How Peanut Butter Makes This Smoothie Healthy
Im a huge fan of adding nut butters into my smoothies. In fact, its rare for me not to include some sort of nut butter. In this coffee smoothie recipe, I use peanut butter because, it is:
- Absolutely delicious
- A great source of energy
- A great source of protein
- Great source of healthy fat
It will also leave you feeling fuller longer, which is an important part of a smoothie for me.
Best Blender For Smoothies
Now, in theory, you can use any blender to make a smoothie. However, after years of using various blenders, our team here has found that a high-speed blender is definitely a worthy investment. Heres why:
- Quality. High-speed blenders last a long time. You will absolutely get your moneys worth!
- Performance. A high-speed blender does a much better job of, well, blending. That means better, creamier smoothies!
We do realize that purchasing a high-speed blender is not for everyone. With that in mind, were sharing a few blenders at different price points that weve had good luck with!
some of the blenders weve used and liked in the past.
Recommended: Vitamix
I have used a variety of blenders. The top two contenders are Blendtec and Vitamix. If youre investing big and want the best quality blender out there, go Vitamix. It truly does hold the test of time!
Mid-range price option: Kitchenaid Diamond 5 Speed Blender
Our food editor uses this blender at home. It is moderate in price and works relatively well. However, it is not the same as a high-speed blender, especially when it comes to smoothies. This blender requires more liquid than a high-speed blender would in order to get the frozen smoothie ingredients fully blended up.
Single serving blender option: Ninja Person Blender
Many people prefer to have a single-serving blender to keep at home or in the office for making smoothies. The bonus is that the basin you use to blend can double as a cup!
Can I Put Ground Coffee In My Smoothie
How can coffee grounds be made algrounds into A Smoothie? ?If you want to add ground coffee to your smoothie, yes! It will make your drink great!! !For a quick drink of coffee grounds, you can take it by mouth.A great way to add both flavor and texture to your smoothie, but you will not need to brew any coffees when you use this method.
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Fresh Fruit Vs Frozen Fruit
Frozen fruit is the key to a great smoothie! I always have frozen fruit on hand because they help make smoothies deliciously cold and add thickness. Plus, frozen fruit lasts longer and contains the same nutritional elements as fresh fruit does. Buy them fresh in season and freeze them up and get pre-frozen fruit in the freezer section!
Top Tips To Make This Recipe
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How To Freeze Bananas
The other necessity for this coffee smoothie recipe? Frozen bananas. This is important because you want to get an icy, creamy texture without watering down the flavor with too much ice. For most of our smoothie recipes we try to use non-frozen bananas, but in this one it is key.
- How to freeze bananas? Slice them into rounds and place them on a baking sheet so they dont clump together. For this smoothie, you can just throw the slices into a sealed container if youd like.
- How long to freeze bananas? The shortest time you can get away with is 1 ½ hours. Or just freeze them overnight!
But You Can Make It A Smoothie Freezer Pack
You may already know my love for smoothie packs! They are a great thing to have in the freezer for a quick snack, breakfast, or to freezer prep for a friend
So yes, you can prepare these ahead of time, placing all the ingredients into a freezer-safe bag or container, and freezing until ready to use. They will last that way for up to 1 month! Dont blend the smoothie ahead of time, though! Smoothies are best when enjoyed right after blending! See this post for more information on how to make smoothie freezer packs!
For this smoothie specifically, coffee ice cubes would be ideal for your freezer pack!
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Can I Drink Coffee With Smoothie
You need to limit the consumption of coffee from foods with calcium to at least 30 minutes in order to avoid unpleasant side effects. Since coffee interfere with calcium absorption in the body, some of its benefits will be lost if you drink coffee near a calcium-rich beverage. Here is more information.
Tips For Making Smoothies
Here are a few of my favorite tips I like to share in regards to making the best creamy, healthy smoothies:
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How Do You Thicken Smoothies
Chocolate Fudge Protein Shake
A traditional chocolate milkshake can leave you feeling, well, a sensation best described as, meh, but this coffee smoothie recipe does just the opposite. It revs you up with a jolt of java and keeps you full for hours thanks to protein powder and nut-butter.
