and the richness of espresso.
A dirty chai latte typically contains around 140-200 mg of caffeine. This amount comes from two sources:
Black tea: A chai latte typically contains black tea, which can have anywhere from 14-70 mg of caffeine per bag.
Espresso: A single shot of espresso usually has around 64 mg of caffeine.
Definitely! You can customize your dirty chai latte to suit your taste preferences. You can adjust the amount of espresso, use different types of milk, add extra spices, or experiment with sweeteners like honey syrup or maple syrup. You can even try iced or blended versions for a refreshing twist.
Dirty Chai Latte
Here’s how to make a Dirty Chai Latte at home! This espresso drink has the best warm-spiced flavor and frothy foam top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 large or 2 small 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Homemade Chai Spices
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag black tea (or 1 teaspoon loose leaf black tea in a tea strainer)
- 4 ounces espresso or strong coffee, made using your favorite method
- ½ cup fresh 2% milk (or whole milk)*
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (or simple syrup)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium high heat, whisk together chai spices, water and tea bag and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and allow it to rest for 1 minute.
- Meanwhile, make the espresso in an espresso maker (or the Aeropress). Add the espresso to one large or two small mugs.
- After the 1 minute rest, strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer** into the mug(s).
- Rinse the saucepan. Add the milk and maple syrup. Heat the milk to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (measure using a thermometer): this is hot with some small bubbles forming around the outside, but not simmering. The exact temperature is helpful for getting the perfect foam (if you don’t have a thermometer you can approximate).
- Use hand frother, whisk, or French press to foam the milk. (The French press is a favorite method: Add the scalding milk to the French press and pump vigorously until frothy, about 100 times for 2% milk or approximately 1 minute; use 50 times for whole milk.) Rest the foam for about 30 seconds, which allows it to set. Go to How to Froth Milk if it’s your first time frothing.
- Pour the milk and foam evenly between the mug(s). Sprinkle with additional chai spices and serve.
Notes
*Fresh milk is best for getting a nice frothy foam. You may find that a container of milk that has been open for several days will no longer froth.
For vegan, make our Vegan Chai Latte using oat milk and add 4 ounces espresso.
For iced, make our iced chai latte and add 4 ounces espresso (with dairy or non-dairy milk).
**You can skip straining if desired: the spices will settle to the bottom of the drink.
More coffee drinks
Here are some of our favorite espresso drinks and coffee drinks:
- The Americano is a popular coffee drink that smooths the bitterness of espresso with hot water.
- Rich and chocolaty, a mocha has just the right topping of fluffy milk foam.
- The cappuccino, flat white, and latte are creamy with just the right touch of foamed milk and bitter espresso.
- This iced latte is creamy, icy and refreshing.
- Our cold brew coffee recipe is easy to make in just a few minutes of hands on time.
Fresh milk… as opposed to old milk? sour milk? Who isn’t using fresh milk?
See notes: *Fresh milk is best for getting a nice frothy foam. You may find that a container of milk that has been open for several days will no longer froth.
My brother loved it!
10/10. For the chai spice I used fresh ground cardamom, fresh ground nutmeg, and fresh ground black pepper. Made the best dirty chai of my life! Tastes like authentic Indian chai and something you would order at a fancy coffee shop.
I was in a rush this morning, and found your site when I was looking for a quick, dirty chai latte. I made the chai mix (but I omitted the pepper and fennel). I just wanted the flavors, so I heated up some milk, added it to my mug, froth to with the chai mix, added coffee to taste. OMG, it was amazing! I ended up making mini mason jars filled with a chai mix for my son’s teacher and all the aids in his room! I added instant coffee packets and a jar of blue agave syrup (all I had) in the basket. They said it all smelled amazing too!! I also sent you site to her in an email for credit and inspiration!
Awesome, so glad you enjoyed!
You read a full blog while in a rush?
But did you use “fresh” milk? or did you just go with the old stale stuff?
Came across your recipe this morning as we didn’t have enough coffee for two cups of espresso, but we did have masala chai- the drinks turned out beautifully – (use my milk frother daily) I am fairly new to coffee and never drink out at the shops so I appreciate the detailed information you included in your post. Love learning new things. Cheers!
So glad you enjoyed!
I didn’t have much time, so I decided to make the recipe with 1 black chai tea bag instead of using 1 black tea bag plus the Homemade Chai Spices. It came out so delicious even this way! But I will definitely try your version soon, because I think the chai flavor could be more intensive with the Homemade Chai Spices. I like the combination of chai and espresso. Thank you so much for the recipe!
You’re welcome!
Hi! The spice mix is awesome but my latte came out watery! Is there anything I can do less of?
Hi! You can use 1/2 milk for the first step rather than all water if you prefer.
I just made this and it is so delicious. Better than any Chai tea I have purchased at the specialty drink stores! I’m so glad I found this recipe! The home made chai spices is just so perfect in this recipe!
This is my new favorite drink!
Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Quick question could u make this ahead of time for an iced or cold version and just froth the milk when your ready to drink?
Yes! We also have a iced chai latte recipe you could make and add cold coffee and milk to: https://www.acouplecooks.com/iced-chai-latte/