Iced Coffee Protein Shake | Cold Brew Smoothie

Sweet, caffeinated, and deliciously frosty, this Iced Coffee Protein Shake doesn’t just taste good — it’ll also keep you fueled up until lunch! Perfect for breakfast on the go or as a post-workout snack, this Cold Brew Smoothie is my favorite way to start the day.

As a Mom to a toddler and a newborn, I’ve learned that I need to find easy shortcuts to make my days go a little smoother. As a coffee lover, one of my favorite solutions is this ridiculously simple mashup of my morning coffee and a breakfast smoothie!

Made with just 6 simple ingredients in only 5 minutes’ time, this coffee protein smoothie is a gee-dang godsend and a great way to get a caffeine boost! I whip up a batch first thing, then I can slurp away while I go about my mom-ly morning duties. Seriously, for all you soon-to-be-moms? One handed meals are the way to go!

Jump to:

• What is cold brew coffee?
• What does this cold brew protein shake taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Coffee Protein Smoothie Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make A Cold Brew Protein Shake
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips & FAQs
• Nutritional Info
• Pricing Info
• Other smoothie recipes
• Shop My Recipe
• Recipe

What is cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is a style of making coffee that steeps the grounds in cool water for a long period of time (typically 12-24 hours). 

Unlike regular iced coffee, which is made using double the amount of grounds using regular brewing methods like French Press or percolation, cold brew is brewed without any heat.

As a result, cold brew is far less acidic than traditional brewing methods, and, IMHO, you can taste the nuances of your roast better. 

Another great thing to keep in mind is that just because you brew it cold doesn’t mean you have to serve it cold — feel free to heat it up on the stovetop or in the microwave so you can drink it like your normal mugful of cozy goodness.

What does this cold brew protein shake taste like?

This protein shake with coffee is creamy, cold, and milkshake-esque, sort of like a Vanilla Frappuccino or like those cold brew smoothies Starbucks put out a few years ago.

If you never tried one of those smoothies or had a Frappuccino, then imagine a cold, blended vanilla latte with a hint of cinnamon. It’s absolutely delicious and, since there’s real coffee in it, it tastes like a cup full of hopes and dreams. You’ll love it!

Why You’ll Love This Coffee Protein Smoothie Recipe

Aside from being a superhero blend of both coffee and breakfast in the same slurpable cup, this coffee protein shake recipe is also:

• Quick & Easy – All you need is a blender and about 5 minutes. In fact, if you pre-measure out your ingredients the night before, it’s even faster than pouring yourself a bowl of cereal!
• Made With Only 6 Ingredients – It’s kind of incredible how tasty and filling you can make this healthy coffee-flavored milkshake with such a short list.
• Wholesome & Nutritious – Despite tasting like dessert for breakfast, this breakfast shake is filled with extra protein, fiber, and plenty of nutrients. As if that weren’t enough to love, it’s also completely free from added sugar. Huzzah!
• Deliciously Satisfying – There’s nothing worse than having a healthy smoothie for breakfast and then being starving an hour later. Luckily, this tasty little number has the perfect balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you feeling good until lunch rolls around.

Ingredients Needed

As promised, you only need a few easy-to-find ingredients to make this coffee banana protein smoothie. Here’s what to grab:

• Cold Brew Coffee – Make sure to use unsweetened cold brew coffee in this recipe. I personally prefer the flavor of medium roast, but you’re welcome to use blonde or dark roast instead. Also, feel free to use store-bought cold brew for convenience, or go ahead and make your own!
• Coconut Milk – Full-fat canned coconut milk makes this smoothie extra creamy and filling. I love the texture it gives this coffee protein shake, so don’t substitute it out for another plant milk if you don’t have to!
• Cinnamon – While this is an optional ingredient, I love coffee and cinnamon mixed together. It’s not required but it does give the smoothie an extra layer of warmth and makes it seem sweeter than it actually is.
• Frozen Banana – PRO TIP: I like to buy 3-4 bunches of bananas at one, let them ripen in my pantry for a few days, then cut them up in pieces and freeze them in an even layer on a sheet pan. This allows me to have frozen bananas at the ready for all my morning smoothies.
• Chia Seeds – You’ll barely notice these nutrient powerhouses in your smoothie because there are only 2 tablespoons in the whole thing. Chia seeds are extremely healthy, filling, boast healthy fats, and give a powerful nutritional boost to this coffee protein drink, so don’t skip adding them!
• Vanilla Protein Powder – I always use Designer Whey Protein Powder for all my smoothies, protein donuts, and even my protein coffee every morning. It’s not chalky at all, and is low-carb and high in probiotics, too!

