Chocolate Coffee Protein Shake

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/8/21
Tested by
Danilo Alfaro
Danlio Alfaro
Tested by Danilo Alfaro
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 2 servings

This satisfying and delicious shake doubles as a nutritious breakfast and an amazing afternoon pick-me-up. Filling, flavorful, and high in protein thanks to the addition of powdered protein, our shake is also a breeze to make. The beautiful flavor combination of Chocolate and coffee comes together in our easy recipe. If you struggle in the morning and can't find something to eat, but love coffee, look no more. Our basic recipe can be a starting point for further experimentation.

In the summertime, any leftover shake can be poured into popsicle molds and eaten as a healthy snack when a sugar craving hits. Also, try this smoothie as a post-workout treat.

We recommend using strong brewed coffee so the shake won't taste watered down. For easy assembly, try brewing a pot of strong coffee and freezing it into ice trays. Alternatively, buy cold-brewed coffee and have it in your fridge so you don't even have to think about coffee machines or French presses.

Chocolate Coffee Protein Shake

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

"Quick and easy to make, and who doesn't love coffee and chocolate? This protein shake was refreshing and tasty, and the only criticism I would make is that for my taste, it wasn't very sweet. I did not use the optional syrup or banana though, which clearly would've made it sweeter." —Danilo Alfaro

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee, chilled

  • 1/2 cup whole milk

  • 2 scoops chocolate protein powder

  • 2 cups ice

  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chocolate Coffee Protein Shake ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Add the liquid ingredients into the blender. If using chocolate syrup, add it as well. If you add the protein powder to the blender first, it will stick to the bottom of the blender and incorporate poorly. 

    whole milk, strong coffee, and chocolate syrup in a blender

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Add the protein powder and ice cubes.

    Add the protein powder and ice to the blender

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Blend the mixture on high until completely blended. 

    Blend the mixture on high until completely blended

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

    Chocolate Coffee Protein Shake poured into glasses

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Enjoy!

What Is the Best Protein Powder?

It depends on your needs and likes. It also depends on your dietary restrictions, if any, and your lifestyle. The choices are many, and you have to try and see which one you like, as their textures, flavors, and protein contents vary greatly from one brand to the next. The best protein powder for you is the one that you like best.

Additions and Substitutions

This recipe is the perfect basic smoothie to which to add and substitute ingredients to your liking and nutritional needs:

  • Replace one cup of ice with one frozen banana for a creamier texture. The frozen banana will also add some sweetness.
  • Use 4 ounces of chilled espresso for a stronger shake. Or, if you're looking for coffee flavor without the buzz, use decaf.
  • Use plant-based milk like almond, hazelnut, or cashew to make this recipe vegan-friendly. Be mindful that if trying to make the recipe vegan you need to use a plant-based protein powder as well, as most commonly found protein powders are milk-based.
  • Use whole milk for a creamier texture, or skim or non-fat for a low-cal version.
  • Add cocoa nibs for an extra chocolate touch. For a dessert version, add a handful of chocolate chips when serving and dust the rim of the glass with instant coffee.
  • Add extra protein and flavor with 2 tablespoons of nut butter. Although it sounds like an odd combination, adding peanut, almond, or cashew butter to this recipe makes the smoothie extra silky and creamy. It's also a nutritional powerhouse, as most nut butters have an average of 8 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons.
  • Add whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder for a beautiful presentation.
  • Add 1/2 cup of rolled oats into the preparation. Oats incorporate rapidly and add a lot of body to the smoothie. The result is a creamy beverage with added protein—think 5 grams of protein in that 1/2 cup.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
151 Calories
2g Fat
5g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 151
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 87mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 228mg 18%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 284mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Oats, Rolled. FoodData Central. United Stated Department of Agriculture.