Caffeinated protein powder helps you hit your macros and prepare you for your next workout (or just get out of bed in the morning).
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There are few staple supplements that all gym bros, fitness fans, and weekend warriors claim in their stack. Protein powder tops that list. There’s whey, there’s plant-based alternatives to whey, and there are even alternatives to the alternatives to whey (one being beef as you’ll find in this list).
But a growing trend in recent years has all levels of lifters on notice. And so too are the supplement companies. It’s dubbed “proffee,” protein powder mixed with coffee. The point; a low-calorie, filling meal replacement offering the benefits of protein and the benefits of caffeine.
Instead of heaping a scoop of powder in your morning cup of Joe, supplement companies have brought convenience in a tub. Caffeinated protein powders offer the typical nutritionals of a normal powder with the added bonus of caffeine. And like all supplements, you’d get dizzy wandering through aisles or scrolling through Amazon for the best caffeinated protein powders.
So, we did the work for you.
Hone Health is a team of health-obsessed journalists, editors, fitness junkies, medical reviewers, and product testers. To ensure we deliver you research-backed information on caffeinated protein powders, we pulled products from reputable brands and spoke with registered dietician, Erika Collette, MS, RD at ThisIsWhyImFit.com, about the ins and outs of caffeine, sugar, and protein.
You’re looking at this list for a reason; you want a protein powder that offers a jolt. Research shows caffeine is most commonly used 60 minutes pre-exercise and is shown to improve performance in doses of three to six milligrams per kilogram of body mass (1). For a 200-pound guy, that ranges between 272 mg to 544 mg of caffeine.
The amount of caffeine you take pre-workout depends on a number of factors, most notably how often you use caffeine on a regular basis, says Collette. “It’s considered safe to use 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per serving for pre-workout,” she says.
But fair warning, try to stay under 400 mg per day. “The higher the dosage the more likely you will experience negative side effects such as anxiety, heart palpitations, dehydration, and jitters,” she says.
You’ll find most of the products on this list are below or right in line with 100 mg of caffeine.
You should always look for the lowest amount of sugar in your powder but be more mindful of what’s added. Most protein powders have added sugar to bring you those fun flavors. It’s not like Mocha Latte, Sugar Cookie, and Blueberry Pancakes exist in nature.
Collette recommends a protein powder with less than five grams of added sugar. If you’re in the mood to sweeten things up, try adding fruit, cinnamon, or honey to your shake, she says.
As for those sugar alcohols that end in “tol”—you know, erythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol—try to steer clear. “Sugar alcohols can cause digestive issues such as diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting depending on how sensitive your stomach is,” Collette says, so best to avoid if you can.
Look for natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit instead.
It doesn’t matter the type of protein. What matters is your individual need.
“If you’re looking to put on weight and a high amount of muscle, you should use a whey gainer powder that contains more carbs,” she says.
But the more common protein choices lie in whey isolates and concentrates. A whey isolate is a more filtered form of whey and will increase muscle gains without added weight gain. This is because isolates have a lower fat and carb content compared with whey concentrate, says Collette. She adds that whey concentrate powders may keep you full longer because they’re higher in fat and carbs.
And of course, vegetarians, vegans, or lifters with dairy sensitivity should choose a plant-based powder. Lucky for you, research has found no significant difference between whey protein and plant-based sources—like pea and soy—when it comes to muscle, strength, and body composition (2,3,4).
Gold Standard Whey Protein reigns as Optimum Nutrition’s flagship powder. It’s been considered the standard by consumers largely for its nutritionals—2 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs, 2 grams of sugar, and 24 grams of protein. Out of the 20 flavor options to sort through, two contain caffeine: Coffee (40 mg) and Mocha Cappuccino (15 mg). Both flavors—along with the rest of their selection—are free of gluten and artificial growth hormones, and are banned substance tested.
The caffeine quantity is relatively low, though, so if you’re looking for a real jolt of energy you’ll have to double scoop or seek more caffeine-dense options.
