This coffee protein smoothie is an alternative to your usual morning coffee. Unlike plain coffee, this drink is packed with satisfying protein and fiber.
Recipe Highlights
- This coffee protein smoothie is made of oat milk, cold black coffee, vanilla protein powder, hemp seeds, Medjool date, and frozen bananas.
- A quick and easy smoothie that’s made in a blender.
- Enjoy this smoothie with or for breakfast.
RELATED: Coffee Protein Shake
Ingredient Notes
- Oat milk: The flavor of oat milk works best with bananas. However, you can use any milk you’d like, including dairy milk. Use soy milk for a high-protein plant-based option.
- Cold black coffee: Avoid using coffee with sweetener or flavorings, which might take away from the other ingredients. You can also use cold brew coffee or hot brewed coffee that has been chilled.
- Vanilla protein powder: The vanilla flavor is tasty with oat milk and bananas. Unflavored and chocolate protein powders will work in this recipe.
- Hemp seeds: Slightly nutty, hemp seeds add flavor and thickness to the smoothie.
- Medjool date: Medjool dates are natural sweeteners. They’re rich in antioxidants and fiber.
- Frozen bananas: Choose ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture. Signs of a ripe banana include a yellow peel with a few brown spots and a sweet smell.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Variations
Seeds: Feel free to use chia seeds or flax seeds instead of hemp seeds. Also high in good fats and protein, chia seeds and flax seeds are delicious in smoothies. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need 1 or 2 tablespoons of seeds per smoothie.
Nut butters: Banana and nut butter is a classic combination. Try adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter to this recipe. The ingredient offers healthy fats and some plant-based protein.
Extracts: Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for a stronger vanilla flavor. Or if you’re using unflavored or chocolate protein powder, add vanilla extract to enhance the flavor. Almond extract will also work well in this smoothie.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Put oat milk, coffee, protein powder and hemp seeds into the blender.
To avoid an uneven blend, start with the liquids.
Step 2: Add Medjool date and frozen banana.
Step 3: Blend until smooth. Start on low speed, then increase to high.
Step 4: Pour shake into a cup. Serve immediately
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Blender Tips
Slice fruit before freezing.
To protect your blender, only add frozen fruit that has been chopped up. This is especially important for bigger fruits like bananas. Always cut them into coins or chunks before freezing. If you have a high-powered blender, the chunks can be about the size of an apple wedge.
Add heaviest ingredients last.
When loading ingredients in a blender, avoid starting with heavy items like frozen fruit or ice. The blades need to be surrounded by liquid in order to get going.
Begin with liquids and liquid ingredients, including sweeteners. Follow with any add-ins, leafy greens, then fresh fruit. Finish with frozen fruit or ice. This will help avoid air pockets.
Start on low speed, then increase to high.
Don’t immediately blend on high speed. Instead, start on low, so the blades have time to chop up ingredients. Once the ingredients have broken down, quickly increase the speed to high.
Continue blending on high for the time listed in the recipe. It will keep your motor cool and ensure a smooth blend.
Use a tamper to move around ingredients.
An easy way to avoid air pockets is to use a blender tamper. This is a long cylindrical tool that you insert through lid while the blender is on. You then push the ingredients toward the blades.
If you don’t have a tamper, simply pause the blender and use a spatula to rotate the ingredients.
Remove extra smoothie with a blade scraper.
After making a smoothie, don’t immediately rinse out your blender. Use a blade scraper to get out leftover smoothie. A blade scraper is shaped to let you reach under the blades. It’s an easy and simple way to reduce food waste.
Expert Tips
- To increase the caffeine content, use ¼ oat milk and ¾ coffee.
- Instead of a Medjool date, you can use 1 tablespoon date syrup or maple syrup.
- You can leave out the sweetener for a less sweet drink.
- For a thicker drink, add a few ice cubes or extra frozen banana slices.
- If you have leftover smoothie, store it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Keep it in an airtight jar so it stays fresh.
Related
- Mocha Smoothie
- Mocha Protein Shake
- Matcha Protein Shake
- Matcha Smoothie
- 17 Best Breakfast Smoothie Recipes
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Coffee Protein Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup oat milk
- ½ cup cold brew coffee
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 Medjool date (pitted)
- 1 ½ frozen bananas (sliced)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put oat milk, coffee, vanilla protein powder, hemp seeds, Medjool date, and frozen bananas into a blender. Secure lid.Place ingredients into the blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth.Start the blender on LOW speed for 10 seconds. Increase speed to HIGH for a full minute.
- Pour shake into a cup. Serve immediately.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- Choose ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture. Signs of a ripe banana include a yellow peel with a few brown spots and a sweet smell.
- To increase the caffeine content, use ¼ oat milk and ¾ coffee.
- Instead of a Medjool date, you can use 1 tablespoon date syrup or maple syrup.
- You can leave out the sweetener for a less sweet drink.
- For a thicker drink, add a few ice cubes or extra frozen banana slices.
- If you have leftover smoothie, store it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Keep it in an airtight jar so it stays fresh.