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For a cool and creamy way to kickstart your day, there’s nothing better than a Coffee Smoothie. This recipe is a better-than-Starbucks copycat of their now-discontinued Protein Blended Cold Brew infused with almond butter and cocoa powder for a rich mocha flavor. Choose your favorite protein powder for this dairy-free Frappuccino-style drink that will fuel you for the day!
More of a tea lover? Try a Chai Tea Smoothie!
Why You’ll Love this Coffee Smoothie
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Blender
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Years back, Starbucks had a plant-based alternative to their Frappuccinos that gave you a double punch of caffeine and protein. This Protein Blended Cold Brew came in both almond and chocolate varieties, but I say why limit yourself to one or the other? This coffee smoothie inspired by the coffee shop protein shake combines both flavors into one frosty coffee treat. It’s the perfect way to kickstart your morning or fuel a busy day when the afternoon slump hits you. Here’s why…
- Unlike Starbucks, it’s always available at home. Yes, they may have stopped making this protein-packed shake, but it is super easy to recreate yourself. And that gives you the power to customize it to your tastes and preferences.
- Made with cold brew. It is stronger than regular brewed coffee, so ensures the coffee flavor won’t get diluted when blended with non-dairy milk, banana, and ice.
- Dairy-free for those that need it. Yes, all of the ingredients are vegan, assuming you choose a plant-based protein powder. But again, you have the option to use whatever you like best.
- A money-saver. No need to drain your wallet for those pricey blended drinks from the coffee house or smoothie shop.
Coffee Smoothie Ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list of what you’ll need to make this blended cold brew smoothie. Be sure to scroll all the way to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full amounts.
- Cold brew coffee. Cold brew is super simple to make, and I’ll give you some options below. But if you’d rather buy it, you can order Starbucks Cold Brew or even a Cold Brew Concentrate from Amazon. You’ll also find it in the grocery store and Target.
- Unsweetened almondmilk. Regular or vanilla is fine, or you can use your favorite non-dairy milk alternative.
- Frozen banana. Here are some tips on how to freeze bananas. You’ll want it cut into chunks.
- Almond butter. Just a bit adds some richness and a slightly nutty flavor.
- Cocoa powder. Regular Hershey’s is fine, but you can also use a dark cocoa powder or cacao powder.
- Salt. Just a pinch, but it really brings out all of the flavors.
- Protein powder. I like to use collagen powder, but you can choose a whey protein powder, or keep it vegan with a plant-based protein powder
- Ice. I like a good handful, but you can add more or less depending on your preferred consistency.
- Optional sweetener. You can add a bit of Stevia, erythritol, or even a little sugar or another natural sweetener of choice if you feel you need a little more sweetness, based on how sweet and/or large your bananas are.
How to Make a Coffee Banana Smoothie
Making a smoothie is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the blender, followed by all of the remaining ingredients.
- Turn on your blender and blend until thick and creamy.
- Taste and adjust the consistency and sweetness, as needed.
Variations
While making a coffee smoothie is super simple, the ways you can customize it to your tastes and preferences are endless.
- Use instant coffee. No cold brew on hand? Use all milk and add a teaspoon of instant coffee powder.
- Add greens. You can up the fiber and nutrition by blending in some dark leafy greens, like kale or baby spinach.
- Substitute the almond butter. Try a different nut butter for a slightly different flavor or use Nutella for a bit of indulgence.
- Skip the cocoa. If you are not a mocha fan, you can skip the chocolate flavor by leaving out the cocoa powder so that it is more coffee-forward.
- Up the flavor. Feel free to add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, some of your favorite coffee creamer, a shot of bourbon or rum to make a cocktail shake, or even a pinch of cinnamon or Mexican Chocolate Spice for a little kick.
- Make it creamier. You can also blend in a 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for extra creaminess and protein if you don’t mind dairy.
- Skip the protein powder. If you prefer to avoid protein or collagen powder, you can use chia, hemp, or flax seeds to thicken the smoothie and add extra superfood benefits.
Making Your Own Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew is basically made by soaking ground coffee in cold or room temperature water for an extended time and then filtering it off. It’s so much cheaper than buying it, and while I use a regular pitcher and strain it myself, you can get one of these cold brew coffee makers to make it even simpler. Here are a couple of options.
- I always keep a pitcher of cold brew coffee made like Pioneer Woman’s perfect iced coffee in my fridge. I use 6 ounces of coffee in a 4-quart pitcher filled to the top. This makes the perfect drinking strength for me.
- You can also make cold brew concentrate like this from Kitchen Treaty and then dilute it to drinking strength.
Once you make a batch, you can use it to enjoy a Blended Iced Coffee in the morning or even infuse caffeine into your breakfast with a batch of Raspberry Mocha Latte Overnight Oats.
What to Enjoy with a Coffee Smoothie
While this coffee banana smoothie is satisfying enough to grab as a quick breakfast on the way out the door, maybe you have a little time to enjoy it with something else.
- Weekend treat. Whether you are cooking up a stack of Gluten Free Silver Dollar Pancakes or some crispy Banana Waffles, you can sip on this with your brunch.
- Weekday fuel. This smoothie will power you up alongside a quick Breakfast Sandwich or Almond Butter Chocolate Oatmeal.
- Protein-packed snack. And it’s the perfect pairing to have a sweet treat that powers you up, like some Protein Brownies or some Mango Coconut Energy Bars.
Blended Cold Brew Coffee Smoothie
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cold brew coffee (if using a concentrate, dilute as per instructions)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almondmilk
- 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon almond butter
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (I use collagen powder, but you can use whey or a plant-based protein powder)
- 1/2 cup ice cubes (can use more or less to achieve desired consistency)
- pinch salt
- Stevia, erythritol, or sugar, to taste, if needed
Instructions
- Pour the cold brew coffee and milk into the blender.
- Add the frozen banana chunks, almond butter, protein powder, protein powder, ice cube, and salt. You can also add your desired sweetener.
- Blend until smooth. Check that the smoothie is as thick and sweet as you like, adding additional ice or sweetener, if needed.
Thanks for the great recipe. Can’t wait to try it. curious………where did you get the cute mug? I need one LOL
Thanks so much! And you know what, I can’t remember where I got that. I might have been visiting a science museum or something like that!