Make a creamy coffee smoothie on the mornings when you need a coffee boost and a nourishing smoothie all in one! It’s packed with energizing ingredients like wholesome oats, flaxseed, and bananas with a kick of brewed coffee and cocoa powder.
I’ll blend up this coffee smoothie, grab one of my chunky banana cookies or a morning glory muffin, and breeze out the door on busy mornings.
Today’s coffee smoothie might be single-handedly getting me through back-to-school month. With all the running around, I’ve been tossing wholesome ingredients like bananas, oats, and flaxseeds into the blender with my morning coffee. The result is a super delicious, creamy, and energizing smoothie recipe, and I’ll show you how to make it so you can give your days a boost, too!
Why You Should Start Your Day With This Coffee Smoothie Recipe
- Rich coffee flavors. This coffee smoothie recipe is rich and creamy with a subtle mocha flavor. Add more or less brewed coffee or espresso, depending on how strong you’d like your drink.
- Feel-good ingredients. It has all the creaminess of a frappe, but this smoothie is packed with complex carbs from flax, oats, and fruit. It’s coffee AND a hearty breakfast in one!
- Adaptable. Make a decaf coffee smoothie that’s just as flavorful, minus the caffeine buzz. You can make this recipe plant-based and gluten-free, too.
What You’ll Need
Check out my notes here, and scroll to the printable recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe details.
- Brewed Coffee – You’ll need a batch of strong brewed coffee using your preferred method. I go over the various ways to brew espresso in my iced Americano recipe.
- Banana – The riper your bananas, the sweeter your smoothie will be. Make sure they’re ripe, or even overripe, for the best flavor and creamiest texture. Aside from banana bread, smoothies are my second favorite way to use up overripe bananas!
- Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats are best here, as steel-cut oats are harder and will be chunky.
- Cocoa Powder – This can be natural, unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-processed, which will make the flavor fudgier.
- Flaxseed – Feel free to swap in your favorite nuts or seeds, like chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or bran. Another option is to substitute the flaxseed meal with peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.
- Cinnamon – You can omit the cinnamon if you’re not a fan. Try to use good-quality Ceylon cinnamon if you can.
- Milk – Any kind. Use dairy-free soy, oat, coconut, or almond milk if needed.
- Honey – Or your choice of sweetener (maple syrup or agave is a good alternative).
Tips for Best Results
- Blend it well. Remember to blend your oats and flaxseeds thoroughly for a smoother texture.
- Thicken it up. For a thicker smoothie, use frozen bananas.
- Use a high-powered blender. I love mine, and it makes blending everything from smoothies to vanilla bean frappuccinos super quick and easy. If you’re using a less powerful blender, I recommend chopping your banana and coffee ice cubes into smaller pieces to make blending easier.
Try These Coffee Smoothie Variations
- Make a protein smoothie and add a scoop of protein powder for post-workout recovery.
- Add 1 tablespoon of nut butter if you’d like.
- Use plant-based milk and agave nectar to make it vegan.
- Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats (check the label) for a gluten-free smoothie.
- Add ½ of an avocado to boost the fats and make the consistency extra creamy.
- Boost the flavors with a dash of vanilla extract or vanilla paste.
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Freeze the coffee. Pour brewed coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze for several hours or overnight.
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Blend the smoothie. Combine the coffee ice cubes, banana, oats, cocoa powder, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, milk, and honey in a blender and blend until smooth.
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Finish and serve. Taste for sweetness and adjust accordingly. Serve.
- Blend in stages: To get a smoother texture, blend the oats and flaxseeds with milk before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Use a ripe banana: Ripe bananas are naturally sweeter and blend better, giving your smoothie a sweeter and creamier texture.
- Freeze your coffee in advance: Frozen coffee cubes not only chill your smoothie but they also keep it from becoming watered down. Be sure to freeze your coffee the night before.
- Customize the sweetness: Depending on the ripeness of your banana and your personal preference, you might not need any additional sweetener.
- Add protein: Consider adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder for an even more satiating smoothie.
- Toppings: Consider topping your coffee smoothie with a sprinkle of cacao nibs, granola, chia seeds, or a drizzle of nut butter for added texture and flavor.
Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have time or forget to freeze the coffee beforehand, you can just as easily add the freshly brewed coffee to the blender with a handful of regular ice cubes and blend as directed.
Make a Smoothie Bowl Instead
When I’m not dashing out the door, smoothie in hand, I love making a smoothie bowl instead. After blending the coffee smoothie, transfer it to a bowl. Top the smoothie with chocolate granola, cacao nibs, chia seeds, fresh berries, and a drizzle of nut butter.
