Recipes · Coffee
☕ Protein Coffee vs. Regular Coffee: What’s the Difference?
Protein coffee vs. regular coffee comes down to what’s in the cup and how you like your mornings. Regular coffee is just coffee and water. Protein coffee is coffee with protein shaken in, so it tastes more like a creamy iced latte. Both contain caffeine. Here’s a side-by-side, plus the 5-minute protein coffee we’d make at home.
Side by side
| Regular coffee | Protein coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| What’s in it | Coffee and water, plus any milk or sweetener you add | Coffee plus a protein powder or protein coffee mix |
| Protein | Little to none in black coffee; milk adds some | Yes, that’s the point. Grams per serving are on the product label (linked below) |
| How it’s made | Brewed hot, or cold brew | Shaken or blended, usually cold or over ice |
| Taste and texture | Coffee-forward, thin | Creamier and smoother, like an iced latte |
| Caffeine | Yes, varies by brew and cup size | Yes, if made with coffee. See the label on your mix |
| Time | A few minutes to brew | About 5 minutes, no brewing needed with an instant mix |
| Nutrition facts | Check your milk and sweetener labels | Check the label on the official product page (linked below) |
When to pick each
- Pick regular coffee when you want a hot cup and the plain taste of coffee.
- Pick protein coffee when you want an iced, latte-style drink you can shake up in a minute and take with you.
- Can’t decide? Keep your brewed coffee and shake in a coffee-flavored shake mix (Option 2 on our protein coffee recipe page).
5-minute protein iced coffee at home
- 2 scoops High Protein Iced Coffee, Caramel Macchiato (powder)
- 8–12 fl oz cold water
- Ice to fill a 16–20 oz cup
- Optional: a splash of milk or a dash of cinnamon
- Pour 8 to 12 fl oz of cold water into a shaker cup.
- Add 2 scoops of High Protein Iced Coffee and shake until smooth.
- Pour over ice. Add a splash of milk or a dash of cinnamon if you like.
Tip: hot coffee can make protein powder clump. If you start with brewed coffee, let it cool first.
Protein coffee questions
What is protein coffee?
Protein coffee is coffee with a protein powder or a protein coffee mix shaken in. You can make it with a ready-made mix like High Protein Iced Coffee, or by shaking a coffee-flavored protein shake mix into cooled brewed coffee.
Does protein coffee have caffeine?
Yes, if it is made with coffee. High Protein Iced Coffee is made with real instant coffee, and brewed coffee contains caffeine. Check the label on your product for the amount per serving.
Can you put protein powder in hot coffee?
Hot coffee can make protein powder clump. Cool the coffee first, or shake the protein with a little cold milk and then add it to your coffee.
Is protein coffee the same as a protein shake?
Not quite. A protein shake is usually milk-based and made for breakfast, while protein coffee keeps coffee as the main flavor. A coffee-flavored shake like Formula 1 Café Latte sits in between.
🛒 Order it as a bundle
☕ Protein Coffee Kit
Your morning coffee, Hive style.
High Protein Iced Coffee and shake mix favorites
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More recipes: How to put protein in coffee · Protein shake flavors · January breakfast routine
In Clearwater? Try a protein coffee from our menu. Out of town? Shop Herbalife, shipped to your door.
The Healthy Hive, Clearwater FL