Coffee + Protein: 

For millions of people, the day doesn’t really start until that first cup of coffee. It’s warm, familiar, energizing—and for many of us, completely non-negotiable.

But what if your morning coffee could do more than just wake you up?

That’s the idea behind protein coffee: combining the coffee you already love with protein to create a more functional start to your day.

In honor of National Coffee Day, we’re breaking down why coffee and protein make such a natural combination—and how to make your morning cup work a little harder for you.

What Is Protein Coffee?

Protein coffee is exactly what it sounds like: coffee combined with a source of protein.

Some people make it themselves by mixing protein powder into brewed coffee. Others blend a protein shake with cold brew or espresso.

The idea is simple. Instead of drinking coffee by itself, you're adding protein to something that's already part of your daily routine.

It's particularly convenient for busy mornings when making eggs, oatmeal or a full breakfast isn't happening.

Why Add Protein to Your Morning?

Protein plays a number of important roles in the body, including helping build and maintain muscle.

It's especially important for active people and anyone trying to consistently hit a daily protein target.

And while getting enough total protein throughout the day matters most, spreading protein intake across your meals can make reaching that target easier.

That's where your morning coffee gets interesting.

If coffee is already something you consume every morning, combining it with protein can be an incredibly simple way to add more protein to your day without adding another shake, meal or complicated routine.

Coffee was already part of the morning. Now it has another job.

Coffee + Protein = A Better Morning Routine

Traditional coffee gives you caffeine. Protein provides nutrition.

Put the two together and you've got a drink that can fit especially well into an active lifestyle.

Protein coffee can be a convenient option for:

• Busy mornings
• Before heading to the gym
• After a workout
• An afternoon pick-me-up
• People trying to increase their daily protein intake
• Anyone who would rather drink their protein than eat another chicken breast

And unlike a traditional protein shake, you still get the experience of drinking your morning coffee.

Hot or Iced?

Both.

That's one of the best things about protein coffee.

If you're a traditional coffee drinker, make it hot and enjoy it like your normal morning cup.

Prefer the coffeehouse experience? Pour it over ice.

Want something that feels more like dessert? Blend it with ice for a protein frappe.

The important part is preparation. Protein can clump when it's added directly to extremely hot liquid, so when making your own protein coffee, it usually helps to mix the protein separately with a small amount of cool or room-temperature liquid before combining it with hot coffee.

For iced coffee, it's even easier.

What Should You Look for in a Protein Coffee?

Not all protein coffees are created the same.

Before choosing one, take a look at the nutrition facts and consider:

Protein: How much are you actually getting per serving?

Calories: Does it fit the way you're using it—as a beverage, snack or part of breakfast?

Sugar and carbohydrates: Coffeehouse drinks can quickly become calorie bombs once syrups, whipped cream and sweeteners are added.

Coffee: If you're buying protein coffee, it should still taste like coffee.

And perhaps most importantly:

Does it actually taste good enough that you'll want to drink it every morning?

Nutrition doesn't matter much if the bag ends up sitting untouched in your cabinet.

Meet Complete Roast Protein Coffee

That's exactly why we created Complete Roast Protein Coffee.

We wanted something that brought together the experience of a coffeehouse drink with the convenience of added protein.

Complete Roast starts with a Maine Roast coffee blend and combines coffee and protein into one ridiculously easy morning drink.

Current flavors include:

French Vanilla – smooth, creamy vanilla coffee with 16g of protein and 80 calories per serving.

Mocha Peanut Butter – coffee, chocolate and peanut butter with 14g of protein and 69 calories per serving.

Caramel Frappe – sweet caramel coffeehouse flavor with 12g of protein and 60 calories per serving.

Mocha Latte – a richer chocolate-and-coffee combination with 16g of protein and 90 calories per serving.

Drink it hot. Pour it over ice. Blend it into a frappe.

Make it yours.

3 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Complete Roast

1. The Protein Iced Coffee

Mix your favorite Complete Roast flavor according to directions and pour it over a tall glass of ice.

Add a splash of your favorite milk or unsweetened almond milk for an even creamier drink.

Simple.

2. The Coffeehouse Protein Frappe

Blend Complete Roast with ice and your choice of milk.

For an occasional treat, top it with a little whipped cream and cinnamon or a light drizzle of caramel or chocolate.

You've got the coffeehouse experience without having to wait in the drive-thru.

3. The Morning Power Shake

Want something more substantial?

Blend Complete Roast with ice, milk, a banana and an additional scoop of your favorite Complete Nutrition protein.

Now your morning coffee can become part of breakfast.

Your Coffee Was Already Working. Make It Work Harder.

You don't have to completely reinvent your diet to improve it.

Sometimes the easiest changes come from upgrading something you're already doing every day.

And if you're going to drink coffee anyway?

You might as well put some protein in it.

Happy National Coffee Day.

Real Coffee. Real Protein. Real Results.