This high protein iced coffee tastes like a salted caramel latte from a coffee shop, except it has 31g of protein, 185 calories, and barely any sugar. Espresso, creamy protein milk, and a half scoop of protein, shaken cold and poured over ice.

High protein iced coffee in a mason jar with layers of espresso and protein milk

This is the only reason I hit my protein goal before 9am. My iced protein coffee tastes like a salted caramel latte from a coffee shop, except it has 31g of protein, 185 calories, and barely any sugar.

It’s espresso, creamy protein milk, and a scoop of salted caramel protein, shaken cold and poured over ice. People online call it proffee, a protein shake and an iced coffee in one cup, and it’s the laziest way I know to get caffeine and protein at the same time without choking down a separate chalky shake.

I make this every single morning before I film. Two shots of espresso (one was never going to cut it), the protein milk frothed until it’s smooth, then poured over a glass full of ice. Boom.

If you love a good coffee drink, you’ll also want my High Protein Tiramisu Iced Latte and my Coffee Protein Ice Cream.

Top down view of protein coffee in a jar mason jar with glass straw.

Why You’ll Love This Iced Protein Coffee

31g of protein, 185 calories. Most protein coffees online run 220 calories or more. This one keeps the protein high and the calories low, so it fits your macros instead of blowing them.
5 minutes, no blender. Shake the milk and protein, pour over ice, top with espresso. That’s the whole thing.
Cheaper than the coffee shop, and built to customize. Salted caramel is my go-to, but it bends to whatever protein flavor you have.

Ingredients You Need

Here’s what goes in and why. Exact amounts and the full printable recipe are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Espresso — two shots for the caffeine and that real coffee backbone. Two shots run about 120 to 150mg of caffeine. No espresso machine is fine, cold brew or strong instant coffee both work.
Protein milk — creamy and high in protein on its own, with low sugar. This is what pushes the protein up without piling on calories. Soy, oat, or unsweetened almond milk all sub in.
Salted caramel protein powder — adds the sweetness and the bulk of the protein, and keeps you full. I use 1UP Nutrition ISO protein in salted caramel (code BAILS for 20% off). It’s gentle on sensitive stomachs. Vanilla or any flavor works too.
Ice — for that frosty, cold finish.

Side angle of protein and milk frothed together in a mason jar.

How to Make Iced Protein Coffee

Brew the espresso. Pull two shots and let them cool slightly.
Froth the protein milk. In a mason jar or shaker, combine the Fairlife milk and protein powder. Froth with a handheld frother or shake hard until smooth and no clumps remain.
Build the glass. Fill a glass with ice and pour the protein milk over top.
Top and sip. Pour the espresso over the milk, give it a stir, and drink it cold.

Fairlife milk and protein powder frothed together in a mason jar

Tips

No espresso machine, no problem. A strong cold brew or instant espresso gets you the same result.
Froth or shake well to kill the clumps. Protein powder clumps if you just stir it in. A frother or a hard shake fixes it.
For the coffee-shop look, top it with protein cold foam and a dusting of cinnamon.

Flavor Variations

Vanilla: swap to vanilla protein and add a splash of vanilla extract.
Mocha: use chocolate protein and stir in a teaspoon of cocoa powder.
Peanut butter: blend in a tablespoon of peanut butter for a thicker, richer cup.

Side angle of high protein iced coffee in a mason jar filled with mini ice cubes and a glass straw.

Make It Ahead

This is best fresh, but you can prep it for busy mornings. Shake the milk and protein together (leave out the ice and espresso), store it covered in the fridge for up to a day, then pour over ice and add your espresso when you’re ready.

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High Protein Iced Coffee (31g Protein, Low Cal)

This high protein iced coffee tastes like a salted caramel latte from a coffee shop, except it has 31g of protein, 185 calories, and barely any sugar. Espresso, creamy Fairlife milk, and a scoop of protein, shaken cold and poured over ice.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: serving

Calories: 185kcal

Author: Bailey Campbell

Ingredients

2 espresso shots
1 cup 1% Dairyland 18g protein milk can also use Fairlife or protein milk of choice
½ scoop Salted Caramel protein powder from 1UP Nutrition 15g – can use code BAILS at checkout to save 20% off all products (see notes below)

Instructions

Brew two shots of espresso and let them cool slightly.
In a cocktail shaker or mason jar, combine the Fairlife milk and salted caramel protein. Froth with a handheld frother or shake until smooth.
Fill a glass with ice. Pour the protein milk mixture over the ice. Then top with the shots of espresso.
Stir, sip, and enjoy your new morning obsession.

Notes

I strongly recommend the Salted Caramel ISO protein powder from 1UP Nutrition. It’s great for sensitive stomachs and adds sweetness and keeps you full. Use code BAILS at checkout to save 20% off all products.

Nutrition

The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.

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More Coffee Drinks You’ll Love

If you make this iced protein coffee, leave a star rating and a comment below and tell me what flavor you went with. Snap a photo and share it on Instagram or Pinterest, and tag @basicswithbails or #basicswithbails so I can see it.

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