What is protein coffee, or proffee?
Protein coffee is a broad label for a simple combination: a coffee drink plus a protein source. A bottled latte might use milk protein, a shake may include coffee extract, and a homemade version might mix espresso with a ready-to-drink shake. They can taste similar while delivering very different amounts of protein and energy.
That makes the exact product more useful than the category name. “Protein” on the front does not tell you whether the drink contains 10 g or 30 g, whether the bottle is one serving, or how much syrup is in the café recipe. Start with those details before comparing brands.
Protein coffee calories and protein: the comparison
| Product and serving | Calories (kcal) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Super Coffee Vanilla Lean Iced Latte1 bottle · 12 fl oz | 60 | 10 g |
| Super Coffee Vanilla Protein+1 bottle · 12 fl oz | 150 | 25 g |
| Premier Protein Café Latte1 shake · 11.5 fl oz | 160 | 30 g |
| Starbucks Vanilla Protein Latte, hotGrande · 16 fl oz · standard recipe | 310 | 27 g |
All figures are per serving shown, not per 100 ml. This selection includes two bottled coffees, a coffee-flavored protein shake and a café latte; these formats are not identical. Links lead to the official nutrition sources.
The two Super Coffee bottles show why the formula matters even within one brand. Vanilla Lean lists 60 calories and 10 g protein; Vanilla Protein+ lists 150 calories and 25 g. Both deliver the same calculated 16.7 g protein per 100 calories, but the Protein+ bottle supplies two and a half times as much of each.
Premier Protein Café Latte has the largest protein amount in this selection at 30 g per shake. Starbucks’ hot Grande Vanilla Protein Latte provides 27 g in a larger, sweetened café drink. Its 310 calories are the standard recipe, not a prediction for a customized order.
Which protein coffee has the most protein per calorie?
How much protein for the same 100 calories?
g protein per 100 kcal
Premier Protein comes first on this one measure, at 18.8 g protein per 100 calories. The two Super Coffee formulas tie at 16.7 g; the standard Starbucks latte works out at 8.7 g. The chart compares nutrition density, not taste, value, how filling a drink will feel, or the quality of its protein.
Use the whole-serving table for what you will actually drink. A higher ratio does not mean you need the larger serving, and a lower ratio does not make a latte an unreasonable choice. The useful question is whether its full serving fits what you want from that coffee.
Choosing a lower-calorie protein coffee
If the priority is the smallest calorie contribution, the 60-calorie Vanilla Lean bottle is the lowest in this selection. If the priority is a larger protein amount, compare the 150-calorie Protein+ bottle and the 160-calorie Premier shake instead. Those are different shopping goals, even though both involve protein coffee.
For a café order, check the size and exact hot or iced version in the menu. Removing syrup or changing the milk changes the recipe, so the standard figure may no longer apply. A “sugar-free” flavor also does not mean the whole drink has zero calories: milk and added protein still contribute energy.
Protein coffee can fit into a calorie deficit, but it does not create one automatically. A drink that replaces another item has a different effect on the day’s intake from an extra drink added on top. For a broader look at that distinction, see why an estimated calorie deficit may not show up on the scale.
How to make and log homemade protein coffee
A simple approach is chilled coffee, ice and a measured amount of a protein shake. Mix the ingredients you enjoy, then calculate from their labels. There is no special calorie allowance for calling the result proffee.
Half of the 160-calorie, 30 g protein Premier shake contributes 80 calories and 15 g protein. Add the coffee’s nutrition and any milk, sweetener or toppings separately. Those 80 calories describe the half shake, not the finished drink.
If you make a larger jug, total its ingredients before dividing by the portion you pour. Our guide to counting calories in homemade food uses the same ingredient-to-portion method.
Check caffeine and dairy as well as protein
All four drinks in this table contain milk ingredients. “99% lactose-free” on a product page does not mean dairy-free or suitable for a milk allergy. Someone avoiding dairy needs a different formula and should check the ingredient statement on the actual package.
Caffeine is a separate comparison. Starbucks lists approximately 150 mg for the hot Grande Vanilla Protein Latte. The other linked pages do not all provide an equally clear dose, so we have not filled those gaps with estimates. A coffee-flavored shake can already contain caffeine; combining it with espresso can add more. Check the package, especially if you also drink other caffeinated beverages.
Frequently asked questions
What is protein coffee?
Protein coffee is coffee combined with a protein source, or a ready-to-drink protein shake containing coffee or coffee extract. It is also called proffee. The name does not specify a minimum protein amount or a fixed calorie count.
Which protein coffee has the fewest calories?
Among the four exact drinks compared here, Super Coffee Vanilla Lean Iced Latte has the fewest calories: 60 per 12 fl oz bottle, with 10 g protein. This is not a claim that it is the lowest-calorie product in every store or market.
How much protein is in Starbucks protein coffee?
The standard hot Grande Vanilla Protein Latte lists 27 g protein and 310 calories. Iced versions, other flavors and different sizes have different nutrition information.
Is protein coffee good for weight loss?
It can fit a weight-loss eating pattern, but adding protein does not make a drink calorie-free or cause weight loss by itself. Count the complete drink, including the shake, milk, syrup and toppings, in the context of your overall intake.
Can I make protein coffee with a protein shake?
Yes. Add chilled coffee or espresso to a ready-to-drink shake, then count the fraction of the shake and any other ingredients you used. If the shake already contains caffeine, adding coffee increases the drink’s caffeine total.
How we checked this guide
We checked the official U.S. product pages and Starbucks nutrition information on 29 October 2026. The table reports the stated serving, calories and protein; the chart is our calculation, rounded to one decimal. These are four selected drinks across three brands, not a complete market survey or a taste test. Formulas, sizes and availability can change. The cover is an AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of any compared product.
