Coffee smoothies provide the energy-boosting effects of coffee and the nutritious goodness of fruit. There are several ways to make coffee smoothies, but blending cold brew, banana, dates, milk, and ice is a firm favorite.
Learn how to make a delicious banana coffee smoothie, smoothie variations, and how to streamline the process so you can make these nutritious beverages daily in this brew guide…
Coffee Smoothie Brewing Summary
- Make cold brew coffee.
- Prepare the fruit by slicing and removing pits.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend the ingredients to combine them.
- Pour the smoothie and enjoy.
What You Need to Make a Coffee Smoothie
There are quite a few elements to this coffee-based beverage. You'll also need some equipment you may not have in your kitchen.
Here's what you need to make coffee smoothies:
Equipment
- French Press — A typical French press is needed to brew and strain the cold brew coffee.
- Coffee Grinder — The best coffee is made with whole beans. A burr grinder produces the most consistent grind.
- Coffee Measure — A coffee measure ensures you use the perfect coffee-to-water ratio for your cold brew.
- Knife — You'll need a knife to prepare the fruit before blending the smoothie.
- Chopping Board — You'll need a chopping board or a solid surface to cut on.
- Blender — A blender is needed to blend the ingredients. Ice is used in this recipe so make sure your blender can handle crushing ice cubes.
- Serving Glass — A large, tall glass is best for serving the coffee smoothie.
Ingredients
- Coffee Beans — Opt for high-quality coffee beans and grind them fresh to make the brew.
- Water — You'll need fresh, filtered water to make the coffee.
- Bananas — Frozen banana slices make a thick, creamy coffee smoothie.
- Dates — Dates provide a natural sweetness and a caramel-like flavor.
- Milk — Whole milk gives the smoothie a creamy element. Dairy-free alternatives can also be used to make a vegan smoothie.
- Vanilla Extract — A touch of vanilla adds depth of flavor.
- Cinnamon — Cinnamon compliments the rich, creaminess and caramel-like sweetness.
- Ice — Creates a thick, frosty texture.
- Butter (Optional) — Butter can be added to enhance the smoothie's creamy, silky texture. It also adds protein and healthy fats. Almond butter can be used as a vegan alternative to dairy butter.
- Honey or Syrup — If you want to increase the sweetness of the smoothie naturally, a dash of maple syrup or honey can be added.
Coffee Recommendations
You can use any type of coffee to make a coffee smoothie, what's important is quality. Make sure to opt for a high-quality whole-bean coffee and grind the beans fresh before brewing.
The type of coffee beans you select to make your coffee smoothies depends on your taste and what you want from the drink.
- Arabica coffee — such as our DaLat (100% arabica) provides a mild caffeine hit and smooth, subtle, naturally-sweet flavors.
- Robusta coffee — such as our HaNoi (100% robusta) provides a potent caffeine hit and dark, strong, slightly bitter flavors.
- Robusta and arabica blends — like our Saigon OG coffee provide the best of both beans, offering a sweet, smoothness combined with dark, strong notes.
How to Make a Coffee Smoothie in Four Steps
Once you've gathered your ingredients, the process to make your coffee smoothie is relatively simple. However, it can be time-consuming. You'll also need to prepare your cold brew coffee in advance.
Here's how to make a coffee smoothie in four simple steps:
1. Prepare The Coffee
The best coffee to use for making coffee smoothies is cold brew. This must be prepared at least the day before making the smoothie.
To do this, grind your coffee to a coarse consistency (similar to sea salt) and combine it with cold, filtered water in a French press. Increase the coffee-to-water ratio to produce a strong, concentrated brew. Place the press in the fridge for 18 to 24 hours. Once brewed, strain using the plunger.
Learn how to make cold brew coffee in this guide.
If you're in a rush and want to make a coffee smoothie instantly, simply brew a concentrated shot of coffee using a brewing setup you have to hand and cool it with ice. Drip coffee, French press, pour-over, and perfect espresso shot can all be used in a coffee smoothie.
2. Prepare the Fruit
Slice your banana and pit the dates (unless using pre-pitted dates). You'll need one average-sized banana and a small handful of dates for a large coffee smoothie.
If you have time to prepare, we recommend slicing the banana and freezing it overnight while your cold brew steeps in the fridge. Frozen bananas produce a thicker, creamier smoothie.
