Proffee: Is it nutritious or just a trend?

Adding protein to coffee is one of the latest wellness trends. A slew of coffee trends has hit TikTok and Instagram lately, including "proffee," or protein coffee. There’s a lot to like about the combination and not just regarding taste. If done right, this power-packed drink might cut some sugary goop from your diet while also boosting protein intake.

What is protein coffee?

Proffee is exactly what it sounds like given the ingredients. It’s a cup of coffee with either protein powder or a bottle of protein shake.

Creating this concoction is as simple as it sounds, with two potential paths. Some folks prefer dumping scoops of protein powder into iced coffee. (The powder may clump in hot coffee unless it’s a collagen powder.) Others mix a premade protein shake with coffee.

The powder option leads to a drink that looks like, your basic cup of coffee. The shake option, meanwhile, can turn into a mesmerizing blend of light and dark swirls. Now for the good stuff: The potential benefits brought by each ingredient in proffee.

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The benefits of adding protein

You need protein to keep your body functioning in tiptop form. A well-balanced diet meets most needs, but some turn to protein supplements such as powders and shakes for an additional boost.

So why add it to your morning coffee? A few reasons stand out:

• A morning dose of protein can help launch you into the day, especially when combined with the caffeine in coffee. Many also tout the benefits of proffee as a pre-workout drink.
• Putting protein in your belly to start the day can help curb hunger later, possibly helping with weight management. Protein also charges up your metabolism to burn more calories.
• Protein powders and shakes often taste good, so using them to flavour your coffee probably means you don’t have to use sugary creamers that can turn cups of coffee into unhealthy calorie bombs.

How to make protein coffee

• Your choice of protein powder will greatly impact the nutrition of your finished product.
• Some protein powders contain added sugars, which add unnecessary calories and count toward your daily amount of added sugar, which shouldn’t be more than 10 percent of total daily calories.
• Other protein powders contain sugar alcohols, which for some people can cause gastrointestinal upset.
• Your best bet? A protein powder with minimal added ingredients. If you want a sweeter taste in your protein coffee, you can always add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

The Final Takeaway

Dr Shalini Gupta, a South-Delhi based Dietitian, told us, “Proffee can fit into a nutritious diet, but it really depends on how you make it. It's important to be mindful of the ingredients you're using and know that you might be consuming more sugar, fats, and calories than intended. And if you're reaching for proffee for protein alone, that's probably not necessary as long as you maintain a balanced diet that's high in whole, unprocessed foods.”

She added, “For the best results, drink this combo in the morning to keep your appetite in check or about an hour prior to a workout.”

Pro Tip: Choose a protein powder that isn’t made with added sugar, fillers, artificial sweeteners, and other additives, such as collagen, hemp or organic whey protein.