When I discovered protein coffee — specifically Protein Works’ Coffee Cooler — it sounded like the kind of time-and-thought-saving hack I needed. Because lately, I feel like I can’t open my phone, let alone step outside my front door, without something or someone reminding me to hit my protein quota for the day. We’ve all read (and felt seen by) the memes: ‘Just a girl trying to walk 10,000 steps a day, get 8 hours of sleep, meditate, stay hydrated and eat enough protein’. What an exhausting life it is trying to thrive.
But the Protein Works website promises its Coffee Coolers aren’t just for first thing in the morning, but whenever a caffeine fix is needed. So, I went deep on the research before I committed to a purchase.
Protein Works Protein Coffee Coolers
For context, I’m a complete coffee snob, and without a decent hit before the day starts, I’m a horrible person. So, I wasn’t ready to sacrifice my morning oat flat white; that was for sure. But I was absolutely on board with the idea of ditching the extra £4.25 on a second mid-afternoon. Perhaps I’d save a bit of money by default.
Before all else, I wanted to know if protein coffee actually tasted like coffee, and not the kind you get in freeze-packed sachets in a cheap hotel. Most of the reviews told me the protein powder X coffee collab, but that the flavoured options were tastier than the standard. I preferred the idea of something that wasn’t trying too hard to catfish and felt more like a treat anyway. As long as I could keep that early morning real-deal ritual, I could make peace with a sweetened afternoon replacement.
Next, I wanted to find out if it would be something a fitness and nutritional expert would recommend. My algorithms are currently targeting me for any hormonal, nutritional, and wellbeing-related supplement on the market, and not all advice is made equal.
I’ve worked with personal trainer, Bryony May Thompson, since December last year, and I trust her wholeheartedly. Not only is she a lead fitness instructor at one of London’s most reputable gyms, 1REBEL, but she also works with individual clients to create tailored plans based on their personal goals. One thing she will not deviate from, no matter who or how she trains, is the importance of protein for women. She has taught me about macros for the first time in 36 years, and balancing protein has become a part of my day-to-day. I’m sure people manage it with whole food, but in truth, the only way I’ve found it doable is with daily protein powder shakes. Ideally, ones that taste like chocolate.
“Protein Works is the brand I always recommend to my clients,” she says. “Other protein powders are secretly peppered with ingredients that we’d rather avoid, but this brand’s recipes are clean. If you’re going to try protein coffee at all, this would be the one to start with.”
Protein Works Coffee Coolers, at a glance:
Protein Works Protein Coffee Coolers
Protein Coffee FAQs:
Protein Works Protein Coffee Coolers come in powder form. There’s a measured scoop inside the bag that, once full, contains 22g of protein, up to 120mg of caffeine and 113 calories per 30g serving. It’s made from a blend of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate and micellar casein protein, all of which have their own specific benefits, including boosting muscle protein synthesis.
How do you make a protein coffee?
The guidelines on site suggest shaking your Protein Coffee Cooler powder into chilled milk by hand, but I used a blender and added ice every time. The former is certainly more effective, but the latter resulted in something creamier and more velvety in consistency.
Is protein coffee ‘healthy’?
It’s not promising to be a health food, but it is an effective way of upping your protein intake quite significantly, without having to do much. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation.
Does protein coffee taste like coffee?
Yes, it does. The mocha recipe mixed with almond milk is a tasty combination.
How we tested the Protein Works Coffee Coolers:
With that justification in place, I decided to give it a go. For one month, I’d aim to replace my afternoon flat white and snack — often sugary and/or carby — with a Protein Works Protein Coffee Cooler. The goal was to combine the caffeine hit and feeling of fullness while dropping a few calories in the process. It sounded like a flawless plan. On paper, most things are.
During that time, I considered the following:
- Ease of use — Was the Coffee Cooler easy to prep? Did the powder mix well with milk and/or water?
- Efficacy — How long into the four weeks did I notice a difference, if any?
- Taste — On a scale of one to five, how pleasurable was the taste?
- Value for money — Would I be happy to commit to the weekly, monthly or bi-monthly swap and spend?
Protein Works Coffee Cooler: The Verdict
Week one was fine – the Protein Works Coffee Cooler was new and novel, and I genuinely did enjoy the feeling of being prepared enough to forego the mindless £5 spend on any given office day. At just £1.44 per serving, my savings were sure to add up. There were days, though, when I didn’t feel full enough to see me through until dinner, so the dream of cutting the snack didn’t last particularly long.
I adapted, and in week two, I started adding to the recipe, prepping it at home the night before and adding banana or avocado to the blend to bulk it out. This had a positive impact on satiety (no surprises there) but definitely affected the consistency… AKA I’d recommend drinking whatever you make straight away.
Protein Works Protein Coffee Coolers
At the weekends, I slipped back into old habits, and as someone who is usually quite committed when I want to be, I put this down to not actually liking the taste that much. But in the name of research, I persevered, and by the end of the month, I had some key takeaways to share.
Ultimately, whether it’s worth it or not will be down to individual goals, but in my experience:
1. The efficiency of this drink is pretty paramount.
For anyone looking to increase their protein intake without eating an extra tin of tuna a day, it’s an easy win.
2. There’s a financial benefit.
If you’re loath to pay London coffee shop prices but you need a boost mid-afternoon, you’ll save a fortune. 30 days’ worth of powder costs £43.20 (excluding milk), while 30 London-priced creamy coffees will set you back £127.50. It’s a saving of £84.30 a month!
3. It feels fancier.
Making this at home and drinking it in the garden felt fancy, but I would not recommend replacing milk with water.
4. It doesn’t quite satisfy the craving.
A Protein Works Coffee Cooler is not going to give the same warming feeling as a really well-made coffee — but that’s not the point. Consider it more of an iced mocha with 30g of protein in it, as opposed to an alternative to a steamy, creamy latte.
If you already have a protein shake using either the best protein powder or best vegan protein powder at some point in the day, adding your own coffee to your tried and tested recipe is probably just as effective.
