This chai coffee recipe offers a fantastic twist to the classic cup of joe! It’s a wonderful blend of bold coffee bean flavors and warm spices in one soothing cup of comfort. Easy to make and perfect to sip any time of the day!
I have days when I need my caffeine fix, but sometimes I crave something more exciting than just plain coffee. That’s why I adore this chai spice coffee recipe — it’s like boosting a morning brew with a chai tea latte’s delicious, aromatic flavors! This chai coffee would make a perfect fall drink alongside other chai lattes. But with this recipe, you won’t have to wait months to taste it. You can make and enjoy it any time you want. Enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Coffee
- It’s so easy to make.
- This chai coffee is made with simple spices you might already have at home.
- It’s budget-friendly, even if you make a big batch.
- The recipe is customizable, as you can adjust the level of sweetness, make it dairy-free, or top it off in different ways.
Ingredient Notes
Water: Extracts the flavors by brewing the coffee and steeping the spices.
Ground Cinnamon: Adds depth, warmth, and a bit of natural sweetness to the drink.
Ground Cardamom: Imparts a uniquely floral, slightly peppery kick.
Coarsely Ground Coffee: Acts as the drink’s base, giving it a smooth, full-bodied flavor. Use your favorite blend — both light and dark roasts work well.
Ground Ginger: Provides a bright, zesty warmth and spiced aroma to this chai coffee.
Maple Syrup or Honey: Adds a natural sweetness to balance the coffee and spices. You can use any sweetener you prefer — granulated, sugar-free, etc. However, the flavor of maple in particular is my favorite!
Ground Cloves: Helps enhance the flavors of the spices to make the coffee well-balanced.
Ground Nutmeg: Adds a a sweet and nutty complexity.
Milk of Choice: Adds creaminess and foamy goodness to the drink. You can use dairy (like whole milk) or non-dairy milk (like oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or cashew milk) if you prefer.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the coffee’s warmth and overall depth of flavor.
How to Make Chai Coffee
- In a small saucepan, bring water to a gentle simmer. Add cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes to infuse.
- Stir in the ground coffee, turn off the heat, cover, and steep for 4–5 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter into a mug.
- Stir in maple syrup (or honey) and vanilla extract. Warm the milk over medium heat until hot but not boiling, then froth with a whisk or frother.
- Pour the frothed milk over the spiced coffee, stir gently, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Storing and Reheating
Pour any leftover chai coffee into an airtight container, then store it in the refrigerator. It’ll be good to drink for up to 3 days.
You can reheat it either on the stovetop or in a microwave. Stir occasionally as you heat the drink to maintain its flavor.
Expert Tips
- Feel free to customize the amount of spices and sweeteners you add to suit your palate.
- Other ways to create a milky foam for chai coffee include:
- Shaking the warm milk in a jar for 30-60 seconds
- Use a regular blender to blend the warm milk for about 30 seconds
- Pour the warm milk into a French press and pump it until it is frothy.
- Topping suggestions include:
- A grating of fresh nutmeg.
- A dollop of whipped cream.
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Chocolate shavings.
- Caramel or honey drizzle.
- Crushed Biscotti or graham crackers.
- Serve this drink with delicious sweets and treats like:
More Delicious Warm Beverages You Might Love
Chai Coffee
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons coarsely ground coffee
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- ½ cup milk of choice dairy or non-dairy
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
- In a small saucepan, bring the water to a gentle simmer. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir and let simmer for 2 minutes to release the flavors.
- Add the ground coffee directly into the simmering spiced water. Stir, turn off the heat, cover, and then let it steep for 4-5 minutes.
- Strain the brewed coffee through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter into a mug. Stir in the maple syrup (or honey) and vanilla extract.
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Froth with a whisk or handheld frother.
- Pour the frothy milk over the chai-spiced coffee and stir gently. Optionally, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a dollop of whipped cream.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.
