Guide
Protein coffee, explained.
The short version: a protein coffee is only worth it if the protein is a real dose, of a protein you'd choose, in real coffee. Five things on the label tell you: protein grams, protein type, real coffee or a caffeine figure, the sweetener, and whether every amount is printed.
Written by the people making HEFT, so treat it as informed, not neutral.
What protein coffee is
Protein coffee is coffee with a meaningful amount of protein added, so your morning caffeine and some of your day's protein arrive in one drink. It comes in two formats: ready-to-drink cans and bottles, and powders you mix at home.
Cans are convenient. Powders usually fit more protein into a serving, weigh less to post, and let the coffee be mixed fresh rather than sitting in a can for months.
Does the protein count?
Protein is protein, whether it arrives in a coffee, a shake or a sandwich. The questions are how much, and which kind.
UK rules say a food can only be called 'high protein' if at least 20% of its energy comes from protein, and a 'source of protein' if at least 12% does.1 Those are useful floors to check against.
Some drinks put 'protein' on the front with a few grams inside. If a product says protein but won't tell you how many grams, that tells you something.
Which protein?
Most protein coffees use one of two. Whey, from milk, is what HEFT uses. Collagen is common too: it dissolves easily and costs less. They're different proteins, and brands pick them for different reasons. Check which one you're getting, and how many grams.
Real coffee or coffee flavouring?
Some products sold as protein coffee are flavoured protein powders. They contain coffee flavouring rather than coffee, which usually means little or no caffeine. If you want your actual morning coffee, look for coffee in the ingredients or a stated caffeine figure. The NHS puts a cup of instant coffee at about 100mg of caffeine.2
The five-point label check
- Protein grams. A number, per serving.
- Protein type. Whey, milk protein, collagen or plant: know which.
- Real coffee. Coffee in the ingredients, or a caffeine figure.
- Sweetener. Sucralose, stevia, sugar or none. None of these is wrong, but you should know which.
- Printed amounts. Every ingredient with its dose, not a 'proprietary blend'.
And one no label can tell you: whether it tastes good enough to drink every morning. That one you find out by tasting it.
Where HEFT sits
HEFT is a powder: real instant coffee with 15g of protein from whey, 3g of creatine and 10µg of vitamin D per 30g scoop, sweetened with stevia leaf extract and a little erythritol. Every amount is on the draft label. It isn't on sale yet and nobody has tasted it, us included. That's what the Blind Mug Test is for.
Sources
- GOV.UK, "Nutrition and health claims: guidance to compliance with Regulation (EC) 1924/2006". Back to text
- NHS, "Foods to avoid in pregnancy: caffeine". Back to text
General information, not medical or dietary advice. If you have a health condition or specific dietary needs, speak to a qualified professional.