Using protein powder as coffee creamer?

I'm obviously trying to avoid unnecessary calories by using milk with my protein. Sometimes I will mix it with almond milk, but its getting kind of boring. I love coffee, but can only drink it with cream and sugar, and there's unnecessary calories there, too. So why not enjoy both at the same time? Save on the calories and the sugar, its a win-win right?

I plan to try it with decaf iced coffee (not a huge fan of hot drinks during the summer time.) I think it will mix okay, but was wondering about the taste.
Has anyone tried this? Does the sweetness of the protein powder counteract the bitter coffee flavor enough, or am I still going to have to add a sweetener of sorts? I'm imagining vanilla or chocolate protein powder would taste pretty good.
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Replies

  • Roza42
    Roza42 Posts: 246 Member
    Depends on you and your protein powder. I use protein powder with instant espresso and a sugar free Torani for breakfast and during my weightlifting sessions.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited May 2019
    I add protein powder, chia seeds, and dried coconut to my coffee, and call it breakfast :)

    Note: generally you have to either let the coffee cool a bit or temper the protein powder with a cooler liquid (water works) or the hot coffee will curdle the PP.

    ypmjkcqganf4.png

    I presoak the chia seeds in a little water and use them and their soaking water.

    I brew the coffee over the dried coconut so it can rehydrate a bit.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    I use plain whey and add it to my cold espresso. It remains fairly bitter with a milky taste and I really enjoy it. I have never tried flavoured but I would imagine if it is sweet enough it would offset any bitterness. You might have to experiment with ratios to get it to your taste.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    I use vanilla whey in my coffee, iced and hot. I dissolve it in a little bit of water and then I add my coffee. It tastes pretty good to me. I have tried chocolate and did not care for it.
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    You could limit your use of Half & half. 10 calories with no sugars. per serving.
    You could also exercise to make up the difference...
  • 4LeafMint
    4LeafMint Posts: 65 Member
    Glad to hear others add protein to coffee. I mix 100% whey protein (2 scoops) in room temp water to completely dissolve it. Then add stevia to 4 cups of coffee and then add my whey. If you add powder protein to hot liquids it will clump up. If I said this on other MPF chats I would get hell and a bunch of woo's. I have a fan base of woo'ers and they probably will find me here too....love them woo'ers. Don't know why MFP will not limit the woo's.
  • Teabythesea_
    Teabythesea_ Posts: 559 Member
    I use vanilla whey in hot coffee, I just have to shake it with a bit of water and stir as I pour it in. Sometimes to mix it up I'll use chocolate whey and make hot chocolate by heating almond milk, mixing the powder in with water and adding them together too.
  • clicketykeys
    clicketykeys Posts: 6,575 Member
    4LeafMint wrote: »
    Glad to hear others add protein to coffee. I mix 100% whey protein (2 scoops) in room temp water to completely dissolve it. Then add stevia to 4 cups of coffee and then add my whey. If you add powder protein to hot liquids it will clump up. If I said this on other MPF chats I would get hell and a bunch of woo's. I have a fan base of woo'ers and they probably will find me here too....love them woo'ers. Don't know why MFP will not limit the woo's.

    If you mix the protein in a non-hot liquid, can you then add the mixture to a hot liquid without getting clumps? Or do you just have your coffee room temp too?
  • 4LeafMint
    4LeafMint Posts: 65 Member
    4LeafMint wrote: »
    Glad to hear others add protein to coffee. I mix 100% whey protein (2 scoops) in room temp water to completely dissolve it. Then add stevia to 4 cups of coffee and then add my whey. If you add powder protein to hot liquids it will clump up. If I said this on other MPF chats I would get hell and a bunch of woo's. I have a fan base of woo'ers and they probably will find me here too....love them woo'ers. Don't know why MFP will not limit the woo's.

    If you mix the protein in a non-hot liquid, can you then add the mixture to a hot liquid without getting clumps? Or do you just have your coffee room temp too?

