How to Make the Best Protein Coffee: Your Go-to Recipe

Looking for a natural way to get a caffeine and protein hit pre- or post-workout? Protein coffee may be the brew for you. 

This beverage combines the energy-boosting properties of coffee with the muscle-repairing and hunger-relieving qualities of protein. If you’re looking for a way to start your day as an active worker, a nutritious way to start a workout, or a drink that’ll help you recover after exercise, protein coffee is the perfect choice.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make delicious, nutritious protein coffee, as well as five alternative ways to spruce up the brew to add variety to your daily workout routine.

What You’ll Need to Make Protein Coffee

Protein coffee is simple to make, but you'll need some basic ingredients and pieces of brewing equipment. 

Here's what you'll need to make protein coffee:

Ingredients

• High-Quality Coffee — Opt for a high-quality, whole-bean coffee and grind it fresh for maximum flavor and antioxidant benefits. 
• Water — Use fresh, filtered water when making the brew. 
• Whole Milk — Opt for whole cow's milk or a high-protein plant-based alternative. 
• Protein Powder — Use a high-quality milk-based (whey or casein) or plant-based (pea or soy) protein powder. 
• Ice — Protein coffee is best served chilled over ice. 

Equipment 

• Coffee Grinder — The best coffee is made from freshly ground coffee. To grind your beans, use a burr grinder.
• Coffee Measure — Use a coffee measure or weighing scale to accurately portion the ground coffee before brewing.
• Coffee Maker — A coffee maker capable of making a concentrated brew such as an espresso machine, drip coffee maker, French press, or moka pot.
• Protein Powder Scoop — Use a protein scoop (usually sold with the powder) to accurately dose the protein. 
• Large Drinking Glass — You'll need a large glass with an 8 oz (240 mL) capacity at least. 
• Stirring Spoon — A long-handled spoon is needed to combine the ingredients. 

Coffee Recommendations

This protein coffee recipe is iced. Dark roast coffee ensures the flavors of beans shine through the creaminess of the milk and protein powder.

Whether you choose arabica coffee, robusta coffee, or a blend is down to personal preference: 

• Arabica coffee is smooth, rich, and naturally sweet. It has a mild caffeine content and subtle floral, fruity notes. We recommend Cafely DaLat for arabica protein coffee. 
• Robusta coffee is dark and bold. It has rich nutty, chocolatey flavors and more bitterness. Robusta has around twice the amount of caffeine as arabica, so if you want a strong hit of energy in your protein coffee, this bean is the go. We recommend Cafely HaNoi for robusta protein coffee. 
• Arabica and robusta blends harbor the characteristics of both beans. They have the smooth, sweet, richness of arabica combined with the dark, nutty, bitterness of robusta. If you want the best of both worlds, blends are the way to go. For a diverse protein coffee, we recommend Cafely SaiGon OG (Robusta x Arabica X Peaberry).

Protein Recommendations 

If you want to create a nutritious but tasty protein coffee, it's important to select the right protein powder. You have a couple of options — whey protein powder or plant-based protein powder. 

When selecting protein for coffee, opt for a flavorless blend. This will allow the flavors of the coffee to shine through. Avoid strawberry or chocolate-flavored protein powders — the artificial taste doesn't mix well with the coffee. 

Milk-based protein powder recommendations:

• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
• Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey
• Legion Whey+
• Quest Protein Powder
• Premier Protein Powder
• Kaged Whey Isolate
• Ascent Native Fuel Whey
• Ghost Whey Protein

Plant-based protein powder recommendations:

• Orgain Organic Protein Powder
• Vega Sport Premium Protein
• Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein
• Nuzest Clean Lean Protein
• Ritual Essential Protein
• Sunwarrior Warrior Blend
• KOS Organic Plant Protein
• Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein

How to Make Iced Protein Coffee in Five Steps

Protein coffee is simple to make — combine coffee with protein powder and you're good to go. However, making a cup that tastes fantastic requires a bit of finesse. 

Follow this five-step recipe to make delicious, nutritious, energizing protein coffee:

1. Brew a Concentrated Shot of Coffee

First, you'll need to brew a strong shot of coffee. This can be done with your preferred brewing method. 

If you’re using an espresso machine, moka pot, or Aeropress brewer, brew a shot of coffee as usual. If you're using a drip coffee maker, pour-over, French press, or phin filter, increase the coffee-to-water ratio by reducing the water content by half to make the brew stronger. 

2. Cool the Coffee

Cool the coffee down by adding an ice cube, pouring the shot back and forth between two cups, or setting it outside for 20 minutes. 

3. Prepare the Protein Powder

Add one to two scoops of protein powder (according to the manufacturer's instructions) in a protein shaker. Combine with whole milk or a dairy-free alternative and shake well until the powder has completely dissolved. 

