Can you add protein powder to coffee?

A number of coffee trends have emerged on TikTok and Instagram, including “proffee,” or protein coffee. Adding protein powder to your coffee can aid you meet your protein needs. Proffee can also improve exercise performance and aid weight loss. Collagen is a good protein to add to coffee because it does not change the taste.

Adding protein powder to your coffee can have several benefits. Proffee helps you meet your daily protein needs, can improve exercise performance and aid in weight loss.

Increases protein intake

One of the main benefits of proffee is that it can aid you meet your protein needs. The primary job of protein is to provide amino acids (the building blocks of protein) for the ongoing maintenance, repair, and healing of tissues in the body. These include bones, muscles, and skin.

Optimal protein intake is 0.25 to 0.40 grams (g) per kilogram (kg) of body weight, or 2.2 pounds, about four or five times a day. This means that for a 68 kg (150 lb) person, breakfast should include 17–27 g of total protein.

Helps improve exercise performance

Eating protein after exercise helps repair and strengthen muscles. Your protein needs are greater if you exercise because exercise puts stress on your body. The optimal daily protein intake for most busy people is 1.2 to 2 g per kg of body weight. One kg is about 2.2 pounds.

The low end is suitable for people who do a lot of cardio. The high end is reserved for people involved in strength programs or strenuous workouts. These workouts tax the muscles more than other workouts. More stress requires more treatment, and therefore more protein.

Studies have shown that caffeine, a natural stimulant in coffee, can also improve workouts. Caffeine can escalate muscle contractions and prevent fatigue.

Supports weight loss

Proffee can aid with weight loss. Protein helps you feel full for a longer period of time, which reduces hunger and can lower your calorie intake. Studies have shown that caffeine may also satisfy your appetite by lowering levels of hunger hormones.

Your body also burns more calories when it breaks down protein than fats and carbohydrates. This can slightly speed up your metabolism.

It’s significant to remember a few things about the role of protein and how much you should be getting each day. Ideally, you should balance that protein with two other macronutrients your body needs: fats and carbohydrates. Consuming protein without enough of these nutrients causes your body to burn protein for fuel instead of using it for muscle repair and growth.

Consider all sources if you’re aiming for around 20g of protein for breakfast. You also don’t need to eat eggs, Greek yogurt, or another protein source for breakfast if you’re making a Proffee with a ready-to-drink protein shake that contains 20g of protein per serving.

More protein isn’t necessarily vigorous, so the goal is to meet—but not exceed—your protein needs. Pair your Proffee with vigorous sources of fat and carbs, such as half an avocado and fresh fruit, if that alone meets your protein goal. You can add a little protein to your meal if you make your Proffee with a lower protein content, such as collagen powder or pea milk.

There’s no standard recipe for a Proffee, so exactly how you make it is up to you. Some people mix their coffee with pre-made protein shakes, which contain up to 30g per serving. Others mix their coffee with a few scoops of plant-based protein powder, adding about 20-25g of protein to the coffee.

Depending on the brand, adding two scoops of collagen to your drink provides about 10 g of protein. You can also add milk or high-protein plant milk, such as pea milk, which contains 12 g of protein per 12 ounces (oz). Collagen has no taste or aroma, and unsweetened, unflavored pea milk is also fairly neutral. Both will give your coffee a well-off, cream-like texture.

Choose a high-protein plant-based milk to get your protein from plants. You can also enjoy a professional smoothie made by mixing brewed coffee with frozen fruit, plant-based protein powder, nut butter, and spices like cinnamon or ginger. This combination is a balanced way to enjoy your coffee, meet your protein needs, and benefit from nutrient- and antioxidant-rich plant foods. A high intake of plant-based protein, compared to animal protein, can aid lower your risk of heart disease and all-cause death.

Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimally regulates supplements, including protein powder. The effects of protein powder vary and depend on several factors, such as dosage and frequency of exploit. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using protein powder.

Eating protein for breakfast is a good idea. Your body makes the most of protein when you spread your macronutrient intake evenly throughout the day. Following the proffee trend is an acceptable way to get protein, as long as you’re aiming for the ideal amount of total protein. It’s also significant to balance your macronutrients and prioritize nutrient-dense foods.

Remember that coffee can be something other than a source of protein. You can drink it black or with a teaspoon of natural sugar and a pinch of cinnamon, combined with a balanced meal.