    Yes mix the protein in lukewarm (or out of the facuet) water. I use as little water as possible to make the protein as thick as possible to be dissolved and pourable. It almost will look and pour like half and half. I really like the taste but to each is there own. I even drink coffee with whey as pre-work about 30-45 minutes before working out.
  • brittanystebbins95
    brittanystebbins95 Posts: 567 Member
    You could limit your use of Half & half. 10 calories with no sugars. per serving.
    You could also exercise to make up the difference...

    At that point I would just eliminate the coffee altogether. Lol.
  • 4LeafMint
    4LeafMint Posts: 65 Member
    And the protein will not clump when added to hot coffee.
  • 4LeafMint
    4LeafMint Posts: 65 Member
    I am about to drink my protein coffee pre-workout now as I am about to leave for the gym ☕️
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    edited May 2019
    I do mine in a blender,coffee,ice,almond milk,whey it's like a frappucino <3 I cannot imagine putting whey in hot coffee :# but that's only cuz I loooove black coffee when it's hot!
  • zeejane4
    zeejane4 Posts: 230 Member
    edited May 2019
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I add protein powder, chia seeds, and dried coconut to my coffee, and call it breakfast :)

    Note: generally you have to either let the coffee cool a bit or temper the protein powder with a cooler liquid (water works) or the hot coffee will curdle the PP.

    ypmjkcqganf4.png

    I presoak the chia seeds in a little water and use them and their soaking water.

    I brew the coffee over the dried coconut so it can rehydrate a bit.

    kshama2001 does this give your coffee a coconut flavoring? I love coconut flavored beans but it's hard to find on a regular basis.

    Do you add them into the filter with the grounds or put them in the pot?
  • johicks
    johicks Posts: 1,991 Member
    LOVE making protein creamer. I use room temperature water and add my vanilla whey protein. Shake really good. I put my hot coffee in the microwave for another 30 seconds to counter act the temp. of the protein creamer. Poor both into a big mug. 100 calories. Breakfast!!!
  • johicks
    johicks Posts: 1,991 Member
    edited May 2019
    Oh! I will also do two other recipes:
    1) Half chocolate and half vanilla protein, add done almond extract.
    2) Vanilla protein, pumpkin spice, and almond extract.
  • dmanakho
    dmanakho Posts: 143 Member
    Protein powder as coffee creamer. I'd never think of such an idea on my own, but I'll definitely try it now. Thank you!
  • gallicinvasion
    gallicinvasion Posts: 1,015 Member
    I feel like coffee is so perfect and delicious on its own that you should all find a different food/beverage to put your protein powder in 😂
  • brittanystebbins95
    brittanystebbins95 Posts: 567 Member
    I feel like coffee is so perfect and delicious on its own that you should all find a different food/beverage to put your protein powder in 😂

    I absolutely HATE coffee UNLESS it has something else in it. Add cream and sugar though? Yum. Without it though, I literally gag on it. It's awful.
  • Spadesheart
    Spadesheart Posts: 479 Member
    I don't right now, but when I worked out in the morning, I would make my coffee a little stronger, mix my protein with about a half cup of cold water first, and then mix them together without clumps. If you were to do it with already cooled coffee, I wouldn't see any issues at all. Flavour is subjective, but honestly it was pretty delicious with my salted caramel stuff.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    If you like cold coffee, it may be worth trying to mix your protein powder into hot coffee, let it cool and then pour the result over ice.
  • New_Heavens_Earth
    New_Heavens_Earth Posts: 610 Member
    I use protein powder mixed with water and add the coffee to it. Or I use a premade protein shake, like Muscle Milk or Premier Protein, and add it to the cofee instead of almond milk or creamer. It's good.
  • LilOddOne
    LilOddOne Posts: 3 Member
    These are all excellent ideas and I'm so excited to try them! I'm curious though, has anybody ever tried to pre-mix the powder and water mixture and save it in the fridge for a few days??
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    4LeafMint wrote: »
    Glad to hear others add protein to coffee. I mix 100% whey protein (2 scoops) in room temp water to completely dissolve it. Then add stevia to 4 cups of coffee and then add my whey. If you add powder protein to hot liquids it will clump up. If I said this on other MPF chats I would get hell and a bunch of woo's. I have a fan base of woo'ers and they probably will find me here too....love them woo'ers. Don't know why MFP will not limit the woo's.

