Cold Brew Mocha Protein Shake
Coffee shop flavor. Serious protein.
A creamy cold brew protein shake made with chocolate protein, Fairlife milk, plain yogurt, cocoa, cinnamon, and real vanilla. Rich mocha flavor with plenty of protein for breakfast, post-workout fuel, or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Coffee and chocolate were meant to be together.
This shake started with the idea of making a French vanilla coffee protein shake. But instead of forcing vanilla protein into the recipe, we decided to build around an ingredient we actually enjoy: chocolate protein.
TEMPL Chocolate Protein pairs naturally with smooth cold brew coffee, while Fairlife milk and plain yogurt create a thick, creamy base and add even more protein.
Unsweetened cocoa deepens the chocolate flavor, cinnamon adds warmth, and vanilla rounds everything out without turning it into a vanilla shake.
The result is a Cold Brew Mocha Protein Shake that delivers coffee-shop-inspired flavor with a nutrition profile built for performance.
Recipe at a Glance
Yield: 1 shake
Serving Size: 1 shake
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: None
Ingredients
1 cup Fairlife Fat Free Ultra-Filtered Milk
½ cup cold brew coffee
½ cup homemade plain yogurt made with Fairlife 2% milk
or ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 scoop (31.3 g) TEMPL Chocolate Protein (Kitchen Favorites)
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Golden monk fruit sweetener, to taste, optional
Small pinch kosher salt
1–1½ cups ice
Instructions
1. Build the Shake
Add the Fairlife milk, cold brew coffee, yogurt, TEMPL Chocolate Protein, cocoa powder, vanilla bean paste, cinnamon, and a small pinch of kosher salt to a blender.
2. Add the Ice
Add 1 cup of ice.
Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy.
For a thicker, more frozen consistency, gradually add additional ice and blend again.
3. Taste Before You Sweeten
Taste the shake before adding any additional sweetener.
The chocolate protein and vanilla may provide all the sweetness you need.
If you prefer it sweeter, add a small amount of golden monk fruit and blend again.
4. Serve
Pour into a large glass and serve immediately.
Performance Notes
☕ Cold Brew Over Instant
Cold brew provides smooth, genuine coffee flavor without relying on a large amount of instant coffee.
Prefer a stronger coffee flavor? Use a stronger cold brew rather than simply adding more coffee concentrate.
🍫 Build Around the Chocolate
Chocolate isn't something we're trying to hide in this recipe.
Coffee and cocoa work with the TEMPL Chocolate Protein to create the mocha foundation, while cinnamon and vanilla add complexity around it.
🥛 Homemade or Store-Bought Yogurt
In the Kirby Kitchen, the preferred version uses homemade plain yogurt made with Fairlife 2% milk.
Don't make homemade yogurt? No problem.
Use ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt instead. You'll still get a thick, creamy shake with plenty of protein.
🤏 Don't Skip the Salt
A tiny pinch of kosher salt helps bring out the chocolate and coffee flavors and balances the sweetness.
You shouldn't actually taste the salt in the finished shake.
🌿 Why Cinnamon?
Cinnamon adds warmth and complements both coffee and chocolate without needing flavored syrups.
Keep it subtle—the mocha should still be the star.
Fuel Profile — Estimated Per Serving
Calories: 300 kcal | Protein: 46 g | Carbohydrates: 22 g | Net Carbs: 19 g | Fiber: 3 g | Fat: 2 g
Based on 1 shake prepared with TEMPL Chocolate Protein, Fairlife Fat Free Ultra-Filtered Milk, and plain nonfat Greek yogurt. Nutrition is estimated and will vary when using homemade Fairlife 2% yogurt or different ingredient brands.
Make It Your Own
Stronger Coffee: Increase the strength of your cold brew.
Deeper Chocolate: Add another teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Sweeter: Add golden monk fruit a little at a time until it's where you want it.
Thicker: Add additional ice.
Less Thick: Reduce the ice or add a splash of Fairlife milk.
Performance Tip
“Don't force an ingredient to be something it isn't. Build around what it does best.”