LATTESDirty Chai Latte
The quick answer
A dirty chai latte is a regular chai latte with 1-2 oz of espresso added. Use 4 oz of chai concentrate or brewed chai tea, 1-2 oz of espresso or strong moka pot coffee, and 6 oz of steamed milk. The espresso adds a bold coffee punch that balances the sweetness of the chai spices perfectly.
A dirty chai latte is what happens when a chai latte and an espresso shot meet -- and it's one of the most underrated coffee shop drinks you can make at home.
Adding espresso to chai creates something genuinely different from either drink on its own. The bitter, dark coffee notes cut through the sweet spiced tea and the creamy milk, adding a complexity that neither drink has alone. One shot (1 oz) gives you a subtle coffee presence. Two shots make it clearly coffee-forward with a chai background. Start with one shot and adjust based on your preference.
The order of assembly matters. Add the chai concentrate to the mug first, then pour the hot espresso or moka pot coffee directly over it. The heat from the espresso warms the concentrate and helps the flavors meld. Add frothed milk last. If you mix the espresso and chai before frothing the milk, the spice aroma stays more concentrated and aromatic in the final drink.
Any espresso substitute works here. A moka pot produces a bold enough concentrate to hold its own against the chai spices. AeroPress with a fine grind and 1-minute steep also gives you a punchy, espresso-like shot. Two teaspoons of strong instant coffee in 1-2 oz of hot water is the quick option -- the spices will mask any rough edges of the instant coffee.
An iced dirty chai is just as good as the hot version, maybe better. Combine chai concentrate and cooled espresso over ice, then pour cold milk over it. Stir gently and let the layers settle before drinking. The cold version has a bright, clean spice note that reads differently from the warm, round flavor of the hot dirty chai.
Dial it in before you make it
Match your espresso dose and yield before you pull the shot.
Espresso Ratio Calculator
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Dose (in) | 18 g |
| Ratio | 1:2 |
| Yield (out) | 36 g |
| Yield (fl oz ref.) | 1.2 fl oz |
| Shot time guide | Aim 25–32 seconds |
fl oz reference uses 30 g per fl oz (espresso is denser than water). Dial in grind size to hit your target yield in 25–32 s.
Make it
Makes 1 drink
Ingredients
Steps
We made dirty chais with Oregon Chai concentrate, Tazo concentrate, and homemade brewed chai using three espresso bases. The winning combination was homemade chai concentrate with moka pot coffee -- the brightness of the moka pot cut through the heavier concentrate flavors in a way that machine espresso didn't quite match.
Pro tips
- Start with 1 shot of espresso -- it's easier to add a second than to fix an overpowering coffee flavor.
- Chai concentrate that is already sweetened means you won't need to add extra sugar.
- For an iced dirty chai, let espresso cool slightly before pouring over ice with concentrate and cold milk.
- Oat milk's natural sweetness works especially well in a dirty chai -- it balances the espresso bitterness.
- A moka pot at fine grind produces a bold concentrate that stands up well to chai spices.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dirty chai latte?
A dirty chai latte is a chai latte with one or two shots of espresso added to it. The 'dirty' refers to the espresso making the clean spiced tea latte darker and more caffeinated. It combines the warm spice notes of chai with the bold bitterness of espresso, balanced by steamed milk.
How much caffeine is in a dirty chai latte?
A dirty chai latte has about 90-130 mg of caffeine -- roughly 40-50 mg from the chai tea and 60-80 mg from a single espresso shot. A double-shot dirty chai can have up to 160-180 mg of caffeine. This makes it a good choice if you want more caffeine than a chai latte but less than a double espresso drink.
What is the difference between a dirty chai and a London Fog?
A dirty chai uses spiced black tea concentrate with espresso and steamed milk. A London Fog uses Earl Grey tea (bergamot-flavored black tea) with steamed milk and vanilla syrup -- and no espresso. Both are tea lattes, but the dirty chai is bolder and spicier while the London Fog is floral and smooth.
Can I make a dirty chai latte without an espresso machine?
Yes. A moka pot or AeroPress produces a strong enough concentrate for a dirty chai. Brew 1-2 oz of concentrate using either method and combine it with your chai base. The bold, slightly bitter flavor of moka pot coffee pairs very well with chai spices and actually complements the drink nicely.
How do I make a dirty chai latte less bitter?
Add a second tablespoon of honey or sweetener to balance the bitter espresso. Using 1 shot instead of 2 espresso shots reduces the coffee bitterness. A slightly coarser grind and shorter brew time in the moka pot or AeroPress also reduces bitterness in the coffee concentrate.
