Looking for a way to boost your coffee with extra protein?
Proffee—short for Protein Coffee—is the perfect blend of coffee and protein powder (or a ready-made protein shake).
It provides the energy of caffeine and the muscle-supporting benefits of protein, making it an excellent choice for mornings, pre-workout fuel, or afternoon pick-me-ups.
This viral TikTok trend has become a go-to drink for gym-goers, weight loss enthusiasts, and busy professionals looking for a quick, nutritious way to stay energized throughout the day.
Why you will love this recipe:
- Boosts Energy & Keeps You Full – As per the Cleveland Clinic, a morning dose of protein can help launch you into the day, especially when combined with the caffeine in coffee.
- Easy to Make – Mix coffee with protein powder or a protein shake.
- Customizable – Adjust sweetness, flavors, and protein powder options to your liking.
- Great for Fitness & Weight Loss – According to Healthline, protein helps reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness, which can keep you satisfied for longer and potentially lower overall calorie intake. Additionally, maintaining a high protein intake may help preserve muscle mass during weight loss.
After researching and testing different ways to make proffee, I’ve put together a simple and flavorful recipe that’s easy to customize.
Whether you’re using protein powder or a ready-made shake, this guide will help you make the best proffee for your needs.
Feel free to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy homemade proffee anytime.
Now, let’s dive into how to make proffee at home!
What is Proffee? (The TikTok protein coffee)
Proffee is a coffee recipe made by combining coffee and a protein shake. Proffee is usually made by adding ice cubes and a few espresso shots to a cup and mixing a protein shake through it. Sweeteners are optional in this recipe.
TikTok made this Proffee craze possible, with hundreds of people sharing their protein coffee.
This protein coffee is made using espresso shots. Most often, one or two shots are added to a protein shake with ice and flavorful coffee syrup.
Ingredients needed to make Proffee
Would you like to try this protein coffee yourself? Then you are in the right place!
For this recipe, you are going to need to gather a few things to get started:
| Ingredient | Measurement | Substitutions |
| ☕ Coffee | 1 cup (hot or iced) | Cold brew or espresso |
| 💪 Protein powder or Protein shake | 1 scoop (20-30g protein) | Vanilla, chocolate, or unflavored |
| 🍯 Coffee syrup (optional) | Optional | Check out my coffee syrup recipes here |
| ❄️ Ice cubes | Use as many ice cubes as you like | Skip for a hot version |
| 🥤 Big cup to mix the coffee | N/A | N/A |
Let’s dive a bit deeper into the ingredients, as you can make this protein coffee a few different ways, using other ingredients.
Best protein options for Proffee
This recipe usually uses a protein shake.
Because this shake is ready to drink, it is the protein most commonly used.
You can also use protein powder to make this protein coffee.
However, the protein coffee must be mixed with water to make it drinkable, but it will result in the same amazing coffee.
For this recipe, I’ll be using whey protein with vanilla flavor. But you can use any flavored or non-flavored protein you have at home.
If you are using non-flavored protein, you might want to add a sweetener to your Proffee drink.
If you’re still looking for a good Proffee protein powder that is specifically made to mix into hot coffee, I recommend checking out Allo’s protein powders.
They come in several different flavors, such as hazelnut, caramel, and vanilla. You can also opt for the natural-flavored version if you prefer a more natural taste or prefer adding a sweetener of your choice.
Tip: Use the code YOURDREAMCOFFEE20 to get 20% off any order you place via Allo’s website!
You can also use their creamer version to make Proffee for an even sweeter taste if you’re into that. These come in the same flavors mentioned above:
If you’re using unsweetened protein powder, you can add flavorful coffee syrup to spice things up.
You can choose from all kinds of flavors, so you can make a different-flavored Proffee each day.
Check out some delicious homemade syrups to make here, such as this chocolate syrup:
The best way to make this recipe is to combine all the ingredients into a big cup, stir or shake it all up, and drink it on your way to the gym.
