Best Protein Powder for Coffee

What is the best protein powder for coffee?

The best protein powder for coffee mixes in smoothly, tastes good with coffee and doesn't load your cup with sugar. Vanilla is the classic choice because it tastes like a vanilla latte. A powder that's already lightly sweetened means you can skip the syrup.

What to look for:

• Flavor. Vanilla, unflavored or mocha all work. Vanilla is the most versatile.
• No added sugar. Coffee shop syrups already add plenty. A 0g sugar powder keeps your drink lean.
• A clean finish. Bitter sweeteners and coffee's own bitterness can add up. Monk fruit tends to taste smoother than stevia for many people.
• No gums. Gums can make hot coffee thick and slimy.
• Enough protein to matter. 20g or more turns coffee into a real breakfast.

Here's Optimal Plant Protein, straight from the label:¹

Is it a good idea to put protein powder in your coffee?

For a lot of people, yes. Many people drink coffee instead of eating breakfast, which means the first protein of the day doesn't come until lunch. Adding a scoop to your coffee fixes that with no extra time. Protein also keeps you fuller than the same calories from carbs or fat, so a protein coffee can hold you longer than a sugary latte.⁴

The drink is sometimes called "proffee," short for protein coffee. It's simple: coffee, protein powder and milk if you like it.

Does hot coffee destroy protein powder?

No. Heat changes a protein's shape, which is called denaturation, but the amino acids your body uses are still there. Your stomach denatures protein during digestion anyway. Cooking can even make protein easier to absorb. In one study, people absorbed about 91% of the protein from cooked eggs, compared with about 51% from raw eggs.²

The real problem with hot coffee is texture. Powder dropped into very hot liquid can clump. The fix is in the next section.

How do you mix protein powder into hot coffee without clumps?

1. Make a paste. Put one serving (36g) of Optimal in your mug with a splash of cold or room-temperature milk or water. Stir until smooth.
2. Add coffee slowly. Pour the coffee in a little at a time while stirring.
3. Let it cool slightly. Coffee just off the boil is the most likely to clump. A minute or two makes a difference.
4. Froth it. A handheld milk frother gives you a foamy, latte-like drink in seconds.
5. Or blend it. A quick blend makes the smoothest hot protein coffee. Vent the lid and blend on low, since hot liquids expand in a blender.

Is there a protein powder that dissolves in coffee?

No protein powder dissolves instantly in very hot coffee the way sugar does. Even powders labeled "for coffee" can clump if you dump them in. Fine powders without gums mix best. Optimal mixes smoothly with the paste method above, and it shakes easily into iced coffee and cold brew.

Collagen powders dissolve most easily in hot liquids, but collagen isn't a complete protein, so it's not a full replacement for a protein powder.

What is a good protein to add to coffee?

Pea and brown rice protein, whey and collagen are the most common choices:

• Pea and brown rice. Dairy-free and creamy. Works hot or iced with a little technique.
• Whey. Mixes well cold, but can clump in very hot coffee.
• Collagen. Dissolves easily, but it's an incomplete protein.

If you take your coffee black or with plant milk, a dairy-free powder like Optimal keeps your drink dairy-free too.

What milk is best for protein coffee?

• Oat milk. Creamy and froths well, which makes it a favorite for lattes.
• Soy milk. Adds the most protein of the plant milks and foams nicely.
• Almond milk. Light and low in calories, with a nutty taste.
• Dairy milk. Rich, adds protein and steams beautifully.
• No milk. Water and a serving of Optimal still make a smooth vanilla coffee. It's just lighter.

How do you make an iced protein coffee?

Iced coffee is the easiest way to start:

• Shaker method. Add 1 cup of cold brew or chilled coffee, a splash of milk and one serving of Optimal to a shaker bottle. Shake for 20 seconds and pour over ice.
• Blender method. Blend cold brew, milk, a serving of Optimal and a handful of ice for a frappe-style drink.
• Breakfast shake. Blend cold brew, half a frozen banana, a spoonful of almond butter and a serving of Optimal.

Easy protein coffee recipes

• Vanilla protein latte. Make a paste with one serving of Optimal and a splash of milk. Add a shot or two of espresso, then top with steamed or frothed milk.
• Cinnamon cold brew. Shake cold brew, oat milk, Optimal and a pinch of cinnamon.
• Mocha protein coffee. Stir a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa into the paste before adding the coffee.
• Pumpkin spice protein latte. Add a spoonful of pumpkin puree and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice to the paste.
• Salted caramel-style. A tiny pinch of salt and a few drops of maple syrup bring out the vanilla.
• Protein affogato. Pour a shot of espresso over a scoop of homemade protein ice cream. See the best protein powder for Ninja Creami.

Can you put protein powder in a coffee maker or espresso machine?

No. Never put protein powder in the water tank, filter basket or pod of a coffee machine. It can clog the machine and won't mix properly. Brew your coffee as usual, then add the powder to your cup using the paste method, or blend the finished coffee with the powder.

Can you add protein powder to tea or matcha?

Yes. The same paste method works for black tea, chai and matcha lattes. Vanilla is especially good in chai and matcha. Like coffee, tea contains compounds that can reduce how much plant iron you absorb from a meal.⁵

Is protein coffee good for weight loss?

It can be, if it replaces something higher in sugar. A flavored coffee shop latte with syrup often has much more sugar than a homemade protein coffee. Higher-protein eating helps people stay full and keep muscle while losing weight.⁴ Watch the add-ins, though. Whipped cream, flavored creamers and syrups can undo the benefit. For more, see the best protein powder for weight loss.

Does protein coffee break a fast?

Yes. A serving of Optimal has 150 calories, so a protein coffee counts as a meal, not a fasting drink.¹ If you follow time-restricted eating, many people make protein coffee their first meal of the day, which is a good way to start the eating window with protein.

Can you drink protein coffee before a workout?

Yes. Many people like the caffeine before training and the protein afterward, and a protein coffee covers both. If coffee on an empty stomach makes you feel jittery or queasy, a protein coffee can feel easier than black coffee alone. For more on timing, see when protein powder should be taken.

Can you make protein coffee ahead of time?

Iced protein coffee keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for about a day. It will settle, so shake it before drinking. For hot coffee, it's best to mix it fresh. If you like a grab-and-go option, keep a jar of cold brew in the fridge and shake in a serving of Optimal each morning.

How much caffeine is too much?

The FDA says up to 400mg of caffeine a day, about four or five cups of coffee, is generally not linked to negative effects for most healthy adults.³ People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, sensitive to caffeine or taking certain medications may need less. Protein powder doesn't change how much caffeine is in your cup.

Does coffee affect iron absorption?

It can. Compounds in coffee and tea can reduce how much plant (non-heme) iron your body absorbs from a meal.⁵ Optimal has 8.4mg of iron per serving.¹ If you're trying to raise your iron, have Optimal in a smoothie with fruit sometimes instead of always in coffee, since vitamin C helps with absorption.⁵ See the best protein powder for smoothies.

Why we make Optimal this way

• 26g of protein per serving (36g). 150 calories and 0g of sugar.¹
• Vanilla latte flavor. Organic vanilla and organic monk fruit, with no stevia aftertaste.
• Four ingredients. Organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit. No gums, dairy or soy.
• Tested. We publish our heavy metal results from Light Labs, an independent lab.
• Certified. USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free.

Sources

1. fitppl. Optimal Plant Protein Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.
2. Evenepoel P, et al. Digestibility of cooked and raw egg protein in humans as assessed by stable isotope techniques. Journal of Nutrition, 1998.
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?
4. Leidy HJ, et al. The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2015.
5. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron: fact sheet for health professionals.