How Choosing the Right Chai Can Lead to Coffee Shop Growth

At joe, we strive to help small businesses thrive through tools, technology and connecting shop owners with industry experts. From our data gathered, we see that warmer drinks are trending across the coffee community.

Being intentional around menu development presents opportunities for shop owners to differentiate from competition, as well as introduce new items to customers with the help of joe's automated loyalty marketing. All in the name of growth!

So we talked with chai and coffee expert Aleczondra Selzler, owner of Mandala Chai to learn about what coffee shop owners should consider when choosing a chai for their menu.

How and why did you create Mandala Chai?

I created Mandala a few years after stepping into the world of Coffee- after being a barista of four years in 2015, I noticed nearly every shop carried the exact same product because there were hardly any options.

I decided to make my own. Cooking and formulating recipes is something I love and grew up with, so creating a new chai recipe came easy and natural for me. After just one week I brought my new recipe to my peers and they seriously encouraged me to sell it!

How can a good chai differentiate a shop from another?

You can have great coffee, but when every other item on the menu is the same as every other shop in your surrounding area… it makes you blend in.

When you offer other products that match the quality of your coffee and service, such as a quality chai or tea line- THAT is when you begin to stand out to your customers and newbies! Who are now going to be repeat customers btw. ;)

What flavors and ingredients make a quality chai?

To us, the most important ingredients you can use are the whole spices. Cheap chai brands use a lot of sugar as a filler for flavor, even using artificial tea flavor as an ingredient. Wild, right?

We use several different spices selected from farms across the globe. Our favorites are Cardamom, Star Anise, Black Peppercorn and Clove. Using things like fresh cut ginger and orange rind make a HUGE difference in the quality of a chai as well.

What's the benefit of using a concentrate?

The ease and quality of using a concentrate is a huge reason why most shops prefer a concentrate over a loose leaf or powdered chai. A fresh concentrate has to be brewed with real spices and tea and can be made in seconds.

A loose leaf chai latte can take up to 5 minutes per order, and a powdered chai can make consistency difficult. Using fresh chai guarantees the most flavorful latte you can make.

Creative Recipes to Try

Vanilla Pumpkin Chai - For the shop who likes sweeter drinks

• 1/2 vanilla, 1/2 pumpkin, Chai, Milk (steamed or iced)

Maple Orange Chai - For the shop who likes things straight up

• A touch of Maple syrup, Fresh orange rind, Chai, Milk (steamed or iced)

Vanilla Chai Soda - For the shop who loves to take risks

• 1/2 vanilla syrup, Chai concentrate, Sparkling water, Orange rind, Ice, Topped with cream or oat milk, Plus a few drops of bitters