The Chai Trials: Searching coffee shops for the superior chai latte

Whether it’s a sweltering July afternoon by the pool or a snowy February morning, an iced chai latte will always be my go-to drink.

Despite its seasonal spiced flavor, chai is a year-round treat. To me, a chai latte brings a sweeter and more refreshing taste to my mornings rather than a bitter, flavorless iced coffee.

By now I’ve perfected the ratio of milk to Trader Joe’s Chai concentrate, which I enjoy at the start of each morning. My love for these lattes prompted me to journey through different chains and local coffee shops to hunt for a chai latte that dethrones Trader Joe’s.

Starbucks

Of course, Starbucks isn’t an unusual choice but sometimes the popular coffee shop can satisfy my need for a quick pick-me-up drink, so I thought it could be a good starting point for my test.

After the first sip, while delicious, it was far too sweet. Its creamy and sugary taste left me wanting more, but it wasn’t what I’d expected for a simple pick-me-up. 

I’d expected a lighter drink with less of a straight-sugar taste. A Starbucks chai any bigger than a Tall would most definitely leave customers with a stomach ache. 

This drink was tasty, but compared to all other chai lattes I tried, it’s not something I would want for a light, daily drink.

Hattie’s Fine Coffee

The next coffee shop on my list was Hattie’s — a small, local coffee shop located in Corinth Square. Its cozy atmosphere with soft chairs and dimmed lighting made me feel welcome as soon as I walked in. 

But despite my love for the shop itself, the drink left much to be desired. When I received my chai latte, I was met with a transparent drink with cinnamon sprinkled on top. After the first cold sip, the drink met me with a stronger, more Christmas-y flavor.

While I enjoyed its strong taste, this chai had a melted, watered-down aspect, which I didn’t enjoy. If it had more of the smooth and creamy taste that the Starbucks one did, It’d rank much higher on my list. 

Summer Moon Coffee

The final coffee shop I scouted out to find the perfect chai was Summer Moon. I consider Summer Moon to be a hidden gem. With its odd location placed in a small strip mall at 95th st. and Nall, I was immediately surprised by the fun and modern vibes I felt when I stepped inside. 

When I placed my order for their classic chai latte, I was asked if I wanted a winter or summer moon latte, and how much “Moon Milk”— a homemade specially flavored creamer added to all of their drinks — I wanted in my drink. I learned quickly that this coffee shop was unique to any others in its special menu and ingredients.

 As I took the first sip of the chai latte, I was astonished. The smooth consistency, strong flavor, and overall quality of this drink were exactly what I’d been looking for. The chai was flavorful, but the part that really made this drink incredible was its special ingredients. Summer Moon added their own twist to the chai latte by adding in their “Moon Milk” which enhanced the latte’s richness.

It had just the right amount of sweetness and it had a smooth and delicious touch of their vanilla “Moon Milk”. Because of the quality of this chai latte, I decided to end my trials here. I believe that Summer Moon’s chai latte takes first place compared to all other chai lattes in my area.