You don’t have to be a gym buff or keep-fit-fanatic to know that protein shakes are a popular dietary addition for those who love to lead active lifestyles. Indeed, many believe such shakes are the key to optimising their workouts, having the potential to boost muscle growth and support recovery.
What protein shakes don’t do, however, is provide an energy boost pre-workout. So, how do you incorporate protein’s muscle-building potential with something that’s going to help you go harder and longer when you’re training?
Here’s a thought; have you ever considered mixing your protein powder with coffee?
Coffee is not only packed with caffeine, which helps you feel energised and focused, but also with antioxidants. It may even support heart health. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to take a regular cup of coffee and transform it into a protein rich drink.
A caffeine-related caveat, of course; overdoing the coffee is, simply put, a bad idea. You’ll feel dehydrated, jittery, and anxious. And while we’re at it, a protein proviso; shakes should never be used as a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet.
But when combining coffee and protein powder in the name of enjoying a delicious, invigorating drink, you might find some success both in the gym and after it. Here’s how to make an iced coffee and protein shake.
Protein Powder & Coffee: A Powerful Combo
As you may know, caffeine, whether in your cold brew coffee, iced coffee or regular cup of coffee, is thought to improve performance during short-term, high-intensity exercise. So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to get an edge on your workout, coffee may be the answer.
And what about protein? Protein is essential for helping your body repair, and helps rebuild muscle tissue after exercise. So if you’re looking to maximise your results in the gym, getting enough protein is key.
Whether you’re a coffee lover or not, if you’re looking for a powerful combination that can help your performance before your workout and take your protein intake to the next level, a protein coffee could help.
Indeed, many consider it to be part of a new generation of invigorating, energising protein shakes, with Healthline citing many potential benefits to mixing the two.
We’re sure you get the picture by now. Now, let’s paint it. Here are a couple of great recipes for iced coffee protein shakes…
Protein Coffee Shake Recipes
You’re probably wondering why you can’t just mix some coffee granules into your protein shake? Well, that would be gross, and the results lumpy. Don’t do that.
Instead, try one of these two…
Cold Brew Iced Coffee Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cold coffee
- 1 scoop of protein powder (choose one of your favorite protein powders)
- 1 cup whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, or water (if you’d like to be dairy-free)
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Enjoy as is or add ice cubes
- For an extra boost, add a shot of espresso to the mix.
Caramel Macchiato Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of coffee (cold brew or regular)
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 2 tablespoons caramel syrup
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or water
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Enjoy as is or pour over ice.
- For an extra boost, add a shot of espresso to the mix.
A Word Of Warning
We hope we’re not stating the obvious here, but it should be noted that such shakes shouldn’t be consumed with gusto in the late afternoon or evening.
Caffeine blocks adenosine, which regulates our sleep cycle and messes with that all important body clock routine we mentioned, and once the coffee wears off, a premature drowsiness is likely to set in. What’s more, it’s a diuretic, and dehydration leads to tiredness. Go figure.
So, whilst we’re not suggesting you cut out the coffees entirely (you’re only human), it might be wise to cut back, particularly post noon.
Instead, deploy such shakes in the morning, no doubt muttering ‘’breakfast of champions’’ as you do so.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, coffee protein shakes are a great way to fuel your body before a workout. Not only do they taste great, but they’re also packed with nutrients that your body needs to perform at its best.
So, next time you’re looking for a pre-workout drink, try one (or both!) of these coffee protein shake recipes and see how it affects your workout. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Hey, we’re only just getting started with the creative potential of coffee. For more of the same, check out these 10 unusual ingredients to add to your morning coffee.