The best protein powder for coffee (hot or cold) is collagen protein. Collagen completely dissolves in coffee without changing its flavor or texture.
Check out my delicious protein coffee recipe with collagen and chaga mushroom powder.
✅ Collagen peptides in coffee
Collagen completely dissolves in coffee without adding any flavor or texture. It mixes well with just a spoon or small whisk. Easy!
These marine collagen peptides are my favorite; they have absolutely no flavor or odor, and they are reasonable priced. I have them in my coffee or smoothies every day.
Collagen peptides are also great in these ultra-fudgy collagen brownies, this collagen smoothie with strawberries and chia seeds, and this watermelon green smoothie.
🚫 Whey protein powder in coffee
Whey protein powder does not mix well with hot coffee because the high temperature denatures the protein (unfolds the protein molecules, releasing them from their structure), and the unfolded proteins tend to group together, clumping the protein powder.
While other sites may tell you that whey protein can mix well in hot coffee, they never seem to show you their "great" results. I tried several different whey protein powders in hot coffee and the results always seem to match the science: whey protein clumps in hot coffee.
Whey protein can be great for baking, though. Try these whey protein baking recipes!
✅ Pre-made shakes in coffee
Pre-made protein shakes contain stabilizers that prevent denatured proteins from sticking together (clumping). This is true of store-bought shakes made with milk proteins (Fairlife shakes, Premier Protein shakes) and those made with plant-based proteins (Orgain shakes, Ripple shakes).
For that reason, these pre-made shakes mix well into coffee.
✅ Plant-based protein powders in coffee
Pea protein blends will mix in coffee without clumping, but they will be thicker than other proteins and may settle a bit.
Almond protein powder is the best choice of plant proteins, in my opinion. It has a naturally sweet taste, and the flavor compliments the taste of coffee.
Other vegan protein powders like rice or hemp protein don't mix as well and give a grainy mouthfeel, so I wouldn't recommend them.
How to mix protein powder into coffee
Collagen mixes well into hot coffee by mixing with a spoon. Easy!
Pre-made protein shakes also mix well into coffee with just a stirring spoon.
Plant-based protein powders mix best when using a milk frother.
FAQ about protein coffee
Yes, you can put some types of protein powder into coffee. Collagen protein mixes the best, completely dissolving without altering the flavor or texture of the coffee. Plant-based protein powders also mix well with coffee, but whey and other dairy-based protein powders don't mix as well.
Whey protein does not mix well with coffee. Whey protein powder can clump or separate when mixed with coffee, resulting in a very unpleasant drinking experience.
1-2 tablespoons of collagen or plant-based protein mixes well with coffee. More than that would be excessive for collagen, and would be very thick and probably unpleasant for plant-based protein powders.
No, a scoop of protein wouldn't blend well into coffee. 1-2 tablespoons of collagen or plant-based protein powder mixes well in coffee. Whey protein does not mix well with coffee, however, even in small quantities.
Marine collagen peptides is the best protein to add to hot coffee, since it dissolves completely with just a spoon and does not change the flavor or texture of the coffee. Plant-based protein powders are also good for protein powder coffee. I suggest almond protein powder for the best flavor of the plant-based options.
Other ways to enjoy a high protein breakfast
If these options aren't resonating with you, perhaps you'd rather have a high protein muffin or protein cookies for breakfast with your morning cup of coffee.
You might also be interested in this helpful article: Can you bring protein powder on a plane? (Hint, yes! Click through for all the details.)
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