Protein per serving: 24 grams
Caffeine per serving: 40 mg and 15 mg
Notable feature: These two caffeinated powders have the lowest caffeine amount on this list. The Coffee flavor delivers roughly the same as a 12-ounce Coke and your Mocha Cappuccino is a few sips more than an 8-ounce decaf coffee.
The first of two plant-based powders on our list, Orgain’s Iced Coffee flavor offers 60 mg of caffeine and a clean blend of pea, brown rice, and chia seed protein. Research suggests these three plant-based proteins produce similar outcomes to whey protein in body composition, muscle thickness, strength, and performance (3,5,6). With 21 grams of protein and one gram of sugar, this might be the healthiest iced coffee you’ll find.
Protein per serving: 21 grams
Caffeine per serving: 60 mg
Notable feature: Blending three plant-proteins (pea, brown rice, and chia) gives you a complete amino acid profile. Why’s this matter? Amino acids are equipped to build muscle, repair tissues, and boost energy.
One serving of Premier’s Café Latte has 30 grams of protein and the same caffeine as a cup of coffee. A blend of whey isolate and concentrate, you not only get that pep in your step but a healthy powder with one gram of sugar and only 150 calories. Sure, it’s easy to shake this in your blender bottle, but Premier fans also love this in smoothies, oatmeal, and protein snacks.
Protein per serving: 30 grams
Caffeine per serving: 95 mg
Notable feature: Café Latte is an interesting flavor and rivals the other coffee-oriented tastes on this list. (It also adds variety to Premier’s basic line of just Chocolate and Vanilla.)
Weekend warriors may steer clear of Wheybolic Ripped. With 40 grams of protein and 200 mg of caffeine, this protein powder from GNC is not for the faint of heart. Fast-digesting protein accelerates muscle growth, an enzyme blend aids digestion, and a massive dose of caffeine certainly improves energy and mental focus.
Protein per serving: 40 grams
Caffeine per serving: 200 mg
Notable feature: Wheybolic Ripped tops this list for highest caffeine content at 200 mg. That’s 16-ounces of coffee, one can of Celcius’ energy drink, or six 12-ounce cans of Coke. While it’s widely accepted that adults should cap their caffeine at 400 mg per day, one scoop of this fully-fueled powder gets you halfway there quickly.
Dymatize partnered with Dunkin’ to add two caffeinated powders to their already stacked ISO100 line-up—Dunkin’ Mocha Latte and Dunkin’ Cappuccino. Both featured products have 95 mg of caffeine and 25 grams of protein. All the nutritionals stay the same—120 calories, one gram of sugar, 5.5 grams of BCAAs—but you get that added cup of java-level caffeine. This collab is designed to bring innovative flavors and expand Dymatize into the caffeinated protein powder market.
Protein per serving: 25 grams
Caffeine per serving: 95 mg
Notable feature: Dymatize ISO100 is a hydrolyzed protein powder, meaning it’s a more broken-down version for easier digestion and absorption.
This USDA, non-dairy, soy, or gluten organic plant-based protein joins Orgain as the second plant-based alternative. Five sources of protein include pea, flax seed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seed, and a dynamic formula of 12 essential vitamins and minerals pumps you with vital micronutrients. Oh, and there’s only 50 mg of caffeine from green coffee bean extract for that slight bump in energy.
Protein per serving: 20 grams
Caffeine per serving: 50 mg
Notable feature: Along with a five-source protein blend, KOS includes an organic superfoods blend, a vitamins and minerals blend, and a digestive enzymes blend—the most comprehensive formula on this list.
MuscleMeds is not whey or plant—it’s beef. A highly concentrated powder with 23 grams of beef protein and 175 mg of caffeine, CARNIVOR SHRED is designed to burn fat, build muscle, and boost energy. An added bonus is zero sugar, fat, or cholesterol. Dare we say it’s like eating—or drinking—a guilt-free steak?
Protein per serving: 23 grams
Caffeine per serving: 175 mg
Notable feature: We have to give it up to beef here. It’s a unique protein source and compares closely to whey regarding protein intake, body composition, and lower-limb muscle strength (7).
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