If you’re looking for tasty ways to maximize your protein intake, you’ve come to the right place. And the right recipe! This Coffee Protein Shake is one of my favorite way to refuel after a tough workout. It’s cold and refreshing, and tastes like a keto frosty!
Over the last few years, I’ve shifted the focus of my diet to incorporate more high protein recipes. Having done quite a bit of research into the subject, I feel strongly that we need more high-quality protein (and more exercise) to support healthy aging. So strongly that I even wrote a book on the matter! The Protein Advantage Cookbook – I hope you will check it out.
And in that vein, I have created a number of delicious low carb recipes that help boost your protein intake. Reader favorites include Peanut Butter Protein Balls and Keto Chocolate Breakfast Cookies. And this coffee protein shake recipe tops the list too! You won’t ever pay for pre-made shakes again with this recipe at hand.
What readers are saying…
“Chocolatey and delicious! Made it as a Sunday morning treat, my husband loved it. Now I have a new, any time of day or night, treat!” — Denise
Why We Love This Recipe
- Super easy: Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend it up.
- Clean ingredients: Nothing strange or suspect here. Just 6 keto-friendly ingredients so you know exactly what you’re getting.
- Delicious flavor: The coffee is frozen into cubes so this keto shake doesn’t get watered down by melting ice. It stays creamy and rich for as long as it takes you to drink it
- Energizing: Caffeine plus protein make the perfect blend of energy and refreshment.
- Customizable: Use decaf coffee, switch up the flavors of protein, adjust the sweetener, and make this recipe to suit your tastes and macros.
- Low carb: No added sugar and only 3.1 grams net carbs make it perfect for low carb and keto diets.
Ingredient Notes
- Coffee: Cold brew is a good choice for this recipe, as it has a strong coffee flavor. But you can use any cold coffee, including espresso. You can also use decaffeinated.
- Low carb milk: I like to use hemp milk in smoothies and shakes, as it has no carbs. But you can also use almond milk or macadamia milk. Just be sure to choose the unsweetened variety.
- Whipping cream: Heavy cream adds richness and thickness to this coffee protein shake.
- Protein powder: You can use whey, egg white, collagen, or plant-based protein in this recipe. Feel free to play with different flavors of protein as well. Chocolate, vanilla, and salted caramel would all be lovely.
- Sweetener: You can use your preferred sweetener here, but powdered or liquid versions work best to avoid grittiness.
- Cocoa powder: A little cocoa powder makes it taste like a mocha milkshake. But you can skip it if you like.
How to Make Coffee Protein Shakes
- Freeze the coffee: Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least 4 hours.
- Blend the ingredients: Transfer the cubes to a blender and add the remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth.
- Adjust the sweetener: Taste the mixture and add more sweetener as desired.
- Serve and enjoy! Divide between two tall glasses.
Carolyn’s Expert Tips
A standard ice cube tray will make enough coffee cubes for two protein shakes. But you can easily make one and store the remaining cubes in the freezer for another day.
If the protein powder you use is unsweetened, you may want to add an additional tablespoon of sweetener to the shake. You can easily taste and adjust the sweetener after the ingredients are blended together.
Dairy-Free Option: You can make this shake dairy-free by replacing the whipping cream with full fat coconut milk or coconut cream.
Sweetener Options: This protein shake recipe doesn’t rely on the kind of sweetener for consistency. So you can use highly concentrated sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract if you prefer.
Coffee Protein Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (355.5 g) cold brew coffee, (or any strongly brewed coffee)
- 1 cup (236 g) unsweetened hemp milk
- 1/4 cup (59.5 g) heavy whipping cream
- 6 tbsp (32 g) whey protein powder, (chocolate or vanilla)
- 2 tbsp (45.5 g) powdered sweetener
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Instructions
- Pour the cold brew into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours.
- Place the coffee ice cubes in a blender and add the milk, cream, protein powder, sweetener, and cocoa powder. Blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust the sweetener to your liking. Blend again, then pour into two glasses and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Be wary of pre-made protein shakes or mixes. Even ones that label themselves as “keto” often have quite a few carbs and/or some sketchy ingredients. Read the labels carefully. Better yet, make your own keto protein shake at home!
I don’t recommend making these more than 30 minutes in advance as they do melt. The flavor doesn’t get watered down but they become more liquid as they sit at room temperature. If you keep the shake in an insulated mug, it will stay colder longer.
You can also make the coffee ice cubes in advance so you have them ready to go at any time. They will last in the freezer for months.
Most homemade protein shakes used bananas to create a thick smoothie. This recipe skips the high carb fruit and uses frozen coffee cubes for a rich, creamy consistency. And you can used whatever protein powder or sweetener you prefer!
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
Free Bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Sign up for your favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox plus get our FREE bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
i recently started drinking coffee again, adding protein powder to help counteract the caffeine, i tried this recipe (halved) to see if itvwoukd eork.. It did! Thank you!
Wow! Really good. And easyy.
What can be subbed for hemp milk?
TY,
Lynnita
Please make sure you are reading the full blog post as I always address questions like this.
Looking forward to trying your recipes
I love this recipe!!
Carolyn, I love this drink so much I make it every other day as it is a 2 serving drink. I don’t use the ice cubes as it is a little too cold for me. It’s so delicious and really helps me with my protein requirements. I am a senior and realize how important protein is to everyone. Thank you so much.
In the past, when I have frozen coffee, the coffee sinks to the bottom and I’m left with coffee that doesn’t come away with the coffee-cube…know any way to prevent this? I feel that most of the coffee flavor is left in the empty cubes.
Also, how do you make hemp milk? I have an Almond Cow, for making nut and seed milks. Could almond milk be used instead?
She addresses this in the blog post. Always read the full blog post, so much useful info plus it helps the author out. Carolyn puts so much into these recipes & all the tips & hints to make them however works best for you. Yes you can use almond milk.
Chocolatey and delicious! Made it as a Sunday morning treat, my husband loved it. Now I have a new, any time of day or night, treat!
I absolutely love this recipe, with the weather so hot I am having this is for my coffee in the mornings. Thank you so much.
Great to hear!
Hmm – I’m gonna try making this with Crio Bru ‘cause I’m allergic to coffee!!!
Can collagen powder be added?
I’m confused… it already takes collagen powder.
Carolyn. The ingredients do not list collagen just protein powder. Your instructions say add collagen but does not mention protein powder.
Holdover from the older recipe, I fixed it!
The recipe card calls for whey protein powder, but instructions say collagen.
Holdover from the older recipe, I fixed it!
This was great! I tend to get too cold drinking iced drinks so made this without freezing the coffee. Perfect! Thanks, Carolyn!