Protein coffee can be as simple as cold coffee stirred into a ready-made shake. It can also mean powder blended into an iced mocha or a thicker coffee smoothie made with Greek yogurt. The right starting point depends on the texture you want and the ingredients you already like.
These six recipes cover those different routes. Each makes one drink, and each keeps the coffee cold before it meets the protein ingredients. Pick the ready-made shake version for the fewest steps, a powder-based drink for more flavor flexibility, or one of the smoothies when you want a thicker blend.
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Before you start
Use chilled brewed coffee or cold brew that is ready to drink. Dilute concentrate according to its label before measuring it. Fresh espresso can work in other recipes, but do not pour it hot into these cold protein mixtures.
Weigh protein powder: a 25 g portion means 25 g of powder, not 25 g of protein. Scoops, sweeteners and thickeners vary by product. The recipes do not promise a fixed protein amount; use the labels on your actual ingredients if you need to calculate it.
For a smoother powder drink, combine the powder with cold milk before adding coffee. Use a blender for the cocoa, frozen banana, yogurt and date recipes. A shaker works for some powders, but do not put hot liquid in a sealed shaker or blender cup.
Choose a recipe
- Vanilla Shake Iced Protein Coffee
- Chocolate Mocha Protein Coffee
- Maple Cinnamon Protein Latte
- Banana Peanut Butter Coffee Smoothie
- Vanilla Greek Yogurt Coffee Smoothie
- Plant-Based Date and Tahini Protein Coffee
Vanilla Shake Iced Protein Coffee
Start here if you want to skip the blender. A ready-to-drink vanilla protein shake supplies the creamy base; cold coffee keeps the drink from becoming a glass of sweet milk.
Vanilla Shake Iced Protein Coffee
Start here if you want to skip the blender. A ready-to-drink vanilla protein shake supplies the creamy base; cold coffee keeps the drink from becoming a glass of sweet milk.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) chilled brewed coffee or ready-to-drink cold brew, not concentrate
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) chilled vanilla ready-to-drink protein shake
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Shake the protein drink in its original closed container according to its label.
- Stir the chilled coffee and measured protein shake together in a measuring jug.
- Put the ice in a 20-ounce glass. Pour in the coffee mixture and stir briefly. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use 3/4 cup of the shake, not necessarily the entire bottle. Protein varies by brand and portion.
Both liquids should be cold. If using cold-brew concentrate, dilute it according to its label before measuring.
A smaller glass may need less ice.
Chocolate Mocha Protein Coffee
This is the powder option for chocolate-coffee drinkers. Mixing the powder into milk before adding coffee gives you a chance to smooth out dry pockets.
Chocolate Mocha Protein Coffee
This is the powder option for chocolate-coffee drinkers. Mixing the powder into milk before adding coffee gives you a chance to smooth out dry pockets.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold milk of choice
- 25 g chocolate protein powder
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) chilled brewed coffee or ready-to-drink cold brew, not concentrate
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, optional
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Add milk, protein powder and cocoa to a blender. Blend for 15–20 seconds, then scrape down any dry powder.
- Add the chilled coffee and blend briefly until combined. Taste and blend in the optional maple syrup if needed.
- Fill a 20-ounce glass with ice and pour the mocha mixture over it. Serve immediately.
Notes
25 g is the weight of powder, not 25 g of protein; use a kitchen scale because scoop sizes differ.
Some powders thicken more than others. If needed, blend in 1–2 tablespoons extra cold milk and use less ice.
Use a blender with cold ingredients; do not seal hot coffee in a shaker.
Maple Cinnamon Protein Latte
A little maple syrup and cinnamon turn a plain vanilla protein coffee into a warmer-tasting iced drink. Instant espresso gives you a small, strong coffee base without needing an espresso machine.
Maple Cinnamon Protein Latte
A little maple syrup and cinnamon turn a plain vanilla protein coffee into a warmer-tasting iced drink. Instant espresso gives you a small, strong coffee base without needing an espresso machine.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) room-temperature water
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold milk of choice
- 25 g vanilla protein powder
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Stir the instant espresso powder into the room-temperature water until dissolved.
- Blend the cold milk, vanilla protein powder, maple syrup and cinnamon until smooth, about 20 seconds.
- Add the dissolved coffee and pulse briefly. Pour over the ice in a 16- to 20-ounce glass.
Notes
Choose instant espresso that can dissolve in room-temperature water; check its label.
Cinnamon will remain as fine specks rather than dissolve completely.
Check sweetness before adding more syrup; vanilla protein powders vary widely.
