While many of you know, coffee is something very close to my soul and my heart. While I do start and end most of my days with a classic latte or cup of coffee, there are many days in which I want a drink with a little bit of a twist. About two years ago, I introduced myself to something that some of you may know as chai. Now I am sad to say that my first chai was actually a horrible experience for me. Looking back, it was probably because I made the chai latte myself and at that time, I had no idea what I was doing. I used some powdered chai mix and was very unsure about the ratio of water and milk I was supposed to include. Basically, I created a “drink” that was overly sweet and somewhat chalky. After one sip, I quickly poured it down the drain and began my journey to find a delicious chai latte that I had heard so much about. While this journey began in San Diego County, I moved for school and actually ended up finding my top 3 favorite chai lattes in Orange County. While there are many more café’s for me to explore, I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a few of my favorite places to grab a good chai latte!
Chapman Coffee House
Somewhat recently, this coffee shop came under new ownership. They did some remodeling on the interior and I swear to you that this is one of the cutest places to spend your morning enjoying your coffee and a good book. Before I discovered their Oregon Chai Latte, I always ordered a regular latte or sometimes their Nutella Latte. However, after finding out about the chai, there has been no turning back. I’ve been trying to figure out what makes these chai latte’s so special and I have yet to put my finger on it. One of my favorite parts of this latte is at the end when I have all the foam left over. Its extra delish because it has chai flavoring strung through it, which leaves you wanting more!
Chapman Coffee House
Somewhat recently, this coffee shop came under new ownership. They did some remodeling on the interior and I swear to you that this is one of the cutest places to spend your morning enjoying your coffee and a good book. Before I discovered their Oregon Chai Latte, I always ordered a regular latte or sometimes their Nutella Latte. However, after finding out about the chai, there has been no turning back. I’ve been trying to figure out what makes these chai latte’s so special and I have yet to put my finger on it. One of my favorite parts of this latte is at the end when I have all the foam left over. Its extra delish because it has chai flavoring strung through it, which leaves you wanting more!
The Aussie Bean
Now if you want some damn good coffee or espresso, you need to come here. Aussie Bean is currently a mobile coffee cart that serves all your coffee needs in very convenient locations! They are most well known for the Flat White and their Cold Brew coffee but I frequent them for none other than their Dirty Chai Lattes. I first tried just the regular chai latte but quickly found out that the flavor is boosted insanely when you add two shots of espresso to it! While they do not currently have a brick and mortar location, I have heard rumors of them trying to settle down somewhere in downtown Orange.
Milk and Honey
If you head southwest a little bit, you will eventually run into one of the coolest coffee and tea houses in Costa Mesa. They are located at The Camp along with some other awesome restaurants and little stores. While I have frequented Milk and Honey for their regular spiced chai lattes, I had never tried a dirty chai…until yesterday. Let me just tell you something—MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED. They use such a quality chai and they know how to perfectly steam the milk to create one of the smoothest drinks I have ever had. The only way to make it better was by adding not just one, but TWO creamy shots of espresso. This combination creates an energizing blend of flavors that is sure to send your taste buds on an adventure.