Pros and Cons of Protein Coffee

11 min read NOV 04, 2022

There’s a new relationship gaining attention, likely due to its tasty nature. 

Perhaps you’ve heard of it? I believe its proper ship name is Proffee. 

Ah yes, the marriage of protein and coffee. 

Some of you have been incorporating this delicious hack for years, while others are just now jumping aboard the train. 

But, no matter how long you’ve been riding, one thing's for sure, the protein coffee train has definitely taken off of late, and we’re not surprised. 

What’s not to love about this union? 

Folks have been including protein shakes as part of a healthy diet for years, using them for meal replacements, pre and post workout supplementation, or simply a means to hit those macros. 

And coffee, well, who can go a day without it? Definitely not us.

So, this combo was destined to be a hit! But, is this sensation a sure fire win for your health? 

Here we’ll take a deeper look at this social media trend and allow you to decide for yourself: are there more pros or cons when it comes to protein coffee? 

Pros


1- Gym Gains


The addition of protein to your coffee may help boost your athletic performance, making workouts more productive. 

Coffee alone has long been lauded for boosting athletic performance due to its caffeine content. 

As caffeine is a natural stimulant, consuming caffeinated coffee prior to a workout can help you fight fatigue and even increase muscle contractions. 

But, when you add protein to this mix, you help your muscles to grow and recover from your sweat session more efficiently, providing them with needed amino acids.

Some experts have concluded that you don’t need to consume protein prior to a workout to reap these rewards, so even if you choose to have your protein, even protein coffee, later in the day, as long as you’re hitting your recommended macros, you’re good to go. 

2- Macro Friendly 


When counting macros - protein, carbs, fats - people often struggle to get in enough protein throughout the day as this macronutrient is so incredibly satiating, a little seems to go a long way. 

So, when trying to hit those numbers in an effort to reach your goals, protein shakes, here protein coffee, can be very helpful when it comes to hitting your macro marks! 

How much protein can you consume in a typical proffee? 

In this current social media trend, folks often use a pre-made protein drink to add to their coffee, but mixing up a shake with protein powder to pour into coffee works well too. 

So, here’s the details on both varieties: 

  • An average pre-made shake tends to contain between 20-30 grams of protein. 
  • Most protein powders contain 25-30 grams per scoop or serving (some require two or more scoops for a serving). 

So, either way, most likely you’ll be inching closer to your daily macro goals by at least 20 grams when enjoying protein coffee. 

3- Weight Management Aid


Can protein coffee help you lose weight (or maintain a healthy weight)? 

Yes and no. 

Truly it depends on what you’re adding to your proffee. 

Some folks simply stick to a clean protein shake or powder added to coffee (typically iced or cold brewed), but others enjoy extra additions like syrups, creamers, and other flavorings. 

And, such additions can contain empty calories, lots of added sugars, and ultimately can be detrimental to any weight loss efforts. 

However, if you’re careful about those additions, protein coffee can indeed aid in your efforts to reach or maintain a healthy weight. 

  • Protein can give your metabolism a boost, albeit slight, as your body burns a greater number of calories when it breaks down this macro as opposed to carbs and fats. And, coffee works to speed up your metabolism through its caffeine content. 

  • Starting your day off with a large dose of protein can help to curb hunger later in the day, while caffeine (hooray coffee) has been shown to lower levels of hormones produced in your body that signal hunger. 

  • On the flip side of that hunger coin, coffee has also been found to raise levels of hormones associated with feelings of fullness, while protein is classically satiating. In other words, that’s another win in the hunger category that aids in weight management.  

4- Fat Burning


While we just mentioned some of the metabolism boosting aids in this popular beverage, the high protein content of protein coffee makes it noteworthy in regards to specifically burning fat. 

As long as you’re using a healthy, clean source of protein in your proffee, high protein diets have been proven to promote both fat oxidation and fat loss. 

One study found that participants who consumed an extra 56 grams of whey protein per day lowered their overall body fat by 5 pounds compared to the control group. 