4. Assemble the Iced Coffee

In a serving glass or thermos (if you're heading to the gym), add ice followed by the coffee shot. Then, pour in the protein shake and stir thoroughly to combine. 

5. Serve and Enjoy

Add syrup to sweeten (optional) and enjoy the caffeinated protein drink while ice-cold. 

Protein coffee is best consumed an hour before a strenuous workout or shortly after. It may also be consumed to up your protein intake while on restrictive diets, during weight loss journeys, or by physically active people who desire an energy and recovery boost. 

Five Alternative Ways to Add Protein to Coffee

The iced coffee recipe above isn’t the only way to make protein coffee. 

Check out the recipes below for five alternative ways to make protein coffee at home:

1. Protein Coffee Bars

If you love the convenience of protein bars but also enjoy the caffeine-rich protein coffee offers, try making protein coffee bars. These nutritious bars offer an energy boost and protein hit. They're surprisingly easy to make and will last for two to three weeks in the fridge. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 ½ cups oat flour (or blended oats)
• ½ cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
• ¼ cup instant coffee (Vietnamese Instant Espresso)
• ¼ cup almond butter (or peanut butter)
• ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
• ⅓ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Here’s how to make protein coffee bars:

1. Mix the Dry Ingredients — Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl in the quantities mentioned above (oat flour, protein powder, instant coffee, cinnamon, and salt). If you're using Cafely’s Instant Vietnamese Espresso, use four to five sachets.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients — Combine the wet ingredients (almond butter, honey, milk, and vanilla syrup) in a jug and stir thoroughly to combine.
3. Form a Dough — Add the wet ingredients to the dry and knead until a thick cookie-like dough forms.
4. Press into a Form — Press the dough into a large, baking paper-lined baking tray (8x8-inch is perfect). Make sure the mixture is spread evenly and compressed well.
5. Melt the Chocolate — If using, melt your chocolate chips in the microwave or over a bain marie. Pour the milled chocolate over the dough evenly.
6. Set in the Fridge — Place the baking tray in the refrigerator for at least five hours (ideally overnight) to set.
7. Cut the Bars — Once set, remove the tray from the fridge and cut the slab into equal squares.
8. Store — Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last for around two to three weeks.

2. Protein Latte 

Love the smooth, velvety texture of a latte coffee and want a pre- or post-workout hit of protein? 

The protein latte is the way to go. This hot, espresso-based beverage is the perfect way to get a caffeine hit pre- or post-workout when the weather rules out iced coffee. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• High-quality coffee
• Water
• Milk
• Protein powder
• Espresso machine
• Large coffee cup

Here’s how to make a protein latte:

1. Brew a Shot of Espresso — First, brew a double shot of espresso using 18 grams of high-quality, freshly ground coffee from the best coffee selections for espresso.
2. Prepare the Milk — In a steam pitcher, add one cup of whole milk and a scoop of protein powder. Lightly mix to saturate the powder.
3. Steam the Milk — Using the steam wand on your espresso machine, lightly steam the milk and protein powder until warm, smooth, and velvety.
4. Assemble the Latte — Add the shot of espresso to the bottom of a large coffee mug. Gently pour over the milk, moving in a circular motion to thoroughly combine the coffee and milk.
5. Serve and Enjoy — Enjoy your protein latte while warm. Add a pinch of sugar or syrup to taste if desired. 

3. Protein-Packed Coffee Milkshake

Most people opt for protein milkshakes to improve nutrition as part of a workout routine. Whey protein is often mixed with milk or water to make these milkshakes, but adding coffee and some other ingredients can elevate the drink. 

The dark, nutty, bitter flavors of coffee combine well with the creaminess of milk. Coffee also offers a caffeine hit that may boost productivity during physical exercise or provide an energy boost during recovery. 

Here’s what you’ll need to make a protein coffee milkshake:

• High-quality coffee
• Water
• Protein powder 
• Milk
• Ice
• Coffee maker
• Blender
• Large Glass 

Here’s how to make a delicious protein coffee milkshake:

1. Brew a Shot of Coffee — Brew a strong black coffee using a brewing method of your choice. Espresso or moka pot coffee is a good option. If you decide to use immersion brewing (French press, drip coffee, or pour-over) increase the coffee-to-water ratio to create a concentrated brew. 
2. Cool the Coffee — Cool your shot of coffee to room temperature. Pouring the shot between two cups speeds up this process.
3. Combine the Ingredients — Add one to two scoops of protein powder to your blender followed by the coffee shot, one cup of whole milk, and one cup of ice.
4. Blend the Ingredients — Start your blender at a low speed to crush the ice. Once the ice is crushed, blend on high speed until a thick milkshake has formed.
5. Pour and Enjoy — Pour the milkshake into a large glass and serve with or without a straw. Enjoy your coffee milkshake post-workout. 

