Enjoy a coffee smoothie that is packed with protein, fiber and smooth caffeine for an exceptionally delicious start to the day. This mocha smoothie is both caffeine and a breakfast smoothie in one, allowing you to work smarter, not harder, for breakfast.
Coffee in moderation is a great way to boost your morning energy levels, but a plain cup of joe isn’t enough to carry you through until lunch. With this coffee smoothie, you get all the good-for-you, nutrient-packed ingredients.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
Since a meal replacement smoothie is my first meal of the day, you better believe I’m packing in the fruits, vegetables and protein to make this a great start.
Taking a naturally caffeinated liquid and adding it to a smoothie, like I did with this green tea smoothie or my coffee one below, gives your body a boost without delivering straight caffeine to your system… pairing it with protein + healthy fat helps give you smooth energy without the crash.
You may think the ingredient list is a bit odd, yet with one sip into this mocha smoothie, you’ll be hooked on its creamy smooth texture, rich coffee flavor and that gorgeous hint of cocoa.
- Coffee: Caffeine in moderation is not a bad thing. It can improve energy levels, boost your metabolic rate and may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
- Frozen banana: Adds natural sweetness and creaminess to the smoothie, and it’s a great source of potassium and vitamin B6.
- Dates: Naturally sweetens the smoothie and adds a little fiber.
- Vanilla extract: Provides warmth and a slight vanilla flavor.
- Frozen cauliflower: Did you know that cauliflower contains 58% of the RDI of vitamin C? It also thickens this smoothie, but you won’t even notice that it’s in there.
- Oat milk: This dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free milk is a super creamy addition. I think that oat milk is the best non-dairy milk pairing with coffee.
- Cacao powder: An antioxidant-rich powder that adds a chocolatey flavor and pairs so well with coffee. This is where we got the mocha part of the name and will never ever take it back. It’s so good!
- Protein powder: You don’t need to add protein to this smoothie, but why would you want to miss out? I use my homemade protein powder to add 10 grams of protein as well as fiber and healthy fat with three ingredients: hemp seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds.
Easy Swaps
I’ve always got dates on hand, which makes it easy to toss one into this smoothie. You can use the natural sweetener of your choice, or omit for a less sweet beverage.
Swap cacao powder with unsweetened cocoa powder. Depending on the brand you use, it might be slightly bitter, so adjust the sweetener as you need to.
Oat milk can be swapped with unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk (carton), hemp milk or cashew milk. Each one will bring a slightly different taste yet all are great options.
If you want a filling smoothie then feel free to add in a tablespoon or two of peanut butter or almond butter.
Decaf coffee is a great alternative to regular coffee and will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine for those that are watching their intake.
How to Make a Coffee Smoothie
I typically blend my smoothie recipes using the two-blend method to ensure those leafy greens are completely blended, yet you don’t have to do that with this recipe! Here’s how I make my mocha smoothie:
- Brew coffee. However you want, whatever coffee you want, you do you. Just make sure it is chilled in the fridge or with ice cubes before adding it to your blender container.
- Toss all the ingredients (including the cooled coffee) into a blender container and blend until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
- Pour into a glass or to-go cup and enjoy!
Pro tip: If you are blending this with a date, then blend on medium until it sounds like the blades have chopped that date up, then turn it on high for a creamy finish. I find this helps make sure the date is really chopped and can then blend seamlessly into the rest of the ingredients. No one wants a chunky smoothie.
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 it in the smoothie. Pour any extra coffee into a mason jar or glass container and store in it the fridge for up to five days or pour the room-temperature coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze it 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. Their Brazilian beans are hands down the best beans!
You can use instant coffee if that’s what you’ve 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 cool to room temperature before using it in a smoothie.
If using store-bought cold brew coffee, follow the instructions on the bottle to make ¾ cup of coffee. It’s usually a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water.
FAQs
While you can technically blend coffee grounds in your smoothie, I don’t recommend it. Instead, brew a cup of coffee, or make some instant coffee then add that cup as the liquid base of your smoothie (once cooled). You can also use cold brew coffee to skip the brewing step.
Yes! Milk is a great liquid base for a smoothie. I stay away from dairy milk since my stomach doesn’t respond well to it, and opt for dairy-free milk options instead. If you are a milk lover and it doesn’t cause you discomfort, go for it!
A smoothie can be a great meal replacement option for breakfast, but it depends on what you put in it. Start with whole fruits and vegetables, then add in water or dairy-free milk. Boost it with healthy fats and protein, like with a plant-based protein powder, to assist your body with breaking down the natural fruit sugars you are sipping.
More Healthy Caffeine Options
If you’re trying to be more mindful of what you put in your coffee (or even drinking caffeine in general), then you’re in the right place! I love getting my caffeine fix, yet it doesn’t have to come in a cup of joe laden with store-bought creamer with questionable ingredients. Here are a few other options that are equal parts tasty and nutritionally dense:
- Green Tea Smoothie: This recipe not only gives you a pep in your step, but it also has ingredients that help burn fat and boost your metabolism. Talk about a great way to start the day!
- Healthy Coffee: How I turned a cup of coffee into a substantial meal that keeps me full until lunch.
- Iced Matcha Latte: This is a slightly earthy, lightly sweetened beverage that is super refreshing.
- Cinnamon Dolce Latte: I love making this warming beverage when I have a slower morning.
Don’t forget to rate + review this smoothie once you try it. I love getting your feedback!
Rich Coffee Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup coffee brewed then cooled in the fridge
- 1 banana frozen
- 1 pitted medjool date
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup cauliflower florets frozen
- ¼ cup oat milk unsweetened
- ½ tbsp cacao powder
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the blender.
- Blend on high until creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.Â
Video
Notes
- Refrain from adding hot coffee to your blender container unless it is specifically designed to handle hot liquids.Â
- You can use freshly brewed coffee or cold brew coffee.
- Swap oat milk with the dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Swap the date with maple syrup or the natural sweetener of your choice.
- Use cauliflower florets or frozen riced cauliflower.
- Adding in a plant-based protein powder can add at least 10 additional grams of protein, easily turning this into a hearty meal replacement smoothie.
Making this tomorrow with some cold brew I have on hand! So excited, it’s gonna be delicious.
Hi Erin! Let me know how it turns out, I think you’ll love it!
I didn’t have frozen cauliflower so substitute me frozen broccoli – still very tasty!
Can you make this the night before and store it in mason jars
Hey Lisa,
Great question. The only ingredient that might not have a similar consistency after a long sit in the fridge would be the frozen cauliflower. I say, give it a try! With all these delicious ingredients, I can’t imagine this smoothie ever tasting bad.
Hiya love your smoothies just not a fan of bananas is there anything I can substitute it with was thinking avocado but would need something to sweeten it would u just add more dates if so how many I followed what one of your followers said and put in chia seeds am also amazed at the cauliflower didn’t notice it at all and I don’t eat any veg so this will def be a plus for me.keep up the great work
You can def try adding in another date or two to sweeten it up. Another option is to add a little maple syrup. So glad you are enjoying the smoothies. It’s amazing how you can sneak in some veggies and make them taste yummy!
This is an awesome smoothie. I am breaking the habit of drinking “hot mochas”. This is much-needed, healthier and more satisfying replacement!
This is so good! Who needs Starbucks when you can have this! You can’t even tell there is cauliflower in it.
Amen Tricia!! Way to rawk the healthy option!
This looks really good, can’t wait to give it a try tomorrow morning! I’m curious where the bulk of the 33g of sugar comes from? Is it the protein powder?