Protein Coffee: Its Benefits and How to Make Proffee at Home

If you are looking for a healthy way to start your day, protein coffee might be the perfect coffee drink for you! Protein coffee, or proffee, is made by adding protein powder to your morning cup of coffee. This combination provides many health benefits and can help you reach your fitness goals.

In this post, we will discuss the benefits of protein coffee and show you how to make proffee from the comfort of your home. We will also discuss which type of protein powder goes best with your coffee and give you tips to optimize the deliciousness of your coffee drink.

Let's get started!

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What is Proffee and Where Does it Come From?

Proffee is the short name of TikTok protein coffee. It became all the rave a few years ago as a healthy way to start your day. This drink went viral on TikTok, and for good reason! Protein coffee is made by adding protein powder to your morning cup of joe. It's some type of iced coffee drink.

This easy combination provides many health benefits and can help you reach your fitness goals.

Proffee can be used as a pre or post-workout drink and offers many health benefits as we'll discuss below.

Why Did Proffee Become So Popular?

It's become very popular because Americans love their coffee and fitness.

As per the National Coffee Association (NCA), Americans are drinking more coffee than ever - 62 percent of Americans drink coffee once per day, and the average American coffee drinker gulps over 3 coffee cups per day!

And before the pandemic, the US was the world's largest fitness market at over $35 billion.

Finally, American people like to be time-efficient, and therefore combining their coffee and protein powder into one simple drink is a win-win!

To be honest, at first, I was skeptical when I heard about this "proffee" drink. You see, I'm a purist (and potentially a snob) - I really enjoy having an espresso, and adding sugar to it is blasphemy!

But when I tried "Proffee" I actually liked it!

What Are the Health Benefits of Protein Coffee (Proffee)

There are plenty of perks when drinking this combo - if done right.

Caffeine's benefits are well known to boost your energy, improve your athletic performance, reaction time, as well as enhance your memory. 

Coffee also provides other benefits such as reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, neurological diseases, and some cancers.

The added protein further provides energy and helps with muscle repair.

Proffee can be a healthy drink depending on the protein powder you use and provided you keep it simple and don't add all kinds of syrups or sugary creamers, which often contain sugars and unpronounceable ingredients.

A bonus benefit is that proffee can indirectly lower your sugar consumption. This is because adding protein powder cuts the bitterness of the coffee and adds a pleasant texture, so many people don't feel the need to add sugar or creamers to their coffee.

Are There Any Downsides to Proffee?

Yes, there are, but they can usually be avoided.

The main downside is drinking protein coffee late afternoon or evening. Many of us work out in the evenings after work, so if you are using proffee for your workout, the caffeine it contains will disrupt your sleep.

Also, make sure you don't exceed the maximum daily intake, which is 400 mg of caffeine as per the FDA, or about 4 cups of coffee.

To avoid any other downsides, the consumer should be label savvy. Some protein powders include artificial coloring and flavoring which in the long run can have negative impacts on your health. 

Further, to make "Proffee" truly healthy, keep the ingredient list as short as possible. Keep the coffee and the protein powder but leave out the syrups and other add-ons seen in TikTok.

What Types of Protein Should I Use?

Good thing you asked because this is one of the most important things to make your Proffee healthy!

We recommend choosing a quality protein powder that does not contain artificial sweeteners. Check the ingredient list and see if you can select one that has a relatively short ingredient list minimizing any gums and additives.

However, the protein shake universe is quite large...

So when it comes to protein powders, there are many other considerations, such as your protein intake, whether you want to gain muscle or lose weight, whether you are vegan or not, whether you are lactose intolerant or have gastrointestinal problems, and so on!

Depending on your personal circumstances, different types of protein powder may be best for you. Some of the main types include:

• Whey protein powder
• Soy protein 
• Egg protein
• Brown rice protein
• …and many more.

Read this great article by the Cleveland Clinic on how to choose your protein powder.

How to Make Proffee?

Preparing this drink from the comfort of your home is very easy. We will give you a simple protein coffee recipe and then some tips on how to customize it.

Ingredient List

You will need very few ingredients to concoct this one. It’s one of the easiest and most flexible coffee recipes.

