This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclaimer for details.
This creamy hot or iced protein coffee is super easy to make, completely customizable, and can be easily made vegan and dairy free! Use store-bought protein milk or use this recipe to make your own homemade protein shake using protein powder. With about 11+ grams of protein per cup, this coffee recipe is a great way to start your day.
Emily’s Recipe Notes:
- Protein Powder Option: if you don’t have a store bought protein milk or shake, no worries! This recipe can be made with protein powder and a regular milk of choice.
- Customizable: add more ice or use less milk to your liking to create the perfect protein coffee.
- Make it a Hot Drink or an Iced Drink: whichever version you like, this recipe will help you make it!
- Easy and Fast: this protein coffee recipe comes together in under 5 minutes.
Why We Love This Easy Protein Coffee: I love that this can be a protein packed breakfast. Each cup has about 10-11 grams of protein, so it will keep you full all morning! Depending on the type of milk you use, each cup could have up to 15 grams of protein.
What is Protein Coffee?
Protein coffee, or sometimes called Proffee, is a great way to get extra protein in before the first meal of the day. Protein coffee isn’t necessarily a new thing, but it’s definitely picked up popularity thanks to some viral moments on TikTok and other social media platforms.
Typically, I’m not super hungry in the mornings, but I do love my morning coffee every day.
If you work out or are just looking to increase your protein intake, protein coffee is a perfect way to get in a high protein breakfast that will help keep you full all morning (along with a caffeine boost!).
- Love protein packed recipes? Check out my Chewy Protein Blondies or my Vegan Protein Waffles!
Ingredients:
This proffee recipe can be made hot or iced and you only need a couple of ingredients. If you don’t have a store bought protein milk or shake, I’ve included instructions for how to make your own in the recipe card below!
- Freshly Brewed Espresso, Cold Brew Coffee, or Strongly Brewed Homemade Cold Coffee
- Protein Milk or Prepared Protein Shake of Choice, I prefer non-dairy milk like Orgain’s Protein Milk or Ripple’s Protein Shake
- Normal or Oat Milk Ice Cubes, I highly recommend using milk ice cubes, so your coffee doesn’t get watery!
To make Homemade Protein Milk:
- Milk of Choice, I prefer non-dairy milk like plain Oat Milk, Soy Milk or Unsweetened Almond Milk to make a dairy-free proffee
- Plant-Based Protein Powder, preferably unsweetened and unflavored
Add-ins & Coffee Syrups
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Sweetener of Choice, like maple syrup, agave, or stevia
- Cinnamon or another spice
- Cocoa powder, for a chocolate flavor or to make a protein mocha
- Coffee syrups like pumpkin spice syrup, brown sugar syrup, or apple crisp syrup
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Protein Coffee
If making homemade protein milk, the protein powder you use in this recipe will have a BIG impact on the overall taste of the coffee, so it’s important you pick one that you enjoy!
I recommend an unsweetened and unflavored protein powder versus vanilla protein powder or a chocolate protein powder. BUT… if you love the taste of yours, that’s what matters, so use what you have! This is so you can control the sweetness and flavor of the coffee better.
Some of my go-to protein powders at the moment are No Cow’s Vanilla or Plain Protein Powder and Orgain’s Unsweetened Unflavored Plant Protein made with a blend of pea protein, hemp, and brown rice protein.
I’m not the biggest fan of stevia sweeteners or artificial flavors used in a lot of protein powders, so the plain versions of both of these have been great since it’s just pure protein powder.
It also has a few other ingredients that help it dissolve better in liquid than other plant based protein powders I’ve tried.
Helpful Equipment
- Espresso Machine or Coffee Maker
- Milk Frother: optional, to whisk the milk if making a hot coffee
- Ice Cube Tray: optional, to make the oat milk ice cubes
- Tall Glass, for serving
Step-By-Step Instructions
*Video Tutorial is Above the Recipe Card Below!*
To make iced coffee with protein powder or to make your own protein milk
STEP 1: In a high speed blender, combine the milk and the scoop of protein powder. If using any add-ins like sweeteners, add them as well.
STEP 2: Blend on high for 1 minute or until there are no more lumps of protein powder.
To make an iced protein coffee:
STEP 1: Add the ice and protein milk to a glass.
STEP 2: Add any sweeteners, flavored creamers, or vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
STEP 3: Pour the cold brew or a double shot of espresso on top.
For a hot protein coffee:
STEP 1: Add the protein milk to a mug. Heat in the microwave or on the stove top.