3. Blend the Ingredients
Add 100 mL of your pre-brewed coffee to a blender, followed by the chopped banana, dates, 200 mL of milk, and a handful of ice. Blend in bursts until the ice is crushed roughly.
Then, add a few drops of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, a teaspoon of butter (optional), and a serving of honey or syrup (optional). Blend again to combine and create a smooth, thick beverage.
If your smoothie is too thick, add a touch more milk. If it's too thin, add a bit more ice or some more frozen banana slices.
4. Pour and Serve
Once you're happy with the consistency of your smoothie, pour it into a large, tall glass. Garnish with a few chopped dates (optional), and enjoy while cold.
Coffee Smoothie Variations
The recipe above isn't the be-all and end-all of coffee smoothies. You can make coffee smoothies with several different fruits and milk products. However, not all fruits pair well with coffee in a smoothie.
Here are some delicious variations of the coffee smoothie for you to try:
1. Coffee Mocha Smoothie
If you love chocolate and coffee, you’ll love their combined flavors in this simple smoothie. This mocha smoothie is nutritious, healthy, and packs a potent caffeine hit.
It’s easy to make a mocha smoothie — simply follow the brew guide above, but use these ingredients instead:
- Cold Brew Coffee — Use around 100 mL of concentrated cold brew coffee. We recommend a robusta and arabica blend for this smoothie, but any coffee will work.
- Banana Slices — Use one banana (sliced) and frozen if possible. Otherwise, use fresh and add more ice.
- Ice — Use a handful of ice made from fresh, filtered water.
- Cacao Powder — You’ll need around two tablespoons of high-quality cacao powder.
- Syrup or Honey — Use maple syrup or honey to sweeten the brew.
- Vanilla Extract — Opt for a Madagascan vanilla extract (one to two drops) to bring out the flavors of the chocolate and add depth.
- Milk — Whole milk or a dairy-free alternative can be used to make this mocha smoothie.
2. Banana & Peanut Coffee Smoothie
Bananas and peanuts pair wonderfully together. If you enjoy the rich, nutty, sweet flavors of peanut butter, try adding one to two tablespoons to your blender when making the recipe in our brew guide above.
Adding peanut butter to the smoothie is a fantastic way to not only add flavor but also add some extra protein.
3. Vegan Coconut Coffee Smoothie
If you enjoy the taste of coconut and love coffee, this vegan coconut coffee smoothie is perfect. To make this coffee, simply blend the ingredients below to create a thick, indulgent milkshake-like smoothie.
Here’s what you need to make a coconut coffee smoothie:
- Cold Brew Coffee — Use around 100 mL of concentrated cold brew coffee. We recommend a dark roast robusta for a Vietnamese-style brew, but any coffee will work.
- Ice — You’ll need a handful of ice for this smoothie.
- Toasted Coconut Flakes — Three to four tablespoons of toasted coconut flakes add texture and a bold, nutty flavor.
- Coconut Milk — Opt for a full-fat coconut milk. This will add most of the coconut flavor and give the brew a velvety mouthfeel.
- Syrup or Honey — Add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup or honey to sweeten the brew if desired.
- Vanilla Extract — Vanilla pairs wonderfully with coconut and coffee. Add one to two drops to elevate your smoothie.
4. Pumpkin Spice Coffee Smoothie
If you enjoy the flavors of the famous falltime coffee — the Pumpkin Spiced Latte (PSL) — you'll love this smoothie.
Making a pumpkin spice coffee smoothie is easy. Simply use the recipe in the brew guide above, but add a tablespoon of pumpkin syrup or a tablespoon of pumpkin puree and one to two teaspoons of pumpkin spice. You may also want to increase the sweetness of the beverage by adding honey or maple syrup.
Streamlining the Coffee Smoothie Process
Making coffee smoothies is time-consuming. You may be put off by making this beverage every day — not all of us have 20 minutes every morning to make coffee. Luckily, there are ways to streamline the process and make daily coffee smoothies a viable option.
Here are three simple tips to speed up the process:
1. Make Cold Brew Coffee in Bulk
Make a large pot of concentrated cold brew coffee in advance. Cold brew will stay fresh in the refrigerator for around a week before losing too much of its flavor.
