Protein Coffee: How to Add Protein to Your Coffee
How to combine coffee and protein powder without clumping - plus the benefits of starting your day with a high-protein coffee.
Protein coffee - also called "proffee" - combines two daily staples into one drink. It is a simple way to boost your morning protein intake without adding a separate meal. Here is how to do it right.
What Is Protein Coffee?
Protein coffee is any coffee drink with added protein, usually from whey protein powder or a protein shake. A typical serving provides the caffeine from your regular coffee plus 20–30g of protein.
Why Add Protein to Coffee?
1. Hit Your Protein Target Earlier
Many people under-eat protein at breakfast. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that most adults consume the majority of their protein at dinner, leaving morning and midday meals protein-deficient (Berner et al., 2013). Adding protein to your coffee shifts some of that intake to the morning - right when your body needs it after an overnight fast.
2. It Is Fast
If you already make coffee every morning, adding a scoop of protein takes 30 seconds. No cooking, no extra dishes.
3. Keeps You Full
Protein is the most satiating macronutrient. Combining it with coffee (which also suppresses appetite short-term) can help reduce snacking and keep you satisfied until lunch - especially useful if you are in a calorie deficit.
How to Make Protein Coffee (Without Clumping)
The biggest challenge is that protein powder clumps in hot liquid. Here are three methods that work:
Method 1: Iced Protein Coffee (Easiest)
- Brew coffee and let it cool, or use cold brew
- Pour over ice in a shaker bottle or glass
- Add one scoop of protein powder
- Shake vigorously or stir with a fork
Cold or iced coffee mixes much more easily with protein powder. This is the most reliable method.
Method 2: Blended Hot Protein Coffee
- Brew hot coffee
- Pour into a blender
- Add one scoop of protein powder
- Blend for 10–15 seconds
The blender breaks up clumps that stirring cannot. This works well with both whey and plant-based powders.
Method 3: The Two-Step Mix
- Mix protein powder with a small splash of cold water or milk until smooth
- Pour hot coffee over the top and stir
This prevents the protein from seizing up on contact with hot liquid.
Tip: Whey isolate mixes more smoothly than concentrate in coffee. Vanilla and unflavoured work best - chocolate protein coffee is an acquired taste.
Protein Coffee Nutrition
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120–150 (black coffee + whey isolate) |
| Protein | 25–30g |
| Caffeine | 80–120mg (one cup of coffee) |
| Fat | 0–2g |
| Sugar | 0–1g |
If you use milk instead of water, add another 8g of protein and 80–150 calories depending on the milk type.
Does Heat Damage the Protein?
A common concern. The answer: no - not meaningfully. Heat causes whey protein to denature (unfold), which changes its texture (hence the clumping), but denaturation does not reduce the amino acid content or nutritional value. Your body breaks protein down into amino acids during digestion anyway - the shape of the protein molecule before digestion does not matter (Hoffman & Falvo, 2004, JISSN).
Best Protein Types for Coffee
| Type | Works in Coffee? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whey isolate | Best | Dissolves cleanest, least clumping |
| Whey concentrate | Good | Slightly more clumping than isolate |
| Casein | Poor | Very thick, tends to curdle in heat |
| Plant-based (pea/soy) | Fair | Gritty texture; blending recommended |
| Collagen | Good | Dissolves well but incomplete amino acid profile |
The Bottom Line
Protein coffee is a simple, effective way to increase your morning protein intake. Use iced coffee or a blender for the best texture, choose whey isolate for the smoothest mix, and count it toward your daily protein target. It works especially well as part of a high-protein breakfast routine.
Log your protein coffee in Protein Pal to keep your daily count accurate.