Hands up if you can’t imagine starting the day without coffee. Yep, that’s me too. A cup or two is compulsory before I start dealing with the world. But there’s also another option to consider – coffee breakfast smoothies. Could these be the best way to start the day?
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Why coffee breakfast smoothies are a great idea
Smoothies are a hugely popular option when it comes to having a healthy breakfast. You can choose a great balance of ingredients to give yourself a morning boost and there are so many variations that you’ll never get bored with them.
Then add the coffee factor. You can easily grab a recipe that includes coffee as well as nutrient-rich ingredients such as fruit. Then you are getting your coffee fix but also a healthy option for the first meal of the day.
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Another element to consider with your coffee smoothie is adding protein powder to it. This gives the drink an added boost and helps you stay feeling full for longer, avoiding this mid-morning munchie urge.
There are plenty of protein powders available including plain and flavoured. There are even coffee-flavored ones but I’m not sure a real coffee fan could accept them. Better to add them with real coffee to get a proper coffee smoothie!
What coffee should you use?
There’s no right or wrong answer to the question of what coffee to add to your smoothie. You may not want to use ultra-expensive brands you’ve bought as a treat – but maybe you do!
One thing you do want to use is ground coffee, just like making a coffee drink. The idea of adding beans might seem cool but the drink won’t work. You can use any kind of coffee from one you grind yourself with your favourite grinder to instant coffee from a jar.
You might also like Iced Honey Oatmik Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) by The Coffee Chef
Building the ideal smoothie
I have a whole selection of recipes for coffee breakfast smoothies below to get you started. But if you want to see the basics of what goes into a smoothie, here are some things to remember.
A great smoothie should include a few of the following:
- Healthy fats – nut butter, coconut milk, chia seeds (usually 1 tablespoon)
- Protein or fibre – protein powder, oatmeal (usually 1 tablespoon)
- Fruit – any fruit that blends well will work and adds both flavour and nutritional value as well as creating snazzy coloured drinks
- Vegetables – spinach, kale, avocados, carrots, and even beets can be added with or in place of fruit
- Sweeteners – sugar and sweeteners but also natural versions such as maple syrup and honey
- Flavour additions – vanilla, cinnamon, dates
- Liquid – water, milk of all kinds, ice cream for thicker recipes, fruit juice
Three recipes to get started
Cherry Coffee Blast
The Cherry Coffee Blast smoothie is a simple recipe that creates a coffee almond milk smoothie with the added benefit of cherries. Cherries are great as they contain lots of antioxidants and can also help you to sleep.
What You Need
- 1½ cups freshly frozen or store frozen cherries
- 1½ cups of almond milk
- 1 coffee ice cube
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Add everything to the blender, blend until smooth, and add to glasses to serve – makes two portions.
Caramel Macchiato Frappe
This is somewhere between an iced coffee recipe and a smoothie because it has that unexpected ingredient in there. It is also ideal if you are in the ‘coffee smoothie no banana’ category.
What You Need
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 cups of coffee ice cubes
- 2 dates
Add everything to the blender and blend until smooth – makes two servings.
Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven Smoothie
This is the one that would get my vote as I always love smoothies with bananas and also Greek yoghurt. If you don’t have time to make coffee ice cubes, just use some cold coffee and add the ice cubes as well.
What You Need
- 2 cups of almond milk
- 1 cup plain Greek yoghurt
- 2 Tablespoons of chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 frozen banana
- 1½ cups of coffee ice cubes
Add everything to the blender and blender until smooth. Makes 2 drinks.
More Coffee Breakfast Smoothie Recipes
Still looking for more coffee smoothie ideas for breakfast or other times of the day? No problem, here's some more ideas!
This breakfast coffee smoothie is made with oats and banana and is a high protein and fiber drink. Made with no added artificial sugar, this drink is easy to make vegan and is ready in 5 minutes.
Thick & creamy this easy coffee smoothie recipe makes a luxurious drink. Sweetened with dates, it’s amazingly tasty, remarkably healthy and hard to resist.
Peanut butter and coffee?! Promise it's a thing! This smooth and creamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Coffee Smoothie is a simple and delicious reason to get up in the morning!
This quick and easy Coffee Date Shake is sure to get you up and running in the morning! Packed with protein and naturally sweetened, it’s one of my go to breakfasts!
Cold Brew Coffee Banana Breakfast Smoothie – a delicious and nutritious breakfast combining cold brew coffee with a smoothie all in one convenient drink.
Healthy coffee protein smoothie with cold brew coffee, banana, vanilla collagen, cashew butter, chia seeds, and cinnamon for the perfect on-the-go breakfast or post workout protein shake! It packs protein, healthy fats, carbs, and fiber for a delicious balanced smoothie.
Rise with the sun and start your day our right with this super high protein coffee smoothie recipe. Plus, the protein comes from real food, not vanilla protein powder!
Rich and creamy, this Coconut Coffee Smoothie, full of coconut-chocolate flavor, is a HEALTHY and DELICIOUS way to start your day!
This Wake Me Up Coffee Smoothie has everything you need for a complete breakfast: whole grains, fruit, caffeine, and a dollop of protein if you’re feeling it.
This Tofu Mocha Frappuccino recipe is a delicious combination of silken tofu, cocoa, and coffee! The perfect plant-based boost to keep you energized all day.
This nutritious smoothie has all the amazing qualities of a mocha frappe. It is creamy, frothy, sweet, frosty and just plain decadent. But it is full of healthy fats, fiber, protein and just a little caffeine to help jump-start your day. You can feel good about gulping this one down because it is refined sugar-free, vegan, raw and gluten-free. And it is easy to make. Just throw everything in the blender and puree. Done and done!
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