June 23, 2016

Live Klean: The Perfect Dirty Hippy

When we were road tripping back from Telluride Mountainfilm a few weeks ago, we stopped into Cimarron Coffee Roasters and Books in the small town of Ridgway, Colorado. We ordered a double espresso and a dirty chai (chai with a shot of espresso), pulled the tops off our Insulated Wide Klean Kanteens and handed them over to be filled with goodness. We paid the barista and waited patiently as our beverages were crafted behind the counter.

After a couple minutes of sleepy anticipation, they called out “one double espresso and one dirty hippy!” A bit befuddled, we inquired if the “dirty hippy” at the counter was in fact ours. Sure enough a dirty chai with soy milk just so happens to be a “dirty hippy” in Ridgway.

In honor of that fun Bring Your Own experience, today we bring you a recipe for the perfect homemade “dirty hippy.” #BringYourOwn

The Perfect Dirty Hippy

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups non-dairy milk of your choice
  • 2 crushed peppercorns
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 smashed green cardamon pods
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 tbsp. organic cane sugar or agave
  • ½ a thumb of fresh ginger
  • 2 tbsp. loose black tea leaves (Assam, Darjeeling or Ceylon)
  • 4 shots espresso of your choice

Step 1 - Make the masala chai.

Heat water and milk over medium heat in a sauce pan until small bubbles appear around the rim of the milk. Add tea, sugar and all the spices. Stir frequently and make sure the spoon contacts the bottom of the pot to prevent scalding the milk. When the milk begins to boil, back off the heat until it has stopped. Continue to stir frequently. Bring up to a boil once more and back off again while stirring. Strain out into your favorite insulated Klean Kanteen.

Step 2 - Make the espresso.

Brew the espresso in whatever espresso/coffee making device you have on hand. If you don’t have an espresso machine, brew the strongest coffee you possibly can and substitute that.

Step 3 - Combine masala chai and espresso.

Pour one shot of espresso into every cup of chai that you make.

Step 4 - Enjoy using your favorite Klean Kanteen!