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As recently as a year ago, I would never have imagined myself sharing a recipe for protein coffee. But oh, how things have changed. This quick, perfectly dialed-in recipe has become a daily ritual, and I couldn’t love it more.
Why you’ll love this recipe
I love breakfast food, but I’m hardly ever ready to eat a proper meal first thing in the morning. One thing I’m always ready for first thing in the morning is an excellent cup of coffee. (Okay, two.)
This recipe combines a small handful of thoughtfully chosen ingredients and has:
- 33 grams of high-quality protein
- A genuinely delicious, rounded flavor profile
- A beautifully smooth texture
- A lot to recommend it as a way to start your day
What you’ll need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. I don’t typically recommend this many specific brands in a recipe, but here it makes all the difference in terms of both flavor and nutritional profile, so I’m sharing exactly what I use. You can, of course, substitute and customize to your heart’s desire.
- Good-quality cold brew. I use Grady’s cold brew concentrate, which I buy in embarrassingly large quantities throughout the warmer months. It’s sweetened with a hint of chicory and in my opinion has by far the best flavor profile of any widely available commercial cold brew.
- Silk unsweetened soy milk. Soy milk has a higher protein content and a fuller body than most other plant-based milks, and I’ve used it in my regular morning coffee for years. Silk brand emulsifies beautifully and just works really well in this recipe. I know that milk choice is super-personal, so feel free to experiment with whatever you like. Just keep in mind that eight of the protein grams come from the milk.
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey protein, double rich chocolate flavor. How’s that for a hyper-specific recommendation? I did a ton of research on both flavor and nutrient content when I first started dabbling with protein powder, and this exact product was the clear winner for me. It has a genuinely good flavor that goes really well with strong coffee. It blends seamlessly into a beverage and, if anything, enhances the texture. Whey protein fits my personal nutritional requirements well. And this product tested well compared to other brands in a recent Consumer Reports study of lead levels in protein powders.
- Creatine monohydrate (optional). For muscle recovery and brain health, I add 5 grams of a high-quality creatine monohydrate to my protein coffee sometimes. I’m a fan (and an affiliate) of The Pause Life brand by Dr. Mary Claire Haver. If you’d like, you can buy it online here and use my code UMAMIGIRL for 10% off all orders.
Video: How to make protein coffee
How to make it
I usually post a step-by-step guide to my recipes, but that seems excessive here.
All you need to do is add all your ingredients to a blender and blend on low speed until everything is beautifully smooth. It doesn’t take very long, and I don’t like to use a higher speed because it introduces too much frothiness, which doesn’t enhance this recipe. Pour into a large cup with some ice cubes in it (I use a quart-sized mason jar) and enjoy!
You can see what it all looks like in the short video above.
Expert tips and FAQs
Protein coffee is so quick and easy to make that I typically just whip it up first thing in the morning. If you need to, you can make it the night before and store in an airtight container in the fridge. (If you’re using a quart-sized mason jar like me, just put a lid on it.) Add the ice in the morning.
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
One more favorite coffee recipe
- How to make the best homemade cold brew
Protein Coffee
Equipment
- Vitamix 5200 Blender (this is my favorite blender — you can use any kind)
Ingredients
- 8 fluid ounces cold brew coffee, (I use Grady's concentrate)
- 8 fluid ounces Silk unsweetened soy milk
- 31 grams Optimum Nutirition Gold Standard 100% whey protein, Double Rich Chocolate flavor, (one scoop)
- 5 grams creatine monohydrate, (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender and blend on low speed until perfectly smooth.
- Pour into a large glass (I use a quart-sized mason jar) filled with as many ice cubes as you like.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
