Vanilla Proffee Latte (Protein Coffee)
Last Updated on March 27, 2024 by Annie
Simple, easy, and deliciously vegan, this Vanilla Proffee Latte makes the perfect addition to a crisp day. Made with 3 ingredients, this vegan hot protein coffee is everything you love about a latte with a boost of filling protein.
As the days begin to get a little shorter and thankfully a little cooler, I am finding myself more and more in need of an afternoon cup of coffee. One that will not only warm my soul but also one that can keep me going, at least until I get my little one down for bed.
This vegan vanilla proffee latte takes everything you love about a vanilla latte but adds a boost of protein powder. Learn how to quickly and easily make this 3-ingredient coffee for a simple afternoon pick-me-up.
What is Proffee?
Proffee, also known as protein coffee is simply a coffee based drink that has been enhanced with protein. Many of the more common recipes (thanks to their viral trend on TikTok) for proffee consist of using cold brew coffee and topping it off with a pre-made protein shake.
This recipe for vanilla protein coffee differs from the iced proffee drink of TikTok in a number of ways.
- Served hot. The base of this vanilla proffee latte is a hot cup of coffee.
- Uses protein powder. In place of a pre-made protein drink, this proffee uses vegan protien powder mixed with non-dairy milk.
- Topped off like a latte. I like to steam and froth the protein oat milk portion before floating it on the fresh brewed coffee. While you are more than welcome to mix your protein into the coffee, it makes this coffee feel more like a mid-day Starbucks pick-me-up.
Why You’ll Love this Proffee Latte
You don’t have to twist my arm to make an afternoon cup of coffee, but if you are needing a little reminder why making a proffee is vastly superior to the plain cup of coffee you are considering… here are just a few of our favorite reasons to make this beverage.
- Quick and easy. This recipe comes together in about 5 minutes.
- Boost of energy. Between the cup of coffee and the added bonus of protein, this protein coffee is sure to keep you focused all morning or afternoon.
- Vegan and dairy-free. From the vegan protein powder, to the non-dairy milk, every bit of this delightful proffee is both vegan and dairy-free.
How to Make a Vanilla Proffee Latte
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Dairy-Free Milk- I like to use oat milk because it’s creamy but also doesn’t foam too much when it’s frothed.
- Vegan Vanilla Protein– We keep Orgain protein on auto-fill at our house with how much we love their delicious flavors.
- Coffee- You can make this with any kind of coffee you like. I usually make a pot of coffee in the morning and just pour a cup but you could also use a single brew coffee option and make one cup of coffee for the latte.
Step-By-Step Directions for Hot Proffee
- Prepare a cup of coffee. You can either make and pour a cup from a larger pot or use a single brew option and make one cup of coffee.
- Heat non-dairy milk: In a liquid measuring cup, heat non-dairy milk.
- Add protein powder: Once warmed whisk in one scoop of vanilla protein powder.
- Froth protein milk: After the protein is well mixed into the non-dairy milk, use a hand-held milk frother and froth the milk until it is your desired level of frothy.
- Pour the frothed protein milk over the coffee and enjoy!
Tips for Success
To ensure the perfect cup of proffee, remember these two important tips.
- Heat the non-dairy milk. I have tired this without heating the milk and it makes the coffee cold.
- Whisk before you froth. Making sure the protein powder is well blended into the non-dairy milk prevents any clumps. I tried using the frother to whisk in the protein powder but it did not work nearly as well as I would have liked.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Some of the tools I find most helpful with this vanilla proffee latte include:
- Liquid measuring cup– It makes pouring the frothed protein milk into the coffee much easier.
- Mini Whisk– For mixing the protein powder into the non-dairy milk.
- Hand-held frother– This small little frother makes it so much easier to get my desired level of frothy for the latte.
- Large coffee mug– Something about a large mug that I can cup with both of my hands makes this afternoon pick-me-up all the more comforting.
Toppings for Vegan Proffee
Want to make this vanilla protein coffee latte feel even more like a Starbucks drink? Here are a few ways to dress up your vegan proffee.
- Dust the top with cinnamon, cinnamon sugar, or nutmeg for an extra boost of flavor.
- Top it off with a dollop of whipped topping like Reddi-Whip Coconut Milk or TruWhip Vegan.
- Add a splash of vanilla simple syrup to your coffee for another boost of vanilla flavor.
Serving Suggestions
If you want to make the vegan protein latte into an all out afternoon treat here are a few delicious and vegan treats you might want to serve alongside it.
Proffee FAQs
Is protein coffee healthy?
Yes. The coffee + protein aspect of this drink is at a baseline a very healthy option. But, depending upon the non-dairy milk you use you may alter the health benefits of coffee.
For example, using oat milk in place of almond milk will increase the overall calorie level of the drink. Topping it off with whipped cream impacts the health factors as well.
For more about the different non-dairy milk options and their health benefits, check out my Dairy-Free Milk Guide.
Can you make an iced vegan proffee?
Absolutely! Simply replace the hot coffee with cold brew and instead of heating the non-dairy milk leave it cold.
More Protein Based Recipes to Make Next
- Vanilla Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes
- Chocolate Baked Oats with Protein
- Chocolate Protein Pancakes
If you tried this vegan vanilla proffee recipe feel free to leave a comment below, I would love to hear how it went! You can also snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy to share all your life after dairy adventures!
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Vanilla Proffee (Protein Coffee)
Simple, warm, and filling, this 3 ingredient vanilla proffee (protein coffee) latte is the perfect afternoon treat!
Ingredients
- 5 ounce Coffee freshly brewed
- ½ cup Non-dairy Milk
- 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder vegan
Instructions
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Prepare a 5 ounce cup of coffee. You can either make and pour a cup from a larger pot or use a single brew option and make one cup of coffee.
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In a liquid measuring cup, heat ½ cup non-dairy milk.
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Once warmed whisk in one scoop of vanilla protein powder.
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After the protein is well mixed into the non-dairy milk, use a hand-held milk frother and froth the milk until it's your desired level of frothy.
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Pour the frothed protein milk over the coffee and enjoy!
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