Dirty Chai Latte
If you’ve wondered how to make a Dirty Chai Latte at home, this easy recipe is no-fail and completely delicious. It’s a perfectly spiced espresso drink that’s delightfully creamy with frothed steamed milk!
The Best Homemade Dirty Chai Latte Recipe
Because our daughters like chai drinks so much, we always have some chai concentrate in the fridge. They like to make iced chai drinks, while I mostly prefer a hot Dirty Chai Latte. If you’re already a fan of Starbucks dirty chai, I know you’re going to like this Starbucks copycat recipe. The espresso drink is perfectly spiced and delightfully creamy with frothed steamed milk – plus it’s so easy to make at home!
Why You’ll Love This Dirty Chai
- Cozy & comforting. Served hot, a dirty chai latte is so very comforting, with warmly spiced flavor and a creamy texture.
- Delicious – and FUN! This is no ho-hum drink. A beautifully executed chai latte is not only delicious, but also just plain fun!
- Easy to make at home. I completely enjoy the process of making my own coffee drinks at home, and this homemade chai drink feels especially splurge-y…yet it’s so simple to make. Plus, you can enjoy one whenever you want, even in your pajamas!
What is a Dirty Chai?
Also called a red eye chai or chai charger, a dirty chai latte is simply a warmly spiced tea combined with espresso and frothy steamed milk. The espresso is what makes a chai latte “dirty”.
Note: This recipe is not the traditional way for making chai. A traditional masala chai is made by steeping the black tea and spices directly in the milk and then sweetening it. Instead, I’ve made this copycat of the Starbucks drink that uses a sweetened chai tea concentrate that is mixed with steamed milk. This way, we can keep a bottle of chai concentrate in the fridge and enjoy it in both iced and hot drinks.
Ingredients
What is in a dirty chai? Here’s what you’ll need – just 3 ingredients. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.
- Chai concentrate – Use my homemade chai concentrate for the best Starbucks copycat experience, or pick up some store-bought concentrate. Many people use the Tazo brand chai concentrate – just know that it does not have the same depth of flavor as my homemade recipe.
- Espresso – Use your favorite method to make the espresso – with an espresso machine, Nespresso machine, or a stovetop moka pot. Or just make a strong coffee.
- Milk – I like to use whole milk for a slightly richer latte, but Starbucks uses 2% milk. We also really like to use Chobani “extra creamy” oat milk! (Avoid using skim milk, as it doesn’t create a good froth.)
How to Make a Dirty Chai Latte at Home
This method is a super easy way to make a dirty chai latte, and it involves just three easy steps. Find more detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Add the chai concentrate. Add the chai concentrate to a microwave safe mug and heat it for 1 minute.
- Add the espresso.
- Froth the milk. Create the froth, according to your preferred method. (See my tips below.) Then pour the frothed milk over the top of the drink.
How to Froth Milk for a Dirty Chai Latte
Here are a few of my best tips on how to get the perfect foam on a dirty chai latte:
- Use the right milk. The best milk for a chai latte is 2% or whole milk. Starbucks uses 2%. When I’m making my own dirty chai latte at home, I use whole milk for a little richer flavor and texture. (Know that you can ask Starbucks to use whole milk instead of 2%.) Our daughters prefer to use Chobani “extra creamy” oat milk, which is also very good.
- Heat the milk to steaming. You want the milk to be good and heated before you froth it, about 155°F if you have an instant read kitchen thermometer. Or simply heat the milk until it’s hot to the touch with some small bubbles starting to form around the outside (not simmering). You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop. Or if you have an electric milk frother, it will heat the milk for you while it froths.
- If you have an electric milk frother, simply add the milk to the frother cup and turn it on to the hot latte setting, which will both heat and froth the milk.
- If you have a wand frother, heat the milk in a microwave-safe container until steaming, about 1-2 minutes. Froth using the wand for 30 seconds, or until frothy.
- If you don’t have a frother, heat the milk in a microwave-safe container until steaming. Then transfer the milk to a high-speed blender and blend until frothy (about 30 seconds). Or place the milk in a French press and rapidly pump for about 1 minute, or until frothy.
More Coffee Drinks:
I’ve been enjoying a dirty chai latte a little more often this past year, after I learned that this was one of my cousin Joan’s favorite things. Joan was just 48 years old when she died from ovarian cancer in 2022. She was very special to our family, we grew up together. This dirty chai latte is for Joan. ❤️
Dirty Chai Latte
Ingredients
- ½ cup chai concentrate
- 2-4 ounces espresso (Depending on what you like for flavor and caffeine content. I set our Nespresso machine for a 4-ounce cup and use a pod with stronger intensity.)
- ¾ cup whole milk (Starbucks uses 2% milk. We also like to use Chobani "extra creamy" oat milk.)
Instructions
- Add the chai concentrate to a microwave-safe mug and heat for 1 minute.
- Then add the hot espresso.
- Heat and froth the milk according to your preferred method. (See Notes below.) Then pour it over the top of the drink. Garnish with a sprinkle of chai spice, if desired.
Notes
- Heat the milk to steaming. You want the milk to be good and heated before you froth it, about 155°F if you have an instant read kitchen thermometer. Or simply heat the milk until it’s hot to the touch with some small bubbles starting to form around the outside (not simmering). You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop. Or if you have an electric milk frother, it will heat the milk for you while it froths.
- If you have an electric milk frother, simply add the milk to the frother cup and turn it on to the hot latte setting, which will both warm and froth the milk.
- If you have a wand frother, heat the milk in a microwave-safe container until steaming, about 1-2 minutes. Froth using the wand for 30 seconds, or until frothy.
- If you don’t have a frother, heat the milk in a microwave-safe container until steaming. Then transfer the milk to a high-speed blender and blend until frothy (about 30 seconds). Or place the milk in a French press and rapidly pump for about 1 minute, or until frothy.
I join you in a hot cup of dirty chai as we remember Joan.
Cheers to Joan. xo