This cold brew coffee smoothie is the answer to all your morning breakfast prayers. It combines coffee, cocoa powder, protein powder, and frozen veggies and fruit in a deliciously creamy, chocolately, caffeinated smoothie.
To my fellow java junkies: this one is for you! This smoothie packs in all the goodies, from hidden veggies and fruit to seeds, oats, and of course, coffee. It is protein-packed, loaded up with healthy fats, and sprinkled with a light smattering of carbs. Plus it can easily be made plant-based/vegan.
Ingredients
- Coffee – we recommend cold brew or chilled brewed coffee in this smoothie. Chilled coffee works better than hot coffee. Decaf and regular strength work equally well (we’ve used both!). You can also use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of coffee grounds or espresso powder instead of brewed coffee and add another 1 cup of almond milk to replace the coffee.
- Zucchini – we cut fresh zucchini into quarters and freeze them before using in this smoothie for optimum freshness. We got the hot tip to use zucchini in smoothies to add volume and texture from Fit Men Cook. We also swap out zucchini with cauliflower for an extra kick of fiber, vitamins, and creaminess.
- Kale or spinach – these leafy greens are easy to hide in this smoothie and contain a high dose of calcium. We love to freeze fresh spinach when it’s getting close to expiring and then chop it up for smoothies.
- Banana – for extra creaminess and natural sweetness. Freeze fresh bananas for optimum creaminess and sweetness.
- Protein powder – mocha, coffee, or chocolate protein powder are excellent in this smoothie. I also have used salted caramel protein powder for a lightly salty-sweet twist! Most protein powders will work well in this smoothie. I typically use whey isolate protein powder, but plant-based protein powders work well too. You may need to adjust the liquids based on the protein powder
- Almond milk – we love throwing in unsweetened chocolate almond milk for an even more chocolatey smoothie, but we also love unsweetened vanilla almond milk and use that most frequently.
- Rolled oats – a little dose of healthy carbs and fiber. Plus it helps to thicken up the smoothie.
- Pumpkin seeds – for healthy fats and omega-3s.
- Cocoa powder – adds extra chocolatey goodness.
- Cacao nibs – full of healthy fats, antioxidants, and a little extra protein.
How to Make Coffee Smoothie
Combine the smoothie ingredients in a high powered blender. If you are using a single serve blender, layer the frozen zucchini, spinach, and banana first, followed by the oats, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, and protein powder. Add the coffee and milk last. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes on high speed, or until smooth. You may need to blend longer to fully blend up the seeds, cacao nibs, and oats.
How to Make Ahead Smoothies
We tend to make this smoothie fresh every morning and in doing so, we have found some nice easy short cuts to make this process seamless and take less than 5 minutes from prepping to drinking.
We recommend making 5 baggies (one for every day of the week) of ingredients:
- Combine frozen ingredients – in a freezer ziploc bag, combine frozen zucchini, spinach/kale, and banana half. Store in freezer until needed.
- Combine dry ingredients – in a small ziploc bag, combine protein powder, oats, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, and cacao nibs. Store in the pantry.
- Make and chill coffee – brew enough coffee for the week and store it in a travel mug in the fridge so it can chill overnight and be on-hand for the week.
- Ice cubes – if you’re making coffee ice cubes, pour the coffee into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
Smoothie Modifications
- Protein powder – there are tons of options and versatility with protein powders. You can use whey or vegan/plant based powders. Try out mocha, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, or caramel protein powders. They result in slightly different flavored smoothies, each equally delicious.
- Fruits/veggies – our favorite substitute is replacing the zucchini with cauliflower. It makes this smoothie extra creamy and loads it up with fiber and different vitamins. If you’re not a fan of bananas, cauliflower is a great swap, but the smoothie won’t be as sweet. We also use kale and spinach interchangeably based on in-season produce.
- Nuts/seeds – we LOVE pumpkin seeds, but flax seed, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are also great options. Feel free to mix in a handful of almonds or a tablespoon or two of almond butter for some extra healthy fats and creaminess.
- Coffee ice cubes – one of my all time favorite modifications is freezing coffee in ice cube trays and adding 3 to 5 cubes into the blender. It not only makes this smoothie super cold (no one wants a warm smoothie), but also ups the caffeine factor.
Let us know what you think about this cold brew coffee smoothie by dropping a comment and/or rating on the recipe card below! Also, please consider sharing on social media/Pinterest if you loved this recipe (we really appreciate it)!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is it safe to put coffee in smoothies – yes! We prefer using brewed coffee, but you can also use coffee grounds or instant espresso powder too for an even more intense coffee flavor. You won’t need much; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon will do the trick.
- Can you put whole coffee beans in a smoothie – we don’t recommend it. You’ll likely have pretty gritty coffee. If you want to add ground coffee, grind it before adding it to the smoothie. Espresso powder will be the smoothest, as it’s more finely ground than coffee.
Other Fueling Smoothies
Check out our other fueling, high-protein smoothies:
- Chocolate cherry smoothie
- Peach smoothie
- Chai latte smoothie
- Mint chocolate chip smoothie
- Peanut butter banana smoothie
- Blackberry smoothie
Cold Brew Coffee Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 high powered blender
Ingredients
- â…” c zucchini pieces, quartered
- â…“ c chopped kale or spinach, frozen
- ½ medium banana, frozen
- 1 scoop mocha, coffee, or chocolate protein powder
- ¼ c rolled oats
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ Tbsp cacao nibs
- â…” c cold brew or chilled brewed coffee (regular or decaf)
- â…“ c unsweetened chocolate or vanilla almond milk
- 3 to 5 ice cubes, regular or coffee (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the smoothie ingredients in a high powered blender. If you are using a single serve blender, layer the frozen zucchini, spinach, and banana first, followed by the oats, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, and protein powder. Add the coffee, milk, and ice cubes last. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes on high speed, or until smooth.
Notes
- If you are using coffee ice cubs, pour brewed coffee into ice cube trays and freeze overnight before using.
- Vegan and whey protein powders work equally well in this smoothie.
- Check out our make ahead tips (above) for making these smoothies meal prep friendly.
- We do not recommend making this smoothie ahead of time, as the ingredients tend to settle and whey protein especially can get frothy.
Leave a Reply