Guide
Protein coffee or a protein shake?
The short version: a shake gets more protein into one serving and usually costs less per gram. A protein coffee gets less in, but inside the coffee you were already making. If you don't drink coffee, have the shake.
Written by the people making HEFT, so treat it as informed, not neutral.
Protein
A 30g scoop of plain whey powder usually carries about 20g to 25g of protein. HEFT has 15g. If you need a lot in one go, the shake wins.
Caffeine and routine
This is where protein coffee earns its place. A shake is a second drink: another thing to make and another thing to wash. A protein coffee rides along with a habit you already have. Whether that matters depends entirely on your mornings.
Taste and texture
Shakes have had decades to get smooth, and cold liquid is forgiving. Hot coffee is harder: whey can clump or foam in hot water, which is why stirring protein powder into coffee often disappoints. A protein coffee has to be made to dissolve in a hot mug. Whether HEFT manages it, we'll show you when samples arrive.
Cost
Plain whey usually costs less per gram of protein than a protein coffee, HEFT included. HEFT is about £1.56 a cup at full price. The comparison page has the numbers, and a calculator for building the same stack yourself.
So which?
- Have a shake if you want 25g or more in one go, or you don't drink coffee.
- Have a protein coffee if you drink coffee every morning and want 15g of protein to come along with it.
- Have both if you like: coffee in the morning, a shake after training. They don't compete.
Where HEFT sits
HEFT is a protein coffee: real instant coffee with 15g of protein from whey, 3g of creatine and 10µg of vitamin D per scoop. It isn't on sale yet. The draft label has every dose.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. If you have a health condition or specific dietary needs, speak to a qualified professional.