    If you mix the protein in a non-hot liquid, can you then add the mixture to a hot liquid without getting clumps? Or do you just have your coffee room temp too?

    I tried this today. I mixed the protein with cold milk until it was fully mixed then added it to hot coffee. It seemed ok at first.. but there were some small clumps that eventually formed, you couldn't really feel them in your mouth but it looked very off-putting. So.. room temperature or cold coffee for me from now on !
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    zeejane4 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I add protein powder, chia seeds, and dried coconut to my coffee, and call it breakfast :)

    Note: generally you have to either let the coffee cool a bit or temper the protein powder with a cooler liquid (water works) or the hot coffee will curdle the PP.

    ypmjkcqganf4.png

    I presoak the chia seeds in a little water and use them and their soaking water.

    I brew the coffee over the dried coconut so it can rehydrate a bit.

    kshama2001 does this give your coffee a coconut flavoring? I love coconut flavored beans but it's hard to find on a regular basis.

    Do you add them into the filter with the grounds or put them in the pot?

    @zeejane4 the dried coconut gives a tiny bit of coconut flavoring. I have a single serve coffee maker and put them in the cup to keep the fiber.

    However, you could get a nice coconut flavor if you added coconut oil. When I was making coconut muffins a few years back it seemed the only type of coconut oil guaranteed to have flavor was unrefined. I'm currently using the Whole Foods 365 brand, and have also used Spectrum.

    For coconut fans, this also makes for a nice smelling skin moisturizer :)
  • zeejane4
    zeejane4 Posts: 230 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    zeejane4 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I add protein powder, chia seeds, and dried coconut to my coffee, and call it breakfast :)

    Note: generally you have to either let the coffee cool a bit or temper the protein powder with a cooler liquid (water works) or the hot coffee will curdle the PP.

    ypmjkcqganf4.png

    I presoak the chia seeds in a little water and use them and their soaking water.

    I brew the coffee over the dried coconut so it can rehydrate a bit.

    kshama2001 does this give your coffee a coconut flavoring? I love coconut flavored beans but it's hard to find on a regular basis.

    Do you add them into the filter with the grounds or put them in the pot?

    @zeejane4 the dried coconut gives a tiny bit of coconut flavoring. I have a single serve coffee maker and put them in the cup to keep the fiber.

    However, you could get a nice coconut flavor if you added coconut oil. When I was making coconut muffins a few years back it seemed the only type of coconut oil guaranteed to have flavor was unrefined. I'm currently using the Whole Foods 365 brand, and have also used Spectrum.

    For coconut fans, this also makes for a nice smelling skin moisturizer :)

    Thanks for the tip-I'll look for unrefined coconut oil when I go to the store this week :)
  • promisesstandin
    promisesstandin Posts: 150 Member
    yeh, i do use PP in coffee when I'm maxed out on my fats and still needing protein. Thanks for the tip about it getting clumpy with hot liquids... mine has been kinda gloppy and I just keep stirring it. I use Garden of Life Raw Vanilla with greens; tasty to me - others think it's chalky - enough creaminess bc i like my coffee very creamy - no sugar but the sugar in the Raw Vanilla is not overpowering, just enough
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Don't. Many of them clump in hot liquid. Looks like curdled milk.
  • texasredreb
    texasredreb Posts: 541 Member
    I'm lazy so I buy the premade protein drinks. I regularly use them as creamer in my coffee. I find that I have to use more of the protein drink to get the taste I like--but I'm going to drink it all anyway. It works. I alternate between protein drinks and regular creamer.
  • New_Heavens_Earth
    New_Heavens_Earth Posts: 610 Member
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    Don't. Many of them clump in hot liquid. Looks like curdled milk.

    If you mix them with water or milk first, then add the coffee, it doesn't curdle.