• 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee (different types of coffee work, see below for recommendations). If you are using espresso, don't use a full cup of espresso 😉
  
  
• About 1 scoop of protein powder (this depends on your fitness goals and type of protein you're using)
  
  
• 1 cup of chilled water
  
  
• 1/2 cup of ice cubes (or to taste)

Equipment List

• Shaker (this is the best way to prepare your protein shake)
• 1 tall glass

Preparation Method

1. Brew your coffee as you usually would.
   
   
2. Add the protein powder and chilled water shaker, and shake! Follow the package instructions - the intent is to prepare 1 cup of protein shake.
   
   
3. To your tall glass add the ice and the freshly brewed coffee
   NOTE: we add the coffee and ice first to cool the coffee. Some protein powders may produce clumps if added to hot water.
   
   
4. Top the glass with the protein shake
   
   
5. Stir and enjoy your protein iced coffee!
   

Proffee Topins and Add-ons and Pro Tips

We've given you the simplest protein coffee recipe, but there are great ways to make your protein drink more interesting. See our tips below!

• Experiment with different types of protein powders to find the one that you like best.
  
  
• If your protein powder tastes a little too earthy or bland, try adding some honey or stevia.
  
  
• Or you can add a bit of cinnamon or vanilla extract (start with 1/4 tsp) to enhance the flavors.
  
  
• The ice cubes will enhance the flavors of your protein shake.
  
  
• You can also add collagen peptides to your proffee for joint support and healthy skin!
  
  
• If you are a coffee connoisseur, then use quality whole coffee beans and grind them just before brewing them.
  
  
• You can also use dairy milk or non-dairy milks such as almond milk, soy milk or oat milk. Depending on what you use though the calorie count may go up.

What Type of Coffee Should I Use for my Protein Coffee?

This is totally up to you. The flavors and amount of caffeine depend on the type of coffee beans you use, as well as how you brew them.

Regarding the types of coffee beans:

• Arabica beans have a more delicate flavor and less caffeine. They are usually considered of higher quality.
  
  
• Robusta beans have a stronger flavor and more caffeine.
  
  
• We recommend using Arabica beans if you want to make protein coffee with a subtle flavor, or Robusta beans if you are looking for a protein coffee with a bit more of kick.

Regarding the preparation brewing:

• Espresso: You will require an espresso machine or a nespresso machine (or you will need to go to your local Starbucks). Using espresso coffee will give your proffee a strong coffee flavor.
  
  
• French Press if you like your coffee strong but don't have an espresso machine (or simply like French Press coffee better!)
  
  
• Drip Coffee: You can prepare a regular cup of coffee using your coffeemaker. Depending on the beans you use the flavor should be a bit more acidic and not as strong as the espresso option.
  
  
• Pour-over coffee: Similar to drip coffee. You can make the pour-over coffee preparation part of your morning ritual!
  
  
• Cold Brew Coffee: Contains the most caffeine, use Robusta beans for an added kick. You can easily make some cold brew coffee by coarsely grinding 1 cup of coffee beans and adding them to 4 cups of water. Stir and cover the jar, and leave in the fridge for at least 12 hours.

Can I Make my Protein Coffee Drink Hot?

Absolutely!

There is a caveat though...

Many protein powders will foam and clump if you mix them with hot water.

So if you want to make a hot proffee:

1. Omit the ice from the recipe above.
2. Follow the recipe steps, but before consuming your proffee heat it up in the microwave.

Alternatively, you can add a pre-made bottled protein shake to your hot coffee.

Should I Use Protein Powder or Bottled Protein Shake for my Proffee?

Again, this is up to you. Both offer some advantages over each other.

• Bottled protein shakes means less of a mess and quicker preparation. Simply pour the bottled protein shake into your coffee with some ice! This option can be a bit wasteful and expensive though.
  
  
• Protein powders involve a bit of preparation (shake, shake, shake) but their advantage is that you can more easily control how much protein goes into your drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

Protein coffee is a great way to start your day. It provides you with protein, caffeine, and other essential nutrients that can help power you through the morning. You can customize your protein coffee however you like - using different types of beans, protein powders, and added ingredients.

Just keep it simple and healthy!

Happy brewing!