Waking up in the morning to a fresh cup of coffee is one of the best parts of our daily routine. If you like to exercise, gulping down a protein shake is probably a part of that routine as well. This gets some people thinking, is it possible to mix these two wonderful parts of your day into one fantastic drink?
In short, yes, you can add protein powder to your coffee. Some people do it routinely. However, it’s not as easy as just adding any protein powder to a cup of Joe. You need to think about the temperature of your drink and how the protein’s flavor will affect the coffee’s taste.
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The benefits of coffee and protein powder
These two drinks have become such a staple in our lives due to their individual health and therapeutic benefits.
A cup of coffee a day can fuel your body with much-needed antioxidants, help maintain blood sugar levels, improve your mood, and is an effective aide in controlling weight. And let’s not forget the much-needed energy it provides when you’re just waking up or need a quick pick-me-up.
Protein is one of your three macronutrients and is vital for essential life functions. It helps support your immune system, hormone levels, and is responsible for the repair and strengthening of damaged cells.
Mixing coffee and protein powder together
However, just because coffee and protein powder have their individual nutritional benefits does not mean that you should put protein mix in your coffee. Notice that there is a difference between asking, “can I?” and “should I?” do something. We already answered, “Can I?”. Now let’s look at “Should I?”
One problem you will find is that protein can be difficult to mix in hot liquids. Some people “fix” this by first mixing it in a cold liquid, and then heating it. This is a lot of extra work for something that may not taste great.
Find the right flavor
Finding a protein that flavors well with coffee can also be an issue. Don’t think you can get around this by using “non-flavored” protein because it can leave a somewhat “chalky” taste to it when just mixed in a liquid. Chocolate tends to be the most compatible if you want to start there and then experiment with others.
This leads to another possible problem for some: no matter what, your coffee will not taste like “coffee.” If you prefer your coffee black or just a simple latte with no flavoring, it will be difficult to find a good mix.
Should you do it?
If you are a true coffee lover who doesn’t usually add more than milk to your coffee, you shouldn’t just add protein powder to it. But keep reading for another option!
If you usually add syrup or flavored creamer to your coffee anyway, then adding protein powder to your coffee could prove to be an excellent option for you, as you can use the protein powder as your flavoring system which is a much healthier option.
Another option for your morning caffeine
If you’re busy in the morning and don’t have the time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee, but you still want your “caffeine fix”, you can do this little trick. Add coffee to a protein shake.
Mixing coffee in with your shake, can really add to the protein shake’s taste and give you the caffeine you’re looking for. This a much better compromise between the two than the other way around.
While it may seem somewhat trivial, the emphasis is on the taste. If you want to have coffee that tastes like coffee and not like a protein shake, don’t mix powder in. If you usually use syrups and other sweeteners, then go ahead and add protein powder.
On the other hand, if you’re having a protein shake and don’t mind it tasting a bit like coffee, then adding coffee to your shake will be no problem. In fact, you can actually buy coffee-flavored protein powder.
Test it out
Of course, the only way to know for sure if you’ll like it, is to go ahead and try adding protein powder to your coffee. Who knows? You may just find your favorite new breakfast drink!
What about Egg white protein powder? Yes you can add that to coffee too.
Frequently asked questions about protein powder
What are the best protein powders to use with coffee?
Mixability will be key as your coffee will generally be a relatively small amount compared to a protein shake. The more isolated a protein is, the better it tends to mix. This makes a high-quality isolate protein your best choice.
Should I use just water or add milk?
If you’re going to add protein mix to your coffee, you should add some milk as well. The addition of milk tends to aide in the mixing of the flavors compared to just using coffee with water. Plus, let’s not forget that milk on its own is a great source of protein by itself.
What about cold coffee?
You can absolutely mix protein powder in with cold coffee! In fact, being cold could help with the flavor complex and help it mix better. A cold coffee with protein powder and milk could prove to be a better alternative to a hot coffee.
Comments from users about protein and coffee
What I Love About Coffee and Protein
Coffee is great for my energy and is a very healthy drink, but what does it do for the human body and do I need protein? It’s a fair question to ask and it doesn’t have an easy answer. Protein has been known to help with weight loss, boost your immune system, reduce stress and even increase your metabolism. So is all this really true? If you look at the coffee side effects, you can see that you should be able to lose a pound or two if you cut back on the caffeine in your daily dose, and there are many other ways to increase the amount of caffeine in your coffee. In most cases though, it isn’t necessary to add extra protein to your diet to make the most out of coffee.
I love coffee and I need protein to keep me going
I love coffee and I need protein to keep me going, but I also drink plenty of water and I don’t think that a high amount of protein in my coffee makes sense. I’m more concerned about protein shakes than I am with protein in my coffee, because I feel like they are loaded with too much sugar and don’t provide the essential amino acids that I need. That’s the main reason that I prefer to drink a shake. Protein shakes have the protein, but don’t overload your body with too many calories and sugar.
If you are looking for an alternative way to add protein to your diet and keep up your daily intake, consider using a protein powder instead of coffee. They are fairly inexpensive and provide plenty of protein in each serving. They also have some of the same health benefits as coffee including boosting your immune system. It’s a good idea to drink your protein shake right after breakfast so that your digestive system gets plenty of it before the rest of your meals. You might also want to drink your protein shake throughout the day. You can always have a meal or snack later in the day. I know that I love coffee and I need protein for my body, but I also don’t want to take in more calories than I need and having extra calories in your system will slow down your metabolism and make you feel sluggish.
