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Dirty Chai Latte Recipe: Adding Espresso to Masala Chai

★★★★★ (4.9 from 56 Reviews)
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Can't decide between coffee and tea? Have both. The "Dirty Chai" is a coffee shop favorite that originated accidentally when a barista poured a shot of espresso into a chai latte by mistake.

The result is surprisingly harmonious. The rich, earthy notes of the espresso ground the floral spices of the chai (cardamom, ginger, cloves), while the caffeine kick is effectively doubled. It is the ultimate morning power-up.

A layered glass mug showing espresso mixing into milky chai tea.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Servings1 Latte
CaffeineHigh

Ingredients

The Coffee Layer
  • 1 Shot Espresso (Use a Nespresso, Moka Pot, or very strong AeroPress)

The Chai Layer
  • 200ml Water
  • 2 tsp Loose Leaf Masala Chai (or 2 strong tea bags)
  • 100ml Milk (Whole milk or Oat milk froth best)
  • 1-2 tsp Honey or Brown Sugar (Spices need sweetness to pop)
Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 160
Fat: 5g
Sugar: 18g
Protein: 6g

Instructions

1
Brew the Chai Base: Simmer the loose leaf chai (or tea bags) in the water for 5-10 minutes. You want a strong, dark decoction. Strain the leaves out. Stir in your sweetener while hot.
2
Pull the Shot: While the tea steeps, prepare your espresso shot. If you don't have an espresso machine, make 60ml of very strong coffee using a Moka Pot.
3
Froth the Milk: Heat your milk to 60°C and froth until creamy.
4
The Pour: Pour the hot chai into your mug (filling it about halfway). Pour the espresso shot directly into the center of the chai. Top with the frothed milk and a dusting of cinnamon.

Expert Tip: "Filthy" Chai?

Want even more caffeine? A standard "Dirty Chai" has one shot of espresso. A "Filthy Chai" has two shots. Be warned: the coffee flavor will start to overpower the delicate cardamom notes if you add too much espresso.