Coffee Protein Shake

This coffee protein shake puts a refreshing twist on your normal protein shake. Packed with protein and coffee, this drink is a great pick me up! It has rich mocha flavor and iced smoothie consistency.

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For as many years as I can remember, my morning routine has always been to wake up and have a cup of coffee. COFFEE FIRST, before I do anything else. I roll out of bed, head straight downstairs and start the coffee machine. While I call it my routine, some may call it a coffee addiction :). Regardless, there's nothing better than the smell of fresh brewed coffee to start the day.

In fact, this is so much my routine that when I became pregnant, I knew I had to watch my caffeine intake and instantly switched to decaf. I couldn't do anything before having my decaf coffee. (Placebo effect much? )

I love this coffee protein smoothie, because it has a rich coffee flavor, but also is healthy! It packs in protein and a serving of fruit.

If you are someone who likes to have protein after a workout, this is a great way to add some extra protein and it adds a little boost of caffeine!

Nutrition Information

This protein coffee shake contains 12 grams of protein per serving and 285 calories per serving. It is recommended to include a source of protein at every meal for most individuals on a regular, healthy diet. This coffee protein shake is a good start to adding extra protein at a meal or for a snack.

Increase the Protein Content

The coffee protein smoothie contains 12 grams of protein per serving, which is equivalent to the protein content of eating 3 egg whites.

The protein content of this shake can be increased in a couple ways:

• Use Skim milk instead of Almond milk. This will add 4 extra grams of protein
• Use double the amount of Greek yogurt. A good option would to use a mocha or coffee flavored Greek yogurt so that the protein shake still retains a coffee flavor.
• Add in a scoop of protein powder, which may add anywhere from 10-20 grams of protein depending on the type of powder used.

Type of Protein to Use

The main protein source in this smoothie is from the Greek yogurt. The banana and almond milk provide a very trivial amount of protein.

Some brands of Greek yogurt have different amounts of protein than others, so always check the label. Here's the protein content of several common brands:

• ½ cup Dannon Vanilla Greek Yogurt = 9.3 grams protein
• ½ cup Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt = 9.3 grams protein
• ½ cup Oiko's Vanilla Greek Yogurt = 8.6 grams protein

Ingredients Needed

This protein coffee shake only needs 5 ingredients!

• Cold double strength coffee: decaf or caffeinated coffee works based on your preference. (See below on how to make double strength coffee). Brew the coffee the night before or a few hours before making this shake and refrigerate it so that it's cold before adding.
• Frozen banana: it is important that the banana is ripe prior to freezing it. This will add extra sweetness to the coffee shake. Slice the banana into 1 inch pieces so that it blends easier.
• Vanilla Almond Milk: Alternatives are vanilla coconut milk, vanilla soy milk or skim milk.
• Cocoa Powder: adds a hint of mocha flavor to the protein shake
• Vanilla Greek Yogurt: This is the protein source for the smoothie. I would recommend using the vanilla flavor and have not tried any other flavors.

Double Strength Coffee

This recipe uses double strength coffee. An advantage of this is that you have a stronger coffee with less liquid required. This helps create a richer coffee flavor. To make double strength coffee, simply add twice the amount of coffee grounds when brewing the coffee.

For example, I usually use 1 tbsp of coffee grounds for an 8 ounce cup of coffee. To make double strength coffee, I would use 2 tbsp of coffee grounds for an 8 ounce cup of coffee.

Let's Make a Coffee Protein Shake!

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Tips for the Best Coffee Protein Shake

• Use a frozen banana- this helps to create a thicker, frozen consistency to the shake without having to add a lot of extra ice.
• Add a few extra ice cubes after blending all ingredients if the shake is not thick enough.
• Coffee must be cold prior to making the mocha protein shake. Warm coffee will result in a drink that does not have a shake-like texture.
• Use a blender that has a strong motor, so that the smoothie blends easily. This blender is a great option!

Favorite Coffee Pot

I have been using a Ninja coffee maker for years now, and absolutely love it! Fun fact: my husband actually gave me my coffee machine as a gift when we were dating. He isn't even a coffee drinker, but did a really good job picking it out!

I love the Ninja coffee pot because it has the capability to make individual servings of coffee, if you don't want an entire pot of coffee. You can set your cup size anywhere from a standard mug (about 10 oz) to an XL cup. It also makes espresso!

The best part is that it doesn't require the expensive K-Cup replacements- you use your own coffee grounds.

Ninja also has the option to make the coffee in a large coffee pitcher, if you are looking for multiple servings. I highly recommend this coffee pot- it has so many functions and is well worth the money if you make coffee even just a couple times a week!

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