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Iced Protein Coffee (Proffee)

Iced protein coffee, also called proffee: espresso or cold brew shaken with milk and vanilla protein powder. 33 grams of protein, ready in 2 minutes.

  • 33g protein
  • 205 calories
  • 2 minutes
  • 1 servings

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By The Protein First Kitchen Team. Published

Iced protein coffee in a tall glass
Photo by @nate_dumlao on Unsplash

Protein coffee, or proffee, is the simplest high-protein habit there is: your usual iced coffee, made with milk that has a scoop of protein shaken into it. It takes two minutes and gives you 33 grams of protein.

The no-clump method

Shake the protein into cold milk first, then pour that over the coffee. Protein powder poured into coffee, especially hot coffee, clumps instantly.

Flavor ideas

  • Mocha: chocolate protein and a pinch of cocoa.
  • Caramel: vanilla protein and 1 tsp sugar-free caramel syrup.
  • Cinnamon dolce: vanilla protein with a pinch of cinnamon shaken in.

Make it a meal

Pair it with a slice of protein banana bread or a blueberry protein muffin for a grab-and-go breakfast with 40 grams of protein or more.

How to make protein coffee at home

There are three easy methods, depending on how you like your coffee:

  1. Iced shaker method (our favorite): shake protein powder into cold milk, pour over espresso and ice. No clumps, ready in 2 minutes.
  2. Blender method: blend cold brew, protein powder and milk for 15 seconds for a frothy, café-style drink.
  3. Hot method: warm the milk to about 150°F, whisk or froth in the protein, then add hot coffee.

Can you put protein powder in coffee?

Yes, with one rule: don’t stir it straight into very hot coffee. Whey protein clumps when it hits near-boiling liquid. Mixing it into milk first, or letting the coffee cool for a minute, keeps it smooth.

Best protein powder for coffee

  • Vanilla or caramel whey: sweet enough that you usually don’t need syrup.
  • Unflavored whey isolate: for people who like their coffee unsweetened.
  • Plant protein: works, but it is thicker; use a blender.

Proffee vs. ready-to-drink protein shakes

Many people make proffee by pouring a store-bought protein shake over espresso. That works too. Making it with milk and powder gives you control over the protein, sweetness and cost.

Iced Protein Coffee (Proffee)

Prep 2 min. Cook 0 min. Makes 1 servings of 1 large glass (16 oz).

Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add the cold milk and protein powder to a shaker bottle or jar with a lid. Shake for 20 seconds, until completely smooth.
  2. Fill a large glass with ice and pour in the espresso or cold brew.
  3. Pour the protein milk over the coffee and stir.

Notes

  • Mixing the protein into cold milk first avoids clumps. Never add protein powder directly to hot coffee.
  • For a hot version, warm the milk to about 150°F (not boiling), then whisk in the protein and add hot coffee.

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    Questions people ask

    Can you put protein powder in hot coffee?

    Not directly. Very hot coffee makes whey clump. Mix the powder into milk first, then add it to coffee that has cooled slightly.

    Does protein coffee count as breakfast?

    With 33 grams of protein it can replace a light breakfast, though adding fruit or a slice of toast makes it more balanced.

    How do you make protein coffee?

    Shake a scoop of protein powder into cold milk until smooth, then pour it over espresso or cold brew and ice. For hot protein coffee, whisk the powder into warm (not boiling) milk before adding coffee.

    Does coffee have protein?

    Almost none. A cup of black coffee has about 0.3 grams of protein. The protein in protein coffee comes from the protein powder and milk.

    Is protein coffee healthy?

    It can be a good way to add protein to your morning. This version has 33 grams of protein and about 205 calories, with most of the sugar coming naturally from milk.

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