But you can also make this recipe when you’ve just gotten home from a workout. You can then use a large cup you have at home to make this recipe, just like I’ll be using for this recipe.
Best coffee choices for Proffee
Coffee is the base for this protein coffee and is an essential part of making a delicious coffee drink. You can choose to make this recipe using quite a few different types of coffee.
You can make this recipe by using:
- One or two shots of espresso
- Cold brew coffee
- French press coffee
- Pour over coffee
Most commonly used are the espresso shots, which you can easily order at Starbucks and ask for them to add ice to the shots of espresso.
This way, you can add your protein shake, and you’re ready to drink your Proffee.
If you want to brew coffee at home, you may want to use an AeroPress or Moka pot to make espresso.
You can also brew a good cup of coffee using the French press, the Chemex, or the Hario V60.
Cold brew coffee is also great for making this recipe.
It contains a lot of caffeine (even more than espresso coffee), which will help you perform in the gym and get you energized to give it your best.
For this recipe, I brewed two espressos using the AeroPress and made the protein shake.
I’ll talk more about this a bit further down. Let me tell you a bit about the equipment used to make this recipe yourself:
Equipment needed to make Proffee at home
You can make this recipe using different types of equipment.
If you’re going to use a ready-to-drink protein shake, you can mix this with the coffee of your choice and add some ice cubes to make it more refreshing.
In the recipe below, I’ll show you how to make the protein coffee using protein powder and combining it with coffee and ice cubes.
To follow the recipe, you want to collect the following items:
- Whisk and bowl, or a shaker for the protein drink
- Coffee brewer to brew your favorite coffee for this recipe
- A big cup (or glass) to put the drink in
As you can see from the equipment mentioned above, this recipe is super easy to make in no time, making it great for making protein coffee after a workout.
I’ll be using a whisk and a bowl to make my vanilla protein drink. This will result in the same base for this recipe, like using a ready-to-drink protein shake.
And I’ll also be brewing my own coffee!
“I enjoy the information (because it satisfies curiosity) and the recipes. And I especially like the tone-no talking down to anyone!”
How to make a Proffee at home (Step-by-step guide)
Let’s get into the Proffee recipe!
Don’t forget to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy this homemade coffee anytime:
Proffee Recipe
The best way to get your protein and coffee in at the same time!
Ingredients
- Whey protein powder
- Water for the protein shake
- Coffee of your choice
- Ice cubes
- Coffee syrup (optional)
Instructions
Are you ready to prepare a super easy protein coffee from scratch? Let's jump into it:
- Start by brewing your coffee. I used an AeroPress to brew two shots of espresso for this recipe.
- Mix the protein powder and water in a bowl using a whisk. You can also use a shaker to create your protein shake.
- If you'd like to make this recipe using a ready-to-drink protein shake, you can skip the steps of making a protein shake.
- Add ice cubes to your cup. Use as much many ice cubes as you like. Your coffee drink is best enjoyed very cold.
- Pour the protein drink into your ice cube-filled cup.
- Now, add the coffee of your choice to the cup.
- Stir your protein coffee, so all the flavors get combined.
Your Proffee is now ready to be enjoyed! You can drink this protein coffee before or after your workout.
Notes
The amount of protein powder to add can differ depending on your brand. I use two scoops of protein to get 30 grams of protein. I've also had protein brands that need one scoop to get the same amount of protein.
Take a look at your protein powder label, so you know how much you have to add.
You can use any coffee you like to drink throughout the day to make this recipe.
Optionally, you can use a blender to make this recipe. Add all the ingredients into the blender and turn it on. Your Proffee will be mixed very well, and it is even more manageable and less time-consuming than mixing the ingredients yourself.
The number of calories and nutrition is based on the protein powder I use at home. This will slightly change depending on the brand you use. There isn't that much of a difference between protein powders - calorie-wise.
