This Dirty Chai Latte is the perfect iced coffee drink for chai lovers – Simple espresso, foamed milk and spicy chai, sweetened with a simple cinnamon syrup! Easy to make dairy-free and sugar-free!
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I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those people who thrives on change, trying new things, and learning new ways of doing things. Sure, I love my morning coffee routine but give me a chance to spice things up a bit and I’m all in! This Dirty Chai Latte is my newest morning coffee obsession and I’m excited to be sharing it with you today!
If you’ve been a reader of mine for awhile you’ll already know how much I LOVE a good cup of tea. This Dirty Chai Latte combines espresso (which, let’s be honest, is life-giving for this busy working mama!) and delicious spicy chai tea for the BEST flavour! Top it off with some creamy foamed milk and you’ll be in coffee shop heaven!
What is a Dirty Chai Latte?
A Dirty Chai Latte is simply a chai latte with a shot of espresso added. It can be made over ice, or hot – your choice!
A Dirty Chai Latte combines the delicious flavours of spice and chai with creamy foamed milk and espresso. It’s a cross between a regular latte and a chai latte that’s perfect for lovers of coffee and tea and anyone looking to add a but more caffeine to a chai latte!
And if you’re dairy-free, eating low carb, or need a decaf option, this Dirty Chai Latte can be made to suit almost any diet.
If you want the full coffee shop experience, make it with my easy homemade simple syrup and foamed whole milk.
If you’re dairy-free, feel free to substitute the milk for your favourite dairy-free barista blend.
If you’re low-carb, keto or sugar free, skip the syrup and sweeten your latte with a few drops of your favourite stevia or other low-calorie sweetener.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, skip the regular espresso and substitute it for your favourite decaf espresso.
Short on time? Use instant espresso powder, use maple syrup to sweeten, and prep the other ingredients the night before!
Ingredients for Dirty Chai Latte:
- water
- sugar
- whole cloves & cinnamon sticks (optional)
- instant espresso powder (or shots of espresso)
- milk
- strong brewed chai tea
- ice (optional, for iced dirty chai latte)
How to make a Dirty Chai Latte
- Start with the simple syrup. You can prepare the simple syrup ahead of time and use it as needed. Add to your tastes. If you’d prefer to skip this step, feel free to sweeten with honey, maple syrup or a few drops of stevia for a sugar-free drink!
- Brew the espresso. Use an espresso machine if you have one, or use a french press, or even instant espresso powder in a pinch.
- Add the flavour. Brew the chai tea nice and strong!
- Froth the milk. Use a milk frother if you have one (on the cold setting), use a hand held frother, or just shake the milk really well in a mason jar.
- Don’t forget the ice. Pour everything over ice, and enjoy! Or for a hot latte, skip this step!
What’s the difference between iced coffee and an iced latte?
Iced coffee is a cold coffee drink made with traditionally brewed coffee made with hot water, then poured over ice with milk (or however you take your coffee). An Iced latte is one or two shots of espresso poured over ice with cold foamed milk.
What kitchen equipment do I need to make an iced latte?
An espresso machine is a helpful tool for making espresso at home, but using instant espresso works just fine in a pinch. A french press is helpful, and you can use a mason jar to foam the milk.
Can I make a decaffeinated iced latte?
Yes! Simply prepare the espresso with decaf espresso.
Looking for more make-at-home coffee shop drinks? Try my Easy London Fog recipe, this Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe, this homemade Matcha Frappuccino, or this Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew recipe.
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I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below, what’s your favourite homemade drink for fall? I’d love to know!
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- Healthy Homemade Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
- Healthy Homemade Iced Tea
Recipe Video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I make this recipe. You can find more delicious recipe videos on my YouTube channel
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Dirty Chai Latte (Iced or Hot)
Recipe: Equipment
- French Press or Espresso Machine
- Electric or hand-held milk frother
Recipe: Ingredients
For the syrup (makes 1/2 cup syrup):
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3-4 whole cloves
- 3-4 whole allspice
For the espresso:
- 60 millilitres hot water (approximately 2 oz)
- 10 grams instant espresso powder
For the foamed milk:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons simple syrup (recipe above) (substitute Maple Syrup or a few drops of Stevia, if desired)
For serving:
- ice cubes
- 1 cup very strongly brewed chai tea
- cinnamon for topping (optional)
Recipe: Instructions
For the simple syrup:
- Add the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice to a pot over medium-high heat and cook until the sugar dissolves.
- Let the mixture sit and cool to room temperature, and remove the whole spices before adding the syrup to a jar or bottle.
For the espresso:
- Dissolve the instant espresso powder in the hot water.
- Alternatively, make your own espresso if you have an espresso machine, or use a french press to make espresso with ground espresso beans without a machine.
For the foamed milk:
- Add the milk to a mason jar and shake very well to froth. Froth with a hand-held milk frother.
- If you'd like a warm latte, heat the milk in a pot and froth with a hand-held frother.
- Alternatively, froth the cold milk in an electric milk frother (if you have one) on the cold setting (or the hot setting if you'd like a warm latte), or simply shake the mason jar very well until everything is combined and a small layer of foam appears on the top of the milk.
To serve:
- Pour the espresso (over ice, if desired) into each glass or mug. Add 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup to each glass or mug.
- Pour 1 cup of the milk over the espresso into each mug or glass.
- Top each latte with half a cup of the strong chai tea, sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the foam, and serve.
Recipe: Notes
Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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