Protein Coffee

This protein coffee is your surefire way to add protein to your morning beverage! Perfect as a hot or cold recipe, you can even enjoy it as a coffee protein shake or smoothie. 

Two of my most consumed beverages are coffee and protein shakes.

On a typical day, I’d start my morning with coffee, have a protein shake after my workout, then have a coffee in the afternoon.

As someone who loves both and drinks them daily, it was time for me to combine them and create protein coffee.

What is protein coffee?

Protein coffee, as the name suggests, is a hot coffee that has added protein in it. You can buy it as a pre-made mix that you combine with water or milk.

While convenient, they contain artificial ingredients, fillers, and calories. Luckily, you can make a homemade version in under a minute. 

This homemade recipe is pretty darn impressive. It keeps you more satisfied and energized, thanks to the combination of caffeine and protein.

• Perfect hot or cold. You can enjoy it hot or cold, or even as a coffee protein shake. 
• Packed with protein. If you add the full scoop of protein, this recipe packs in 25 grams of protein.
• Low calorie and low carb. It’s healthy and low in calories, with just 67 calories per serving. If you are watching your carbs, there is just 1 gram per serving (like our keto coffee).

Oh, and if you want to pair it with a high protein breakfast, we love it with some protein waffles or protein donuts!

Ingredients needed

If you’ve made any of my other protein powder recipes, you probably have everything in your pantry right now! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Protein powder– Whey protein powder, brown rice protein powder, or casein protein powder.  
• Instant coffee– Also known as freeze-dried coffee. You can use decaffeinated coffee if you want this to be caffeine free.
• Sugar of choice– White, brown, coconut, or sugar free alternatives, like splenda or stevia. 
• Boiling water– To make the coffee ‘syrup’ before adding the milk. 
• Milk of choice– I like using unsweetened almond milk, but any milk will work. 

How to add protein powder to coffee

You have two methods to make this: hot or cold. Both methods take seconds to prep, and you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying and caffeinated beverage. Here’s how to make it:

Hot option

Start by adding the protein powder, instant coffee, and sugar in a mug or cup. Add two tablespoons of boiling water and whisk until combined.

Either add more boiling water or milk and enjoy. 

Iced option

If you prefer your coffee cold or want to add extra protein, you can enjoy this beverage as a coffee protein shake or coffee protein smoothie.

To make a shake, add enough boiling water to dissolve the coffee and sugar.

Next, add the protein powder and milk or water, along with a cup of ice, and blend until smooth and frothy.

What protein mixes well with coffee?

Not all protein powder is created equal, and some are better than others. After tons of trials and errors, the three best protein powders to use are:

• Whey protein powder
• Brown rice protein powder
• Pea protein powder

Tips to make the best recipe

• Use a good quality instant coffee because not all brands are the same. Alternatively, use homemade cold brew.
• For a more intense coffee hit, you can use a shot of espresso instead.
• Whisk everything together vigorously so the protein powder doesn’t clump.
• Instead of adding sweetener to the coffee, use coffee-flavored protein powder.

Storage info

To store: Add one part coffee, one part sweetener (or sugar), and four parts protein powder in a glass jar or bottle and mix well.

To make: When ready to enjoy, add two tablespoons of the mix into a glass, then the boiling water, then the milk (or extra water), and enjoy. 

More coffee recipes to try

• Keto coffee
• Salted caramel cream cold brew
• Cold brew
• Nitro cold brew
• Frappuccino

Frequently asked questions