I created a milk-free, low carb, high protein coffee protein smoothie with cold brew, banana, and vanilla protein powder that keeps you full for hours and doubles as a meal replacement for post workout weight loss.
I never thought a morning drink could pull double duty until I started blending cold brew coffee with a scoop of vanilla protein powder. It tastes like a wake up call and a steady meal at once, the kind of Coffee Protein Smoothie that makes you rethink store bought shakes.
I grab it after tough workouts when I want results not fluff, and sometimes instead of a bagel when mornings are rushed. It feels filling without weighing me down, and honestly it might be the easiest Meal Replacement Drinks hack you’ll actually stick with.
Try it and watch how long you stay full.
Ingredients
- Cold brew coffee: caffeine boost, antioxidants, bold flavor, it wakes you up.
- Frozen banana: natural sweetness and creaminess, potassium and fiber, it helps thicken.
- Vanilla protein powder: adds protein for muscle repair, keeps you full, tastes a bit sweet.
- Almond butter: healthy fats and vitamin E, nutty richness, makes the drink more filling.
- Chia seeds: fiber and omega 3s, absorb liquid for thickness, tiny crunch, very filling.
- Ground cinnamon: warm spice, low calorie sweetness trick, may help steady blood sugar.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1 cup cold brew coffee chilled
- 1 medium frozen banana about 120 g
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (≈30 g)
- 1 tbsp natural almond butter
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 4 to 6 ice cubes or 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 1/4 cup water optional
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch fine sea salt
How to Make this
1. Pour 1 cup chilled cold brew coffee into a blender.
2. Break 1 medium frozen banana (about 120 g) into chunks and add to the blender.
3. Add 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (≈30 g), 1 tbsp natural almond butter, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of fine sea salt.
4. Toss in 4 to 6 ice cubes or 1/2 cup crushed ice, and add up to 1/4 cup water only if you want a thinner texture.
5. Pulse once or twice to break up the banana so the blades dont just spin, then blend on high for about 30 to 60 seconds until creamy.
6. Stop, scrape down the sides with a spatula, then blend another 10 to 15 seconds so everything is well mixed.
7. Check texture and taste: if it’s too thick add a splash of water, if too thin add another ice cube or two; adjust cinnamon or salt slightly if you want more flavor.
8. Pour into a tall glass, give it a quick stir, and drink right away for best texture — chia will thicken it if you let it sit awhile.
Equipment Needed
1. Blender (powerful enough to crush frozen banana and ice)
2. 1 cup measuring cup for the cold brew and optional water
3. Tablespoon and teaspoon measuring spoons for almond butter, chia and cinnamon
4. Kitchen scale or a medium sized banana if you want to check the ~120 g size
5. Knife to break the frozen banana into chunks
6. Cutting board to protect your counters while chopping the banana
7. Spatula to scrape down the sides so nothing gets left behind
8. Measuring cup or scoop for the ice or crushed ice
9. Tall serving glass and a spoon to stir and drink right away
FAQ
Healthy Coffee Smoothie Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Cold brew coffee (1 cup): swap with 1 cup strong brewed coffee cooled, or 1 shot espresso plus 1/2 cup cold water for a bolder kick; decaf cold brew works if you want less caffeine.
- 1 medium frozen banana: use 1/2 cup frozen mango or 1/2 an avocado for creaminess without the sweetness, or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt to keep it thick and add protein.
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder: replace with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, or use plain whey or pea protein plus 1 tsp vanilla extract if you dont have a flavored powder.
- 1 tbsp natural almond butter: sub with peanut butter, sunflower seed butter for a nut free option, or 1 tbsp tahini for a more savory, earthy twist.
Pro Tips
1) Put the liquid in first, then powders and softer stuff, and ice last, this helps the blades grab everything so you dont end up with a blender that just spins and a few frozen chunks. Pulse a couple times before full blast, and scrape the sides once or twice.
2) Freeze some of your coffee into ice cubes so it never gets watered down, youll get full coffee flavor even as the ice melts. Also freezing small banana slices instead of one big chunk helps it blend way smoother.
3) If you hate gritty chia texture, soak the seeds in a little liquid for 5 to 10 minutes before blending or grind them in a spice grinder first, both give a creamier mouthfeel. If you want a bit of chew leave them dry and add them at the end.
4) Small tweaks go a long way — a tiny extra pinch of salt brightens the coffee, a splash of nut milk makes it silkier, and a sprinkle of extra cinnamon on top makes it taste fresher. If you make it ahead remember it will thicken, stir or add a splash of liquid before drinking.
Healthy Coffee Smoothie Recipe
I created a milk-free, low carb, high protein coffee protein smoothie with cold brew, banana, and vanilla protein powder that keeps you full for hours and doubles as a meal replacement for post workout weight loss.
1
servings
383
kcal
Equipment: 1. Blender (powerful enough to crush frozen banana and ice)
2. 1 cup measuring cup for the cold brew and optional water
3. Tablespoon and teaspoon measuring spoons for almond butter, chia and cinnamon
4. Kitchen scale or a medium sized banana if you want to check the ~120 g size
5. Knife to break the frozen banana into chunks
6. Cutting board to protect your counters while chopping the banana
7. Spatula to scrape down the sides so nothing gets left behind
8. Measuring cup or scoop for the ice or crushed ice
9. Tall serving glass and a spoon to stir and drink right away
Ingredients
1 cup cold brew coffee chilled
1 medium frozen banana about 120 g
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (≈30 g)
1 tbsp natural almond butter
1 tbsp chia seeds
4 to 6 ice cubes or 1/2 cup crushed ice
1/4 cup water optional
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch fine sea salt
Directions
- Pour 1 cup chilled cold brew coffee into a blender.
- Break 1 medium frozen banana (about 120 g) into chunks and add to the blender.
- Add 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (≈30 g), 1 tbsp natural almond butter, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of fine sea salt.
- Toss in 4 to 6 ice cubes or 1/2 cup crushed ice, and add up to 1/4 cup water only if you want a thinner texture.
- Pulse once or twice to break up the banana so the blades dont just spin, then blend on high for about 30 to 60 seconds until creamy.
- Stop, scrape down the sides with a spatula, then blend another 10 to 15 seconds so everything is well mixed.
- Check texture and taste: if it’s too thick add a splash of water, if too thin add another ice cube or two; adjust cinnamon or salt slightly if you want more flavor.
- Pour into a tall glass, give it a quick stir, and drink right away for best texture — chia will thicken it if you let it sit awhile.
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 540g
- Total number of serves: 1
- Calories: 383kcal
- Fat: 14.1g
- Saturated Fat: 1.9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated: 4g
- Monounsaturated: 6.6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 220mg
- Potassium: 760mg
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 20g
- Protein: 31g
- Vitamin A: 50IU
- Vitamin C: 9mg
- Calcium: 220mg
- Iron: 2.4mg