Substitutions

As much as I love this protein-filled coffee smoothie just the way it’s written, there’s always room for you to make any adjustments you like. Here are some easy swaps you can make:

• Cold Brew Coffee – Feel free to brew a cup of regular coffee and chill it in the fridge overnight or using a hyperchiller first. Alternatively, feel free to use cool water and your favorite instant coffee or instant espresso instead.
• Coconut Milk – You’re welcome to swap in your favorite unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or other plant-based milk or dairy milk instead, but the consistency might not be as creamy-dreamy depending on what substitution you make.
• Cinnamon – Feel free to omit this, or play with other warming spices like pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or nutmeg.
• Frozen Banana – We use the banana for both texture and as the only sweetener for this recipe. If you’re not a fan of bananas, you can try swapping in avocado, mashed sweet potato, pumpkin purée, soft silken tofu, or oatmeal instead. If you make the swap, you might want to add a squeeze of maple syrup or agave nectar to replace the sweetness. 
• Chia Seeds – In a pinch, adding an equal amount of flax seeds (a.k.a. linseeds) or ground flax meal will add a similar protein and fiber boost.
• Vanilla Protein Powder – Consider swapping in other flavors of protein powder like coffee, peanut butter, or chocolate protein powder to adjust the flavor of your protein coffee shake.

How To Make A Cold Brew Protein Shake

This sweet and healthy milkshake recipe comes together in just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Combine all of your ingredients (except the protein powder) in the blender.

Step 2: Blend until smooth. If it’s a little runny, add 4-5 ice cubes from an ice cube tray and blend it up again until smooth.

Step 3: Pulse. Add protein powder and pulse 4-5 times until incorporated well.

Step 4: Serve & Enjoy!

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Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

• Extra Rich – Make it a coffee banana peanut butter smoothie by adding 1-2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter (or the nut or seed butter of your choice).
• No Coconut – Feel free to swap in the unsweetened plant-based milk or dairy milk of your choice.
• No Banana – If you’re fresh out of frozen bananas (or if you simply don’t like them), feel free to replace them with the frozen fruit or veggie purée of your choice. Soft silken tofu, cottage cheese, or oatmeal are all possible options as well. Note that you might need to add a tablespoon or two of liquid sweetener like maple syrup if you make the swap since bananas are the primary sweetener in this recipe.

Serving Suggestions

I like to make a protein coffee smoothie whenever I’m in need of both and extra cup fo coffee and a filling snack or meal. I think they’re the perfect way to start the day — milkshakes for breakfast!!! — but are also great for rewarding yourself after a workout or for banishing the 3 pm slumps.

Recipe Success Tips & FAQs

• Add the protein powder last. I always add the protein powder at the end and pulse it in because if I add it with everything else, my smoothie ends up fluffy. It’s the strangest texture and I personally am not a fan. 🤷‍♀️
• If the shake is too thin, add 4-5 extra ice cubes and continue to blend until creamy.

Nutritional Info

You may be thinking that 400 calories is a lot for a smoothie. And it definitely is if you’re just having it as a snack. But, if you’re drinking it as your breakfast in the morning, 400 calories is perfectly reasonable!

Also, note that you’re getting a whopping 25 grams of protein, 12 grams of fiber, and a bevy of other nutrients in each shake, so it’s not like you’re drinking a bunch of empty calories. That said, if you are drinking these coffee shakes as a snack in the afternoon, I would cut the recipe in half or make a full smoothie and share it with someone else.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 400 calories
• Protein: 25 grams
• Sodium: 104 mg
• Carbohydrates: 25 grams
• Fiber: 12 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Pricing Info

This is what I personally paid for the ingredients needed to make this caffeinated breakfast smoothie:

• 3/4 cup cold brew: $0.75
• 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk: $0.37
• 2 T chia seeds: $0.66
• 1/2 frozen banana: $0.10
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon: $0.02
• 1 scoop protein powder: $0.87

The entire cost of this cold brew protein shake is roughly $2.77 per smoothie. The most expensive part is the protein powder. High-quality protein powders cost more money than the sub-par versions but are 100% worth it for your health (not to mention the flavor and consistency!).

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I seriously love making these in the mornings or in the afternoons when my toddler is destroying the house and I don’t have the energy to stop her. Make this and let me know what you think!

xoxo Megan