Banana Peanut Butter Coffee Smoothie
Frozen banana makes this a spoon-thick smoothie rather than an iced latte. Peanut butter adds a clear nutty flavor, while chocolate protein powder pulls the coffee and banana together.
Banana Peanut Butter Coffee Smoothie
Frozen banana makes this a spoon-thick smoothie rather than an iced latte. Peanut butter adds a clear nutty flavor, while chocolate protein powder pulls the coffee and banana together.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled brewed coffee
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) cold milk of choice
- 1 small ripe banana, peeled, sliced and frozen (about 100 g peeled weight)
- 20 g chocolate protein powder
- 1 tablespoon (16 g) smooth peanut butter
Instructions
- Put coffee and milk in a blender first. Add the frozen banana, chocolate protein powder and peanut butter.
- Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape the sides if needed, about 30–45 seconds.
- If the blender stalls, add cold milk 1 tablespoon at a time, up to 2 tablespoons. Pour into a 20-ounce glass and serve immediately.
Notes
Prep time assumes the banana is already frozen; freeze slices ahead until solid.
This recipe contains peanuts. A nut or seed butter substitute changes the flavor and may change thickness.
No extra ice is needed; the frozen banana supplies the thick texture.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt Coffee Smoothie
No protein powder is needed here. Greek yogurt makes a tangy coffee smoothie, so choose this one if you like the taste of yogurt rather than expecting a sweet bottled-shake flavor.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt Coffee Smoothie
No protein powder is needed here. Greek yogurt makes a tangy coffee smoothie, so choose this one if you like the taste of yogurt rather than expecting a sweet bottled-shake flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled brewed coffee
- 3/4 cup (170 g) plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) cold milk
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, plus up to 1 teaspoon more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Blend the coffee, Greek yogurt, milk, 1 teaspoon maple syrup and vanilla until evenly combined.
- Add the ice and blend until smooth. Taste and add the second teaspoon of maple syrup only if wanted.
- Pour into a 16- to 20-ounce glass and serve immediately.
Notes
Use Greek yogurt rather than ordinary thin yogurt. Brands and fat levels affect the result.
Yogurt and coffee produce a tangy flavor. Choose a mild coffee if you prefer less acidity.
This is a yogurt smoothie, not a promise of a particular protein amount.
Plant-Based Date and Tahini Protein Coffee
Dates bring a caramel-like sweetness and tahini adds sesame flavor. This is the blender recipe for someone who wants a dairy-free option without relying on banana.
Plant-Based Date and Tahini Protein Coffee
Dates bring a caramel-like sweetness and tahini adds sesame flavor. This is the blender recipe for someone who wants a dairy-free option without relying on banana.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled brewed coffee
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold unsweetened soy milk
- 20 g unflavored plant-based protein powder
- 1 large soft Medjool date, pitted (about 24 g)
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) well-stirred tahini
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Check that the date pit is completely removed. Tear the date into several pieces.
- Blend coffee, soy milk, protein powder, date pieces and tahini until the date is finely blended, about 45–60 seconds.
- Add the ice and blend again until smooth. Pour into a 20-ounce glass and serve immediately.
Notes
If the date is dry, soak it in warm water for 10 minutes, drain and cool before blending; add that time to prep.
Contains soy and sesame. Check the protein-powder label for other allergens and dairy-free suitability.
Plant powders can taste earthy or thicken quickly. Check the drink immediately and after 5 minutes; add 1–2 tablespoons cold soy milk if needed.
Adjust the texture before changing the whole recipe
If a drink is too thick, blend in cold milk one tablespoon at a time. If it tastes too sweet, try a less-sweet protein product on the next batch instead of adding more coffee indefinitely. More coffee changes both the flavor and the drink size.
Foam can settle for a minute before pouring. A gritty drink may need more blending, but a powder that stays chalky in plain milk may also stay chalky in coffee. Keep notes on the brand and measured amount so you can repeat a result you like.
Can you make these with decaf?
Yes. Use chilled decaf coffee in the same quantity. Check flavored powders and shakes for added caffeine if that matters to you.
Can you make them ahead?
Measure dry ingredients and chill the coffee ahead, then mix the drink when you want it. The smoothies are best served immediately because their texture changes as the ice or banana warms. Follow the storage instructions on your milk, yogurt and protein drink.
Choose your first recipe
The vanilla shake version has the shortest ingredient list. The mocha is the straightforward powder option. For a drink with no protein powder, choose the Greek yogurt smoothie and expect a little yogurt tang.
More coffee recipes
For another blend to explore, see our coffee smoothie recipe.