4. Protein Mocha Coffee

Love the flavors of chocolate and coffee combined, and want to increase your protein consumption? 

This protein mocha coffee is a delicious way to boost your protein intake and receive a caffeinated hit of coffee. This beverage is a little more time-consuming to make, but it's the perfect way to get a delicious protein fix when you’ve got the spare time on your hands.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• High-quality coffee
• Water
• Milk
• Dark Chocolate
• Protein powder
• Espresso machine or moka pot
• Small mixing bowl
• Teaspoon
• Large coffee mug

Here’s how to make a protein-packed mocha coffee:

1. Brew a Shot of Espresso — Brew a single or double shot of espresso from high-quality coffee. 
2. Make the Chocolate Syrup — Chop around 100 g of dark chocolate finely with a knife. Add the chocolate flakes to a small mixing bowl, followed by two or three teaspoons of hot water. Stir the mixture until a thick chocolate syrup has formed.
3. Prepare the Milk — In a steam pitcher, add one cup of whole milk and the chocolate syrup. Add one to two scoops of protein powder.
4. Steam the Milk — Using the steam wand on your espresso machine, gently steam the milk until warm, chocolatey, and velvety.
5. Assemble the Mocha — In a large coffee mug, add the espresso shot and then gently pour over the chocolate and protein-infused steamed milk. Move in a circular motion so the coffee and milk combine well.
6. Serve and Enjoy — Serve your protein mocha coffee and enjoy it as a sweet, post-workout treat. 

5. Iced Vanilla Protein Coffee

Milk, coffee, and vanilla are the perfect trio. If you want to elevate your protein iced coffee, try adding one to two tablespoons of vanilla syrup.

To make vanilla protein coffee, simply follow the main recipe in this brew guide and add one or two tablespoons of vanilla syrup. The best syrup is homemade — learn how to make Madagascan vanilla syrup here. 

FAQs: Protein Coffee & Other Caffeinated Beverages

If you want to learn more about protein coffee, other types of coffee, and caffeinated beverages, check out the frequently asked questions below…

1. Is Coffee a Good Pre-Workout Drink?

Coffee can be a good addition to a pre-workout routine. Coffee is a natural source of caffeine — a stimulant compound that boosts energy and performance. Consuming black coffee 30 to 40 minutes before a workout may help improve focus, performance, and overall energy during a workout. 

2. Can You Add Protein Powder to Coffee?

Yes. You can add protein powder to hot or cold coffee. Adding protein powder to coffee is a great way to boost your protein intake while getting a hit of caffeine before or after a workout or period of physical activity. 

3. Should You Drink Black or White Coffee Before a Workout?

You can drink either black or white coffee before a workout. Which you choose depends on your preferences and goals. If you're looking for a low-calorie energy boost, choosing the best black coffee is a good option. If you're looking for an energy boost and some sustenance, white coffee provides caffeine as well as protein and fat from the milk. 

4. What is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is a high-fat coffee made by combining black coffee with MCT coconut oil. It was created by Dave Asprey — the founder of the Bulletproof diet. It's meant to provide sustenance from fat while following the low-carb, high-fat Bulletproof diet.

5. Can You Drink Coffee While Fasting?

Yes. You can drink coffee while fasting as long as you drink it black — without milk or sugar. Although black coffee contains some calories, the levels are so low that it won't break your fast. With that said, you should avoid drinking excessive amounts of coffee while fasting, as caffeine can have a stronger effect on the body in a fasted state. 

6. Is Coffee Healthy?

Coffee is “healthy” when consumed in moderation. High-quality coffee is rich in antioxidants, which may prevent cell damage and reduce the effects of aging. However, coffee is also high in caffeine. Overindulgence can lead to caffeine dependence and a series of negative side effects. 

7. What Are the Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal?

The symptoms of caffeine withdrawal vary from person to person. They also differ in intensity depending on previous caffeine consumption and level of dependency. 

Here are some common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal:

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Depression
• Anxiety 
• Flu-like symptoms

8. What’s the Difference Between Espresso and Regular Coffee?

Espresso is made by forcing pressurized hot water through finely ground arabica coffee. The result is a strong, smooth shot of concentrated coffee. “Regular coffee” can be brewed in a number of ways, but is usually made by pouring water over ground coffee or steeping coffee in water before straining. 

9. Is Instant Coffee as Good as Freshly Brewed Coffee?

No. Instant coffee is typically lower in quality compared to freshly brewed coffee. The taste, strength, and body of freshly brewed coffee are far superior. However, instant coffee has come a long way, and certain blends produce an impressively good brew. 

10. Can You Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

Yes. Pregnant women can drink coffee in moderation. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day.