You can add protein powder to your iced coffee to get a high-protein coffee that’s sweet, creamy, and filling! Protein iced coffee is my favorite hack for getting in more protein and still enjoying my daily caffeinated beverage. One serving has a whopping 20 grams, which makes me feel good about drinking my coffee! Plus, it’s delicious.

Here’s how to make a high-protein iced coffee at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Hit your daily protein goals easily with this iced coffee!
• It tastes delicious, and there’s no weird aftertaste.
• It’s so easy to make and takes 3 ingredients and less than 5 minutes.

What is Protein Iced Coffee?

It’s iced coffee with extra protein in it! For this recipe, I mix vanilla protein powder and milk to get a high-protein milk, which I add to a smooth cold brew coffee over ice. The milk tastes like a vanilla milkshake and is presweetened, which makes it a great creamer for coffee.

You can use any brewed coffee you’d like, but I prefer cold brew since it’s smooth, not sour or bitter, and strong. Plus, you can make a bunch beforehand and have it all week.

Does Protein Powder Taste Good in Coffee?

I think it depends on what protein powder you use. Since my protein powder is sweetened and flavored, it really doesn’t taste like protein powder at all once it’s mixed with milk. The flavor is quite strong, but it’s balanced by the coffee.

If you use a low-quality or unflavored protein powder, there might be a weird chemical or wheaty taste. You can always add sugar or syrup if needed. But generally, protein powder tastes pretty good in coffee!

Can You Add Protein Powder to Iced Coffee?

Of course! It’s no different than making a protein shake with water or milk—coffee is basically bean-flavored water, right? All you need to do is mix the protein powder with some sort of liquid, whether it’s plain coffee or milk.

You’ll need to blend, shake, or froth the powder so that it’s nice and smooth. Otherwise, you’ll get clumps of dry powder that make a chunky texture.

What Protein Powder to Use

You can use your favorite protein powder! There’s no right or wrong powder to use, so use whatever you have available. Vanilla is always safe, but you can use chocolate, strawberry, or other flavors to make your iced coffee. I’ve even seen ube, milk tea, mango sticky rice, and other dessert-flavored powders.

You can find protein powder at literally any grocery store, but a large tub can be expensive. I like to get them from Costco, since it’s a little cheaper. It’s hard to find smaller packages.

But if you don’t have protein powder, you can use single-serving protein shakes or protein milk instead!

Protein Iced Coffee Recipe

What You’ll Need:

• Handheld frother, blender bottle, or jar

Ingredients:

• ½ scoop vanilla protein powder
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup cold brew coffee or brewed coffee
• 1 cup ice

How to Make Protein Iced Coffee

1. Buy or Make Brewed Coffee. Brew your favorite cup of iced coffee or cold brew coffee.
2. Blend Protein Powder. Add milk and protein powder to a cup and mix with a handheld frother until smooth with no clumps. You can also shake it in a bottle or jar.
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice and coffee to a separate glass, then top with protein milk.
4. Mix and Enjoy! Stir to combine and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Protein Iced Coffee

• Don’t Overfroth Protein Powder: Frothing your milk will create foam, which is great most of the time! However, I find that a lot of froth makes it hard to add the milk to the coffee. There’s not enough room, and you’ll have to wait for the foam to die down before adding more liquid.
• Pour Slowly: This is the chance to make a really pretty coffee! I like to add milk slowly to cold brew and watch the milk fall into pretty waterfalls. This is completely optional, but it makes my coffee experience better!
• Use a Protein Shake: If you don’t have protein powder, you can always substitute it with an already-made protein shake. You can buy your favorite protein shake or milk and add it to iced coffee for a convenient method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does protein iced coffee help you lose weight?

Well, it can help you lose weight if hitting protein macros is a part of your exercise journey. However, it doesn’t directly help you lose weight, nor is it a weight loss drink. It’s simply a way to get more protein in a delicious, caffeinated way!

Is protein iced coffee good for you?

If good is getting more protein into your body, then yeah! You get about 20 grams of protein, which is more than double the amount of a standard latte. However, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, then this might not be the best for you.

Does protein iced coffee make you feel fuller?

Take this with a grain of salt, but I find that it makes me feel fuller. Protein is harder for your body to digest, so it makes you feel fuller faster. Caffeine is also an appetite suppressant, so together, it really makes me feel less hungry.

Other Iced Coffee Recipes

Making iced coffees at home is so affordable and easy to make healthy! Plus, it gives you an excuse to try out different coffee flavors and combinations. So, here are some other iced coffee recipes you should try next:

• Salted Honey Cold Foam Iced Coffee
• Caramel Iced Coffee
• Vietnamese Iced Coffee
• Oreo Iced Coffee
• Salted Maple Cold Foam Cold Brew