5- Improves Cognitive Function


Coffee has been noted for its benefits to your brain, but when you add protein to these steeped magical beans, you boost those brain benefits. 

The caffeine content of coffee works to bind receptors in the brain associated with stress and pain, which aids in reducing instances of anxiety and depression. 

Regular coffee consumption has also been shown to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

But, when you blend coffee and some whey protein powders you can improve overall cognitive function, memory recall, and increase mental alertness. 

Consuming whey protein has also been shown to increase the production of serotonin which is linked to improvements in sleep, libido, memory, social behavior, and mood. 

6- Heart Healthy


Drinking two to three cups of coffee each day has been shown to reduce the risk of heart blockages, arrhythmias, stroke, and heart failure. 

A study led by the American Heart Association found that coffee helped to improve the efficiency of small blood vessels, aiding them in delivering nutrients to the peripheral nervous system. 

Other studies surrounding the consumption of whey protein found that consuming 54 grams daily reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol.

“When combined, protein (powder) and coffee can lower blood pressure, improve circulation, reduce the death of heart cells, and reduce bad cholesterol.” 

Cons


1- Acid Content


While most folks love coffee, they don’t love the stomach issues that accompany it. 

Heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux are commonly reported symptoms for coffee drinkers. 

And, while some folks can tolerate a few cups here and there, those that already suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, or gastric ulcers seem to be doomed to experience added discomfort when drinking even a single cup. 

Adding to that, the high levels of pH in some coffees can even have a laxative effect in some individuals. 

Unfortunately, the addition of protein to coffee doesn’t seem to have any kind of negating effect on the acid content, therefore these issues can still abound when drinking proffee. 

In fact, if you’re using a dairy based protein, you may even experience a greater amount of digestive distress.  

2- Increased Anxiety/Nervousness


Often dubbed ‘the jitters,’ coffee can cause increased anxiety in some folks. 

Many believe this to be a result of the caffeine content of coffee.

And, while some individuals may indeed be sensitive to caffeine, the primary root of this symptom is traced back to a mycotoxin often found in coffee, Ochratoxin. 

This toxin is a result of mold growing in most conventional coffees (also present in other food items) and it is known to cause anxiety (jitters). 

3- Additives and Toxins


While we just mentioned a specific toxin found in many conventional coffees (often from the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals), protein powders aren’t innocent here either. 

Like some coffees, protein shakes and powders can also contain toxins, heavy metals, and pesticides which have been linked to instances of cancer and other health concerns. 

And, some protein powders and shakes contain the obvious additions of sugars and needless calories, with these wreaking havoc on your waistline as well as causing inflammation throughout the body. 

Some protein powders have even been found to contain 25 times the permitted amount of BPA, a toxin with multiple links to heart disease, infertility, and other health problems. 

No Proffee Worries with Lifeboost 


There are definitely some great benefits to be gained when drinking protein coffee. 

But, as we’ve seen, there are some pitfalls to drinking proffee as well. 

Thankfully, when you drink Lifeboost coffee, you don’t have to worry about that con list all that much. 

Obviously, you’ll want to find the healthiest protein powder or shake available if you truly want to reap all the available rewards of proffee, but when it comes to the coffee component of this union, here’s what you don’t have to worry about when you’re drinking Lifeboost! 

1- Low Acid


Lifeboost is a naturally low acid coffee. In fact, it’s almost as alkaline as water, with our dark roast coming in at a pH level of 6 or higher! 

I can’t even tell you how many of our customers have expressed their gratitude for this smooth, tasty brew, as the low acid content has allowed them to enjoy coffee once again, without any gastrointestinal issues. 

2- Sustainably Farmed 


All Lifeboost coffee is single origin, so you know right where it’s grown, all in the same place. 

Our coffee farmers work with the environment, incorporating the use of the normal flora and fauna of the region, and never, ever using pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals when growing the coffee. 

3- Elevation Grown 


Because our coffee is grown at high elevations, the grounds don’t retain moisture like coffee grown in valleys and lowlands. 