Steep the coffee in cold water for 18 to 24 hours before straining it. Remove the spent coffee grounds and pour the brew through a paper coffee filter — this double filtration will improve the coffee's shelf life. Store the brew in a sealed bottle or jar in the fridge.
Whenever you need to make a coffee smoothie, remove the cold brew from the fridge and pour up a cup. Reduce the time the brew is out of the fridge as much as possible to ensure it stays fresh.
2. Pre-Freeze Cut Banana
Frozen bananas are better for making coffee smoothies than fresh bananas. If you plan on making coffee smoothies regularly, chop several, store them in containers, and freeze them.
Whenever you want to make a smoothie, remove a portion of frozen banana slices from the fridge and blend as usual.
3. Pre-Make Ingredient Portions
If you want to speed up the process drastically so you can make coffee smoothies quickly before work in the morning, consider making ingredient portions.
In freezer bags add a portion of bananas, ice, and dates. You can even freeze cold brew in ice cube trays and add a couple of coffee ice cubes to each bag.
Making a coffee smoothie with portioned ingredient bags is as simple as removing a bag from the freezer, tipping the contents into a blender, adding milk, and blending.
FAQs: Making Coffee Smoothies
Want to learn more about coffee smoothies and other indulgent coffee beverages?
Check out the FAQs below or head over to the Cafely blog.
1. How Much Caffeine is in a Coffee Smoothie?
The exact amount of caffeine in a coffee smoothie depends on several factors. The type of coffee, brewing method, and how much coffee you use will all affect how strong the smoothie is. The typical coffee smoothie made with arabica or a blend can contain anywhere from 60 mg to 120 mg of caffeine per serving.
2. What’s the Best Coffee for a Coffee Smoothie?
The best coffee for a smoothie should be high-quality and fresh. Grinding whole-bean coffee yourself before brewing offers more flavor and potentially more beneficial antioxidants. The type of coffee you use is up to you. Arabica beans is naturally sweeter and offers a mild caffeine hit, robusta beans provides dark, robust flavors and a potent caffeine hit, and blends offer the best of both beans.
3. What’s the Best Brewing Method for Coffee Smoothies?
The brewing method you use to make coffee smoothies is up to you. We recommend cold brew because of its low acidity and the convenience of constantly having pre-cooled coffee on hand. Espresso brewing, concentrated drip and pour-over, and strong French press coffee also work well.
4. Can You Make Coffee Smoothies Sugar-Free?
It's difficult to make coffee smoothies sugar-free because of the naturally high sugar content in fruits such as bananas and dates. If you're looking for a sugar-free alternative, you're better off opting for best iced coffee recipe or cold brew.
5. Can You Make Coffee Smoothies Vegan?
Yes. By replacing dairy milk and butter with dairy-free alternatives such as almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, and almond butter, you can make a vegan-friendly coffee smoothie.
6. What is Frosted Coffee?
Frosted coffee is a popular iced coffee beverage from the fast food chain Chick-fil-A. This brew combines coffee with ice cream and milk to create a thick, milkshake-like beverage. Although this brew isn't as healthy as a coffee smoothie, it sure is tasty. Learn how to make frosted coffee in a few simple steps at home.
7. What is Frozen Coffee?
Frozen coffee combines ice, milk, sugar (optional), and coffee. The ingredients are blended to create a thick, slushy iced coffee. Without sugar, this summertime brew can be a healthy part of a balanced diet.
8. What’s the Difference Between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew?
Cold brew and iced coffee are both chilled coffee beverages. However, they're slightly different.
Cold brew is made by brewing coffee over several hours in cold water. The result is a strong, low-acidity brew that's often enjoyed black (without milk). Iced coffee is made using concentrated hot-brew coffee that's cooled before being poured over ice and diluted with milk. The result is an indulgent, creamy, chilled brew.
9. Can You Make Iced Coffee With a French Press?
Yes. You can make iced coffee with a French press. Simply increase the coffee-to-water ratio and brew as normal to create a concentrated shot of coffee. Chill the brew, pour it over ice, and add milk. Stir in sugar or syrup to taste and enjoy.
10. Can I Use Decaffeinated Coffee to Make Coffee Smoothies?
Yes. You can use decaffeinated coffee to make coffee smoothies if you want to reduce your caffeine intake. Simply follow the steps as normal, but use instant decaf or make cold brew using decaffeinated coffee grinds.
