With the rise of the wellness influencer space and media personalities sharing WIEIADs that boast of high protein counts, people are looking to increase their consumption of protein through any means possible — including in their morning coffee.
To achieve this, customers have been getting innovative while chains catch up to the trend and develop high-protein beverages. Protein coffee recipes seen on social media include espresso shots over ice mixed with a Fairlife protein shake — similar to the viral protein diet coke — or cold brew coffees blended with protein powders.
If this is you, these three coffee chains offer or will soon offer high-protein menu items to get your morning doses of caffeine and protein.
Starbucks
Starbucks is piloting a brand-new, banana-flavored cold foam that will contain 15 to 18 grams of protein at five locations across the country.
The new product is part of the company’s expansion into the wellness space, according to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol per CNN, and has the aim of reaching many consumer groups ranging from gym rats to health-conscious moms.
Starbucks hasn’t told its customers when they can expect the cold foam to debut permanently on menus across the country, but once it does, we can expect to see the protein phenomenon in a variety of flavors. According to Fast Company, this could be Starbucks’ most pivotal innovation since the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Niccol said he believes nationwide release of the cold foam is months away, not years, so customers don’t have long to wait.
“This thing is going to be a rocket,” Niccols said at an event. Other recent changes over at the global coffee chain include free refills for in-store customers and drinks expected to launch July 8 — frappuccinos in salted caramel mocha, strawberry matcha and brown sugar flavors.
Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros, a chain known for their extensive coffee menu and extravagant energy beverages like the Golden Eagle Breve and the Double Rainbro Rebel, offers seven high-protein coffees on their menu. Each of these coffees features zero added sugars and boasts of high calcium content, and the flavors offered are immense.
With menu items like the Hopscotch Protein Mocha and the Vanilla Zero Sugar Added Protein Latte, you definitely won’t be sacrificing the fun drinks found at Dutch Bros when you choose a drink off of this menu.
According to their website, these options were launched in January 2024, so Dutch Bros beat Starbucks to the trend. The protein drinks are offered at all 800+ Dutch Brows locations.
Tana Davila, chief marketing officer at Dutch Bros, said that the high-protein drink options arose from listening closely to what coffee drinkers were asking for. “Innovating to meet our customers’ needs is always top of mind,” Davila said, per the Dutch Bros website.
Peet’s Coffee
Peet’s Coffee debuted its high-protein lattes January 2025 as a part of its Vitality Menu. Coffees on this menu are also enhanced for higher Vitamins C and D content.
The brewer uses Bob’s Red Mill Whey Protein Powder to create these drinks that contain 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving. The brand offers three variations of the high-protein latte: Golden Protein Latte, Vanilla Protein Latte, and Matcha Protein Latte. Each of these three is available as a hot or iced beverage.
These beverages at Peet’s coffee may offer value in protein content, but they are not as health-conscious in their sugar content: the sugar content of the matcha drink is 23 grams, and the sugar content of the vanilla and golden drinks is 35 grams.
Peet’s coffee offers drinks for both pickup and delivery, so you could even enjoy your high-protein beverage without leaving your own home.