Protein coffee (aka "proffee") has become something of a phenomenon among coffee lovers and fitness enthusiasts. The indulgent, energizing brew combines the power of one of the world’s most popular beverages and an essential macronutrient. The result is a drink that is indulgent, functional, and ergogenic.
This all sounds promising, but…is proffee really worth the hype?
Let’s take a closer look at what it is, its potential benefits and how you can whip up your own delicious cup of proffee at home (and save a TON of money compared to buying proffee at your favorite coffee shop).
What is Proffee?
At its core, proffee is a drink that combines coffee with protein. Most often, it is made using protein powder, such as whey protein or collagen protein; however, other protein sources can be used, including vegan protein.
The amount of protein in proffer usually varies between 10-25 grams, depending on your preference. Alternatively, you can buy pre-mixed proffee powders or find ready-to-drink options in stores.
Why is Proffee Popular?
While many fitness enthusiasts have been adding protein powder into their coffee for many years (it didn’t have a trendy name back then), “proffee” started trending on social media in recent years thanks to influencers touting its convenience and diverse benefits.
The Benefits of Protein Coffee
Convenience & Versatile
Time is precious, and we seem to never have enough of it. As such, we’re always looking for ways to streamline certain things in life in order to make time for others. Nowhere is this more prevalent than when it comes to food. Families and individuals, alike, cook less often than they used to and are turning to restaurants, delivery, and meal prep companies to fuel their bodies.
Protein coffee requires little work outside of brewing a cup of coffee and mixing in a scoop of protein powder. For those few minutes required to brew a cup (or pot) of coffee, you’ll be rewarded with a high-protein, low-fat, low-carb meal that keeps you full, supports muscle recovery, and energizes your body and mind to perform at its best!
Proffee is also highly customizable. You can tweak it to your palate. Some individuals like to add a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon for warmth. Others like to add cream or honey. Dress it up as you like, or keep it simple. Either way, it’s going to be delicious!
Lastly, proffee can accommodate all sorts of dietary preferences and nutrition plans, including low-carb, plant-strong, vegan, keto, and gluten-free.
Boosts Workout Performance & Recovery
Many busy individuals choose to workout first thing in the morning before the chaos of the day sets in. Some can train on an empty stomach, but others need something to help fuel their bodies and help shake off the cobwebs of waking up early.
Proffee provides an ideal quick-fix option for early morning trainees. It supplies caffeine to boost alertness, heighten focus and increase athletic performance. It also supplies protein to provide the essential amino acids (EAAs) that lean muscle tissue needs to repair, recover, and grow stronger!
On a side note, even if you’re not training early in the morning, protein coffee is still an awesome pre workout (or post-workout) drink to help you perform better and fuel recovery.
Supports Weight Loss
Protein coffee can help reduce appetite and overall daily calorie intake in a number of ways. For starters, coffee contains caffeine -- a stimulant which is known to help suppress appetite. Second, protein is the most satiating macronutrient, which means it helps keep you feeling fuller for longer compared to carbohydrates or fats. Third, adding a ½-1 scoop of protein to your morning coffee will be lower in calories than just about any sort of gourmet coffee you’ll get at a coffee shop. Making this swap can help you save calories (and money!). Fourth, caffeine provides a modest boost to your metabolism, which helps your body to burn more calories during the day.
Collectively, the combination of protein + coffee is ideal for those looking for a low-cost, convenient way to shed body fat.
Supports Health & Longevity
You may not realize it, but coffee offers an abundant source of antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid and polyphenols. In fact, research notes it’s one of the top sources of antioxidants in our diets.[1,2]
Additionally, regularly drinking coffee is associated with a decreased risk of several conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and type 2 diabetes. Phytochemicals naturally occurring in coffee also support brain health, improve insulin sensitivity, and possess potential anti-aging effects.[1]
How to Make Protein Coffee
Protein coffee is straightforward -- add protein powder to a coffee, blend (or stir very vigorously) and enjoy!
If you prefer your proffee extra creamy or sweet, you can add milk, creamer, or sweetener. Just realize that you’re also increasing the overall carbohydrate, fat, and calorie content of your protein coffee (which is fine, just something that you should be aware of!).
While most protein coffee recipes use hot coffee, you can also make iced protein coffee using cold brew coffee mixed with protein powder. You can even make a frozen coffee drink (frappe’) by combining cold coffee, protein powder and ice in a blender.
Protein Coffee Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of brewed coffee (hot or iced)
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- Optional: 1/4 cup milk of choice
- Optional: Sweetener (to taste)
Notes:
- Choose Your Brew: Stronger coffee (dark roast, French roast, espresso, etc.) pairs well with the added sweeter and thicker-tasting of whey protein powders like coconut ice cream or tres leches. Lighter roasts (blonde or breakfast blends) pair well with lighter flavors, such as vanilla ice cream or caramel toffee.
- Mix the protein powder: If using hot coffee, add the protein to the bottom of your coffee mug, then slowly pour in a little bit of coffee (2-3 ounces). Stir vigorously (or use a whisk or immersion blender) to combine and prevent any clumping. Then, fill your mug with the rest of your usual amount of coffee.
- Customize: You can always add additional creamer, milk and/or sweetener to your proffee, but, before you do, make sure to experiment with how much protein powder you are adding. High-quality protein powders, such as 1UP whey protein, are rich, creamy, and indulgent. When mixed into coffee, they typically are sweet enough and creamy enough to not need any additional cream or sugar. If you do want to add a dash of “flair”, we suggest sprinkling on a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder
Is Coffee with Protein Powder Healthy?
Coffee, by itself, contains next to no calories (<5 calories per serving), and it contains numerous bioactive compounds that are shown in research to offer benefits. Protein powder, too, is beneficial as it supplies a high-quality source of protein that delivers the key building blocks your body needs for protein synthesis.
Furthermore, combining coffee and protein powder creates a healthier option compared to conventional gourmet coffee drinks which are usually very high in fat, carbohydrates (sugar), and calories while also being very low in protein. Depending on which protein powder you choose and how much of it you add to your coffee, your proffee can contain as little as 50-75 calories, and between 140-150 on the high end. Compare that to a traditional grande frozen coffee from our local coffee shop which clocks in at over 350 calories, 17 grams of fat, 51 grams of sugar, and a paltry 5 grams of protein.
You can see clearly the benefits of making your own proffee be it hot, cold, shaken, stirred, or blended.
What Protein Powder Should I Use?
We realize there are hundreds (if not thousands) of options out there, but we recommend 1UP Protein powders.
No matter if you prefer whey protein, isolate protein, collagen protein, or vegan protein, we’ve got the one for you!
Our protein powders are formulated to deliver what you want (exceptional flavor, high protein, low carb, low fat) to help you get the results you want. Our protein powders (as are all of our supplements) are lab-tested for purity and manufactured with premium ingredients in our very own NSF/ANSI GMP 455-2 Certified and FDA Registered and inspected facility. We even test for heavy metal, microbiological and label accuracy to make sure you’re getting the absolute best supplements!
References
- Kobylińska, Z.; Biesiadecki, M.; Kuna, E.; Galiniak, S.; Mołoń, M. Coffee as a Source of Antioxidants and an Elixir of Youth. Antioxidants 2025, 14, 285. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14030285
- https://phys.org/news/2005-08-coffee-source-antioxidants.html