STEP 2: Add any sweeteners, flavored creamers, or vanilla extract. Use a milk frother or steamer to whisk & froth up the milk.
STEP 3: Add freshly brewed hot coffee or a double shot of espresso.
Other Serving Ideas
This protein coffee can be made into a frappe, protein smoothie or even coffee milk tea with boba!
To make an iced coffee protein shake or frappe:
- Blend everything in a high-speed blender.
- Add more ice as needed until the consistency and texture you enjoy has been reached.
To make a protein smoothie:
On mornings when I’m a bit hungrier, I love to make this chocolatey coffee banana smoothie. Add in the following and blend for a delicious coffee protein smoothie:
- 1 frozen ripe banana
- A spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter
- A scoop of chia seeds or flaxseed
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Helpful Tips For Amazing Protein Coffee
- Use a protein milk or protein powder you enjoy: different protein powders have different flavors and textures, so be sure to use one you enjoy the taste of!
- Use cold coffee or room temperature coffee: to prevent the ice from melting.
- Use oat milk or coffee ice cubes: to keep the iced proffee from being watery.
these create the best flavor & texture!
FAQ
To sweeten the coffee and keep it sugar free, I recommend adding Swerve’s Brown Sugar.
I’ve used Swerve’s products in other recipes, and it performs very similarly to real sugar.
Yes, you can use bold coffee. If using bold coffee, I recommend stirring in 1 tsp of instant espresso or instant coffee per serving to help it have a stronger flavor. I also recommend using coffee ice cubes to help enhance the coffee flavor.
More Coffee and Drink Recipes:
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
- Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
- Oat Milk Matcha Latte with Brown Sugar Syrup
Video Tutorial
[Note: ad-blocker plugins block this video, which may be why it isn’t visible. Temporarily disable the plugins to see the video.]
Hot or Iced Protein Coffee (Proffee)
Ingredients
Protein Coffee
- ¾ – 1 cup protein milk or shake of choice, or use homemade (see below)
- 6-8 oz bold coffee or 1 double shot of espresso, use cold brew for iced
- 1-2 handfuls of ice cubes, for an iced coffee
Optional Add-ins
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp coffee creamer of choice, I like Nutpods Cinnamon Swirl Oat Milk Creamer
- 1-2 tbsp liquid sweetener of choice, like brown sugar syrup or pumpkin spice syrup
Homemade Protein Milk
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or milk of choice
- 2 tbsp unsweetened protein powder, 15g- this is about 1 scoop of protein powder (Orgain’s Unsweetened Unflavored Plant Based Protein)
Instructions
To make the homemade protein milk:
- In a high speed blender, combine the milk and protein powder. If using any add-ins like sweeteners, add them as well.1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 tbsp unsweetened protein powder
- Blend on high for 1 minute or until there are no more lumps of protein powder.
To make an iced protein coffee:
- Add the ice and protein milk (add as much or as little as you'd like) to a glass.¾ – 1 cup protein milk or shake of choice, 1-2 handfuls of ice cubes
- Add any sweeteners, flavored creamers, or vanilla extract. Mix to combine.½ tsp vanilla extract, 1-2 tbsp liquid sweetener of choice, 1-2 tbsp coffee creamer of choice
- Pour the cold brew or a double shot of espresso on top.6-8 oz bold coffee or 1 double shot of espresso
For a hot protein coffee:
- Add the protein milk to a mug. Heat in the microwave or on the stove top.
- Add any sweeteners, flavored creamers, or vanilla extract. Use a milk frother or steamer to whisk & froth up the milk.
- Add freshly brewed hot coffee or a double shot of espresso.
Video
Recipe notes
- NOTE: Different protein powders and protein milks have different flavors and textures, so be sure to use one you enjoy the taste of!
- If making protein milk with protein powder: while you can add more than 2 tbsp of protein powder per cup of milk, I don’t recommend doing so. The more protein you add, the more it will change the taste of the coffee. I’ve found 2 tbsps is the sweet spot between enough protein, and retaining the delicious, pure coffee taste.
- Nutritional Info: below is an estimate of the nutritional content and macros for this recipe. Please note, these numbers are very dependent on the exact ingredients, types of milk, and protein you use.
Did You Make This?
Leave a star rating and a comment below to let others know how it turned out for you!
Want to save this recipe for later? Pin it to Pinterest!
Did You Make This protein coffee recipe?
I’d love to know! Leave a star rating and comment below!