Per serving: 355 calories, 3.4 g fat , 21.8 g carbs, 12.4 g sugar, 383 mg sodium, 2.4 g fiber, 9.5 g protein
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Mix It Up: Be Your Own Smoothie Barista
The recipe featured below is just for starters. There is plenty more you can do to switch things up depending on the mood. Here are a handful of ideas for shifting the flavor profile or boosting the nutrition:
- Add 1/3 cup fresh or frozen cauliflower florets to pump up the produce in your breakfast blend
- Top the smoothie with a little dark chocolate .
- For added protein and calcium, blend a few tablespoons of nonfat dry milk powder into the smoothie. Alternatively, add a scoop of your favorite unflavored protein powder or collagen peptides.
- Swap 3 tablespoons rolled oats for the chia seeds.
- Swap out the almond butter and use sunflower, cashew, or peanut butter instead.
- Top with a few teaspoons of cacao nibs for fiber, crunch, and more chocolate flavor.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice to the mix.
- For more of a dessert shake, swap 1/2 cup frozen vanilla yogurt for milk.
Creamy Chocolate Breakfast Shake
Picture this: dessert for breakfast. A childhood dream come true thanks to a sweetening combo of strawberries, cocoa powder, and agave nectar . This rich, decadent goodness has all the makings of a totally gluttonous treat, but with the fiber and protein to kick your day into gearand keep you full and going strong for hours.
Per serving: 312 calories, 14 g fat , 48 g carbs, 27 g sugar, 7.5 g fiber, 6.2 g protein.
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How To Thicken A Smoothie
Can You Put Coffee Grounds Into A Smoothie
Yes, you can add ground coffee into your smoothie and its totally ok to eat coffee grounds. Its not only a great way to add extra flavor and texture into your smoothie, itll also provide that added caffeine without needing to brew any coffee. Plus, you get the full benefit of coffee beans without having it be diluted in the brewing process. That being said, we ALSO add chilled brewed coffee because we want to maximize the coffee flavor in this coffee smoothie. BONUS: coffee grounds contain antioxidants, which is an added bonus for your smoothie.
Just make sure youre using un-brewed ground coffee for your ground coffee in this smoothie. If the coffee grounds are already brewed, they will lack flavor and caffeine, which are the two main reasons to be adding the grounds into your coffee to begin with!
NOTE: We are talking about ground coffee here, NOT instant coffee. While you could use instant coffee, that is not how this recipe is intended. I prefer grounding my own coffee beans for peak freshness and aromatic effect.
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What Kind Of Coffee To Use
There are a few different methods for making coffee for your smoothie:
If using a drip coffee maker, brew a pot of coffee and reserve a few cups for making smoothies. Cool the coffee to room temperature before using in the smoothie. Pour any extra coffee in a mason jar or glass container and store in it the fridge for up to 5 days. Or pour the room temperature coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze for future smoothies.
As for beans, I always recommend supporting your local coffee roaster. For me, that’s Mountaineer Coffee Roaster in our central Florida small town.
You can use instant coffee if thats what youve got on hand. Simply make a cup of instant coffee according to the directions on the package. For stronger coffee flavor, add an extra serving of instant coffee granules. Let the coffee cool to room temperature before using it in a smoothie. You can also add instant coffee granules directly to your smoothie. Add 1-2 teaspoon of instant coffee to your blender along with the rest of the ingredients.
If using store-bought cold brew coffee, follow the instructions on the bottle to make ¾ cup coffee. Its usually a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water.
How To Make A Protein Coffee Smoothie
I basically started making this smoothie when I found myself on many mornings holding my thermal with coffee, a granola bar and a banana. And I thought, I need to just blend everything into a drink! And so became this breakfast coffee smoothie! Heres what you need to make it: cold brew coffee, milk , banana, rolled oats, protein powder and a little cacao and cinnamon for sweetness.
The cacao and cinnamon give it a wonderful sweet flavor, and youll love sipping on this on your drive to work or school in bliss.
I put everything in the Vitamix blender and then just give it a whirl.
I use the smoothie function, so I can run it for a minute without having to watch the blender while I help the kids get ready for school.
Normally, this is just for one serving, so I pour it all in a to-go cup and Im out the door. I decided to make it pretty for you guys and show you the color and smooth texture through these clear glasses.
