How to Find the Best Protein Powder for Hot Drinks

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best protein powder for hot drinks.

Discover which protein powder to add to coffee and hot cocoa.

Last Updated
Feb 12, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, CNC

Jack is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach.

Medically reviewed by Brittany, MS, RD and Jenn, PA-C

Brittany is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Jenn is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Protein Powder for Hot Drinks

Can I Add Protein Powder to Hot Drinks?

You can add some, but not all protein powders to hot drinks.

The only types of protein powder that consistently pair well with coffee, hot cocoa, matcha, etc. are whey, casein, and collagen.

Egg White Protein Powder cooks when added to hot beverages, so I would not recommend putting it in your morning coffee.

Likewise, most plant-based protein powders clump in hot beverages, or have an unpleasant, chalky aftertaste.

In my experience, Collagen Protein Powder is by far the best protein powder for hot drinks.

What Are the Best Hot Drinks With Protein Powder?

Hot coffee, cocoa, matcha, chai, and golden milk all go well with protein powder.

I have found that lattes taste best, especially if you mix the powder with the milk beforehand.

Unflavored Collagen Protein Powder can also be added to hot soups and sauces.

How Do I Mix Protein Powder in Hot Drinks?

Depending on the protein powder you use, mixing protein powder in hot beverages is easier said than done.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Avoid high heat. Do not add protein powder directly into boiling water, as doing so is likely to cause clumping.
• Slowly add hot liquid. Put the protein powder in a mug, and slowly pour in your hot drink while stirring constantly.
• Make a slurry. Before adding your hot beverage, mix the protein powder with a small amount of room temperature liquid (like water or milk).
• Use a blender. If you have a blender or Electric Mixer, you can use it to break up clumps.

Not that successfully making a high protein, hot drinks requires some amount of trial and error.

So do not get discouraged if it does not work well the first time; just tweak your approach and try again!

What Is the Best Protein Powder for Hot Drinks?

Not all protein powders are created equal.

As you might have noticed, many of them contain many ingredients, some of which can ruin hot drinks.

Added gums, for example, create a slimy, gel-like texture when heated.

Heat can also intensify the chemical aftertaste of artificial sweeteners.

Worse yet, many food additives can cause painful side effects and even long-term health problems.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Regularly eating food additives like emulsifiers, thickeners, and flavorings can not only upset your stomach, but also alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome (North Clin Istanb, 2020).

These shifts, known as gut dysbiosis, have been shown to contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases, including type 1 diabetes and certain cancers (J Exp Med, 2019).

Gut dysbiosis is so problematic because it causes a cascade of problems, including intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation, impaired nutrient absorption, and reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein supplements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Dairy-Based Proteins

Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can cause digestive issues too.

This is usually because they contain lactose, a sugar many people cannot fully digest.

But you might be sensitive to dairy-based proteins even if you are not lactose intolerant.

This is particularly true for casein protein, which forms a gel-like substance in your stomach that slows down digestion.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates.

Most protein supplements are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help your gut break them down.

You therefore do not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

Studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Nutrients, 2018; Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

You should thus look for protein supplements made from whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2020.
2. The Journal of Experimental Medicine (J Exp Med). The gut microbiome: Relationships with disease and opportunities for therapy. 2019.
3. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
4. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.