This keeps mold from growing on our coffee, and it means that our coffee cherries take a bit longer to grow to maturity in the cooler temperatures found at such elevations (5700+ ft above sea level). 

These longer growing periods allow for Lifeboost coffee to absorb more nutrients from the soil, making each sip a bit richer, a bit healthier. 

4- 3rd Party Tested 


All Lifeboost coffee is third party tested for molds, mycotoxins, and more than 400 other chemicals and heavy metals, ensuring that you’re drinking the cleanest coffee possible! 

That’s right, no jittery worries from ochratoxins and no disease fretting from pesticides and other chemicals.

5- All Natural Flavorings


All Lifeboost coffee is the cleanest coffee available, from plant, to process, to end product. And, that includes our flavored selections.

The flavors we add to our coffees are completely natural, kind of like the pure extracts your grandma used when baking (like almond or vanilla extracts).
 
There are no added calories or sugars, only pure, clean flavor. 

So, if you prefer Lifeboost’s flavored offerings for your proffee, you can still sip confidently (as long as you choose a clean protein source, obviously). 

Recipes


After that list of pros and cons, and knowing that Lifeboost negates much of the con list, of course we couldn't leave you without a few proffee recipes to try for yourself! 

If you prefer a pre-made liquid protein shake to add to your Lifeboost coffee, try the following: 

Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Add ice to a tall glass.
  2. Pour cold brew over ice. 
  3. Top cold brew with Smooth Vanilla protein shake. 
  4. Stir slightly, and enjoy! 

And, if you prefer a protein powder to add to your Lifeboost coffee, try the following: 

Ingredients

 


      Instructions

      1. Brew coffee and add to your favorite large mug. 
      2. Add chocolate syrup and 2 scoops of BioTrust protein powder. 
      3. Stir until combined and all protein powder is dissolved. Enjoy! 

      2 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Syrup

      • ¼ cup maple syrup
      • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

      Add syrup and cocoa powder to a bowl and mix until well combined. Use immediately or store leftover syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

      *If you’d like this served cold, you can simply chill your freshly brewed coffee or cold brew it. Then add the cold coffee to a shaker bottle with 2 scoops of protein powder. Shake until combined, then set aside. Drizzle the vegan chocolate syrup onto the inside of a tall glass, then add ice. Top the ice with your shaken proffee, and enjoy! 

      ** And, for another addition to your protein coffee routine, look for a Lifeboost health booster coming soon! 

        Medical Disclaimer
        This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

        Check out Lifeboost Coffee MitoCreamer.

        References:
        https://www.healthline.com/health-news/proffee-protein-coffee-the-new-health-trend-brewing-on-tiktok
        https://healthcareweekly.com/protein-coffee-benefits/
        https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-for-coffee#benefits
        https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/do-protein-shakes-work
        https://health.clevelandclinic.org/should-you-drink-protein-coffee/
        https://www.health.com/nutrition/best-protein-shakes
        https://www.clifbar.co.uk/article/5-facts-about-protein-recovery-after-workout#
        https://www.iceshaker.com/blogs/news/how-much-protein-powder-is-too-much#
        https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2022/03/23/17/55/Good-News-for-Coffee-Lovers-Daily-Coffee-May-Benefit-the-Heart#
        https://www.verywellhealth.com/coffee-that-wont-cause-stomach-upset-4146967
        https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-coffee-acidic#health-effects
        https://blogs.ubc.ca/communicatingscience2018w112/2018/11/19/the-source-of-anxiety-and-jitters-caused-from-drinking-coffee/#
        https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221205
        https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-hidden-dangers-of-protein-powders *Recipe info: products mentioned and site for the vegan chocolate syrup recipe
        https://liveowyn.com/products/protein-shakes/?sku=0426
        https://www.biotrust.com/products/biotrust-low-carb-lite-whey-protein?variant
        https://simpleveganblog.com/homemade-chocolate-syrup-2-ingredients/

        Drop a Comment

        All comments are moderated before being published