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Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 2.3gSaturated Fat: 0.7gCarbohydrates: 2.4gFiber: 0.6gSugar: 2.4gProtein: 30g
Health benefits of drinking Proffee
Here’s a quick overview of the benefits of drinking protein proffee coffee:
| Benefit | How It Helps |
| ⚡ Increased Energy | Caffeine provides a natural energy boost. One small study found that consuming caffeine increased time to exhaustion during a cycling exercise by 12% and significantly reduced subjective fatigue levels in participants. |
| 💪 Supports Muscle Recovery | According to Health.com, consuming protein after exercising helps repair and strengthen your muscles. |
| 🥤 Keeps You Full Longer | Protein can promote satiety, helping to curb hunger and reduce unnecessary snacking. |
| 🔥 Boosts Metabolism | Both caffeine and protein have thermogenic properties, potentially enhancing calorie burning and supporting weight management. |
| ✅ Easy to Customize | Use different flavors, protein powder options, and sweeteners. |
While proffee offers these potential benefits, it’s essential to consume it in moderation and choose high-quality protein sources to maximize its positive effects.
What does Proffee taste like?
This awesome mix of protein and coffee tastes very sweet and delicious. The protein powder provides a great base for the drink, while the coffee cuts through some of the sweetness and gives it that slight punchy flavor.
I really enjoy drinking this protein coffee, as it is the perfect way to consume both my protein and coffee in a relatively short time.
What is the best time to drink Proffee?
Proffee is best consumed after a hard workout. Getting some extra protein after having a solid training session will help your muscles grow stronger.
You can also drink Proffee before going to the gym or going for a run. The caffeine in the coffee will help you perform better and get your workout in on those tough mornings.
How many calories are in Proffee?
Proffee contains roughly 160 calories. This can change depending on the number of sweeteners used or on whether you add more protein to make your protein coffee.
I use a protein powder that contains 155 calories for 30 grams of protein. This can change depending on the brand of protein powder you like to use or when you’re using a ready-to-drink protein shake like one from Premier Protein.
FAQs about Proffee
Before I close off this article, let’s quickly go over a few key questions people have about proffee.
Who knows, maybe this will answer one of the questions you had as well!
Is Proffee good for weight loss?
Yes, Proffee can support weight loss. Health.com mentions that protein aids in muscle repair and satiety, helping preserve muscle mass and reduce food intake through appetite-regulating hormones.
Can I use plant-based protein in Proffee?
Absolutely! Plant-based protein powders such as pea, soy, or almond protein can be excellent alternatives to dairy-based options.
Is it better to use hot or iced coffee for Proffee?
Depending on personal preference, both hot and iced coffee can be used to make Proffee.
Iced Proffee is popular for its refreshing taste, especially in warmer months, while hot Proffee can be comforting during colder periods.
How much protein should I add to my coffee?
A common recommendation is to add 20 to 30 grams of protein to your coffee, which typically equates to one scoop of protein powder or one protein shake.
This amount aligns with standard protein supplementation practices.
Conclusion
Proffee is a delicious, easy, and nutritious way to start your day—whether you need a pre-workout boost or just love the taste of protein coffee.
I really like to use this recipe when I’ve got a hard workout planned for the day. I make it before getting started with the training, so the caffeine in coffee helps me perform better.
The best part? You can customize it with your favorite coffee, protein, and sweeteners to suit your taste and health goals.
Have you tried proffee before? What’s your favorite way to make it? Let me know in the comments below!
More coffee recipes to try
Ready to try more coffee recipes? Click on one of the articles below:
2 Comments
Such an interesting read! I love how this article explains the concept of proffee and its benefits. The blend of coffee and protein is a unique idea for starting the day with energy. Thanks for the tips and recipe suggestions!
Hey Alex,
Glad you liked the article! Proffee can be a great pre-workout drink—it gives you a nice balance of caffeine and protein to fuel your workout.
Let me know if you try it out and how it works for you!
– Jeffrey