Wondering if you can put protein powder in coffee? The answer is yes and it’s easier than you think with hot coffee and good protein powder!
Do you need a little more protein in the mornings? Or maybe you’re not a breakfast person but you still need a little bit of nutrition before the day begins. Putting protein powder in your morning coffee is a great solution!
Protein coffee has been my go-to coffee drink for years and there are a few reasons why. It helps to keep me full in the mornings, it tastes amazing and the texture is frothy and so smooth, and I get a great boost of high-quality protein before I even eat breakfast!
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Can you put protein powder in coffee?
Yes, you can! But I don’t recommend stirring it with a spoon like you would with regular coffee creamer. The best way I’ve found to combine protein powder in coffee is to use a regular blender! Using a blender yields a smooth, frothy coffee instead of one with little chunks.
What does protein coffee taste like?
It tastes like a regular cup of coffee with some flavor in it, similar to what it tastes like when you add powdered coffee creamer.
You can use just about any flavor you want, but my preference is either vanilla protein powder or chocolate protein powder. I’ve also used coconut flavored and cinnamon roll flavored protein powders, too, which taste absolutely amazing!
Ingredients
Hot Coffee – I like to use 12 oz of medium-roast coffee, but you can use any type of coffee you’d like for this protein coffee recipe!
Whey Protein Powder – I like to use a high-quality protein powder with probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber. Designer Whey Protein Powder is amazing and blends really well with hot coffee in the blender. Any flavor that makes sense in combination with coffee will taste great in this recipe. My favorites over the years have been vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon roll.
Instructions
- Add hot coffee to your blender.
- Add a scoop of protein powder. Blend for about 30 seconds, until the protein powder is dissolved and the coffee looks foamy and frothy.
- Pour into your coffee mug, add cream if needed, and drink up!
Tips & FAQ
The blender is the best way to get a super smooth, frothy cup of protein coffee. You can use a shaker bottle, but you have to shake the protein coffee for a long time to get it to be smooth. When using a shaker bottle, be careful! When shaking protein powder and hot coffee, pressure can build up in the shaker bottle and it can explode all over your kitchen! So just give it a couple of shakes and then release the pressure, put the cap back on, and keep shaking until smooth.
I wouldn’t recommend just mixing protein powder into coffee with a spoon, as it won’t combine well and will clump up, giving you chunks of protein powder in your coffee. The best way to combine protein powder and hot coffee is to use a high-speed blender!
You should be able to make this recipe with any protein powder, plant-based, or whey. I would not recommend using an egg protein powder though, as it will cause your coffee to thicken and become a different texture and consistency. If you have another type of protein powder that you’d like to try, experiment with it first!
Nutritional Info
The nutritional content of your protein coffee will largely depend on the type of protein powder you use.
I calculated the nutrition information based on the protein powder I actually use, Designer Whey. It’s low in carbohydrates, calories, and sugars, and has 20 grams of protein per scoop!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 123 calories
- Protein: 20 grams
- Sodium: 93 mg
- Carbohydrates: 9 grams
- Fiber: 3 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 to make this recipe:
- 12 oz hot coffee: $0.25
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder: $0.83
The total I spend each morning on my cup of hot protein coffee is $1.08!
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Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
How to Blend Protein Powder In Coffee
Ingredients
- 12 oz hot coffee freshly brewed
- 1 scoop high-quality protein powder either vanilla or chocolate flavored
Instructions
- Add hot coffee to your blender, then a scoop of protein powder. Blend for about 30 seconds, until the protein powder is dissolved and the coffee looks foamy.
- Pour into your coffee mug, add cream if needed, and drink up!
Video
Nutrition
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Blending protein powder in coffee is not difficult and seriously tastes amazing! It will definitely become a must-have for your busy mornings!
xoxo Megan
Nicole says
If my protein powder calls for 2 scoops as a serving, do I still use one scoop or do I use a full serving?
Megan Byrd, RD says
Great question, I would use 2 scoops!
Theresa says
I like my coffee very hot. Can I reheat it after I add my creamer
Megan Byrd, RD says
I’m sure you can, but it may not be as frothy!
Sherre says
Can you add ice for an ice coffee
Megan Byrd, RD says
If you wanted to do an iced coffee, I would recommend blending the protein powder with the milks, then pouring over cold coffee. Omit the banana and the chia seeds.
Nathan says
Will this denature the protein and decrease its dietary value? I’ve always thought it might and have thus cooled my coffee substantially with milk before adding any protein. Would far prefer to drink it warm if you think that will work?
Megan Byrd, RD says
Heating up protein powder to my knowledge does not affect how well it’s absorbed by our bodies. And drinking my protein coffee this way every day keeps me substantially fuller than drinking regular coffee with cream. Which tells me my body is absorbing the protein just fine. Hope that helps! 🙂
RJ says
Can you mix it up in a blender? I have been searching for a good protein powder. Can’t wait to try Designer!
Megan Byrd, RD says
Hi RJ,
I saw your comment yesterday so I made my protein coffee in the blender this morning. It actually works better in the blender!!! It’s smooth, frothy, and creamy, so good! The only thing I would caution you on is that if you have a single-serve blender like a Nutribullet or something like that, I wouldn’t use it for the protein coffee. I only say that because when I make protein coffee in my blender bottle, it builds up a ton of pressure with the hot coffee and protein powder and you have to release the pressure after a couple of shakes or it explodes pretty quickly. I would hate for you to have a huge mess on your hands in the morning! I have a Ninja blender that holds 2 liters, so the pressure building up wasn’t an issue. I’m so excited for you to try Designer Protein too! What flavor did you get? Anyways, hope this long answer helps! 🙂
George says
You had me at protein coffee! I don’t know why I’ve never thought to do this, but I love the idea. Thanks.
Megan Byrd, RD says
Right!? I’m sipping on my cup of protein coffee right now!
Robin Wallbaum says
Going to try this.. hope it’s good!
Megan Byrd, RD says
I can’t wait to hear what you think! 🙂