What is 'proffee'? Experts explain the protein and caffeine-packed trend.
"If you're planning on drinking coffee ... you might as well sneak in a few extra health benefits."
Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but do you consume enough of it? The general recommendation for daily protein consumption is about 0.8 grams per kilogram of bodyweight, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the amount of protein necessary varies from person to person and depends on factors like age, weight, activity level and gender. To meet those protein goals, you could simply add more meat and legumes to your diet, but lately, people are taking a more caffeinated path to protein consumption success, adding protein into their daily routines with protein coffee or "proffee."
What is proffee?
Proffee is exactly what it sounds like: protein and coffee. "Proffee is a nutrient dense upgrade from your daily coffee routine," says Carissa Galloway, a registered dietician and personal trainer. "Your typical coffeehouse latte is packed with empty calories and sugar, providing little to no nutritional value. If you're planning on drinking coffee either way, you might as well sneak in a few extra health benefits."
The popularity of proffee
Not only is Galloway an advocate for protein coffee, but many TikTok users have posted videos to the platform showcasing their proffee recipes and morning beverages. The #proffee hashtag has garnered over 35 million views on the app, and has received a lot of attention from people in the bariatric (weight loss surgery) community and others on weight loss journeys.
Lifestyle and beauty influencer Chloe Parsons says she came across proffee on YouTube back when "what I eat in a day" videos were popular. "I saw a few people add protein to their coffee and decided to try it out for myself," says Parsons. "Once I did, there was no going back."
In a recent TikTok, Parsons shared with her more than 200,000 followers a recipe for her signature protein coffee, technically an iced Americano, that she makes every morning.
The recipe includes two shots of espresso, cold water, ice, three "glugs" of a vanilla protein-shake, and a bit of sugar-free creamer.
“I drink proffee every single morning," Parson tells Yahoo Life. "I'm not always hungry right when I wake up, so it's the perfect in between before a brunch or early lunch."
Other TikTok users say they've found proffee to be extremely helpful in keeping them full and satisfied, where a regular cup of joe would leave them yearning for more.
Liza Saunders, who shares about her 110-pound weight loss on TikTok, drinks proffee as a way to keep her on track each morning. "Protein is necessary to keep me full throughout the day, it also stimulates muscle growth and enhances fat burn," Saunders says. "The simple swap in my coffee from cream to protein is a sustainable swap that has kept me on track for weight loss."
One of Saunders' favorite proffee recipes includes a salted caramel-flavored protein shake made by Fairlife Nutrition Plan, dark roast coffee, Starbucks caramel syrup and a dash of caramel. She says the great thing about proffee is it's completely customizable — there's no "one-size-fits-all" recipe — so whether you opt for caffeinated or decaf, creamer or no creamer, the choices are up to you.
What to know about profee
While proffee may help keep you fuller for longer, it shouldn't be used as a meal replacement.
"Proffee is not a meal replacement," warns Galloway, who spoke with Yahoo Life as part of her work promoting Premier Protein. "I like to think of it as a nutrition tool, best used as part of a well-balanced diet."
Galloway adds you'll want to check in with your physician before making any significant changes to your diet, especially for those with kidney issues who typically need to limit their protein intake and pregnant or breastfeeding people who are advised to limit caffeine consumption.
"When adding proffee into your diet, be aware of how much coffee you're drinking in a day and aim to limit coffee consumption to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is about four cups," Galloway says.
As with any beverage, you may not like it on your first try. If that's the case, don't give up. Keep exploring with different recipes and flavor options until you find a variation that works for you.
"Have fun with it," says Saunders. "Create your own proffee recipes [based on] drinks you already know and love, and by doing this you don't even realize you have added protein, yet you get all the benefits."
Looking to try out proffee for yourself? Here's a recipe to help get you started.
Iced Almond Cookie Vanilla Latte
Courtesy of Premier Protein
Ingredients:
Premier Protein High Protein Vanilla Shake (or vanilla protein shake of your choice)
1 tablespoon of Jot Coffee Concentrate (or coffee concentrate of your choice)
¼ teaspoon almond extract
2 drops butter extract (optional)
1 teaspoon sugar-free vanilla syrup
Instructions:
Simply add the ingredients and stir. You can make it hot or iced.
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