Its smooth, silky and rich. It actually tastes like morning dessert because of the cacao, but theres no sugar added and it has a whopping 27 grams of protein! Say hello to your new burst of morning energy!!
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Adding Protein To This Coffee Banana Smoothie Recipe
Want to drink this coffee banana smoothie as a breakfast? Youll probably want to add a little protein for staying powder. The best way to add more protein here? Protein powder. We dont often use it, but its a nice way to pack in quite a bit without affecting the overall flavor too much. Heres how to find a healthy protein powder:
- Read about how to choose protein powder brands. Heres what we referenced on How to Choose the Healthiest Protein Powder.
- Need recommendations? We use this Optimum Nutrition vanilla protein powder and like the flavor its not too artificial tasting.
And thats it! Let us know what you think of this creamy coffee smoothie in the comments below.
Coffee Methods To Use
The key to this coffee smoothie recipe? Strong coffee. You must use a very strong coffee or espresso to get just the right coffee flavor, otherwise its much too weak. This is key to making a great coffee smoothie, so dont skimp here! Heres what to use:
- Cold brew: Cold brew is ideal here! Use our master cold brew recipe or French press cold brew.
- Moka pot coffee: A Bialetti or Moka pot is another great option for this coffee smoothie recipe! Make makes very strong coffee thats close in intensity to espresso.
- Strong coffee: Make double-strength of your normal coffee to use here.
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More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Are you developing a strong sense that healthy breakfast smoothies are the way to go during busy mornings? Good. Im glad to hear that. Here are some other great healthy smoothie recipes:
- Almond Butter, Chocolate, & Coffee Bean Protein Shake: Coffee and almond butter are amazing together. But thats not enough. So this protein shake also has chocolate and cinnamon. And yes, it tastes as delicious as it sounds, its healthy and breakfast-perfect. Get the recipe.
- Pink Power Protein Beet Smoothie: This healthy smoothie is colorful, vibrant, and satisfying. And I can guarantee that it will make your mornings better. Just look at it. Get the recipe.
- Smoothie Freezer Packs: You can have 2 weeks worth of healthy breakfast smoothies prepped and waiting for you in the freezer in just the same amount of time required to make a smoothie from scratch. Get the recipes.
Coffee Smoothie Deliciously Creamy With A Shot Of Protein And Healthy Fats
This coffee smoothie is a deliciously creamy hit of caffeine with a hint of sweetness, a shot of protein, and some healthy fats. Sounds just about perfect, doesnt it?
Milkshakes are one of my favorite treats, but I certainly cant indulge with that much ice cream very often. So to satisfy my cravings for ice cream milkshakes, I experiment with all different kinds of smoothies.
One of the best ways to add thickness, creaminess, and sweetness to a smoothie without using ice cream is to use a frozen banana. It really is an incredible substitute.
However, I do not want always want a banana flavor in my smoothie especially in a coffee smoothie.
So I make this coffee smoothie WITHOUT frozen banana.
To add sweetness and thicken up this coffee smoothie, I use a bit of vanilla frozen Greek yogurt and either 2% milk or whole milk frozen in an ice cube tray.
The amount of sugar and calories in this smoothie will depend on what type of milk and what type of frozen yogurt you use. If youre trying to keep calories and sugar low, use skim milk and consider freezing vanilla greek yogurt.
But if you want it to taste nice and sweet and youre not that worried about the sugar, you can do what I did and use store bought frozen greek yogurt.
Of course, you can swap the whole milk for any milk of your choice and if you dont freeze your milk ahead of time, no worries.
Depending on your blender, you may need your milk in liquid form.
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Why Is Protein Important In The Morning
So, why do you need protein in the morning? Protein can actually help your body wake up properly in the morning with the right amount of energy your body needs. In fact, if you combine protein with carbs , it actually helps you slow down digestion of your breakfast, meaning youll have energy to carry you through your morning without being starved before its lunch time.
This is why many studies show that eating more protein can actually help you eat less calories in your day. Exactly how much protein your body needs is completely dependent though on your own body, lifestyle and eating habits. But dont skip the protein in the morning, even when youre on-the-go and late for whatever!
It cant be hard to miss though when it looks like thisand tastes like dessert!