Coffee Smoothie Without Banana Recipe: 3 Simple Steps

A coffee smoothie is a great way to mix breakfast and coffee if you’re on the go. This coffee smoothie without banana recipe is delicious way to start your day.

Coffee smoothie without banana recipe
Quick and convenient, coffee smoothies are the perfect on-the-go snack or breakfast option

Don’t have time for coffee or breakfast before you head out in the morning? A coffee smoothie is the way to go. It’s quick to make and can be enjoyed on the go. Plus, it’s more filling than a regular cup of coffee.

You might have already noticed that most smoothie recipes contain bananas, but what if you don’t have bananas on hand? Fortunately, you can still make a delicious drink. Let’s learn how with our coffee smoothie without a banana recipe.

While you’re here, don’t forget to check out our coffee vs. smoothie article to find out what both drinks bring to the table.

Why Make A Coffee Smoothie Without Banana

If you ask me, coffee smoothies are the best way to start your day; it’s breakfast and a wake-up call in one drink. Banana is one of the most common smoothie ingredients since it’s naturally sweet, provides a creamy texture, and the flavor pairs well with almost anything.

With that said, it’s not an essential ingredient. Even though I love eating bananas, I’m not a fan of the flavor they add to a coffee smoothie.

Of course, there are other reasons for making smoothies without it, such as reducing calories or sugar. And then some simply can’t eat bananas for health reasons like allergies and intolerances.

Coffee Smoothie Ingredients

There are plenty of common household ingredients you can add to a coffee smoothie, such as the following:

  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Maple syrup
  • Vanilla extract
  • Oats
  • Almond butter
  • Ice cubes (optional)

To make the smoothie, you’ll need a good high-speed blender. This is important, as it needs to turn oats and ice into a smooth drink. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients:

Smoothie Base

Milk is the base of the drink. For this recipe, you can use whichever milk you prefer, dairy or plant-based. If you’re using dairy, I recommend going for at least 1% milk fat, both for flavor and thickness.

In the case of a plant-based alternative, choose milk that has a richer body, like coconut or oat milk. It’s best to go for an unsweetened version, as you’ll be adding syrup to the smoothie anyway.

The same goes for yogurt. Greek yogurt works amazingly, but if you want to make a vegan smoothie, any plant-based alternative will do, such as coconut yogurt.

Coffee

A view of several cases of Chameleon cold brew concentrate coffee, on display at a local big box grocery store
Cold brew concentrate can really enhance the flavor of a smoothie and give it a strong coffee taste

When it comes to coffee, you can’t just add coffee grounds. It has to be brewed. For this, you can use whatever kind of coffee you prefer, whether it’s espresso, filter coffee, or cold brew.

You can even use instant coffee, but my personal favorite would be cold brew concentrate, as it gives the smoothie a strong coffee flavor. The only thing that’s necessary is that the coffee is cooled to room temperature first. If you use hot coffee, it can cause the smoothie to curdle.

For a stronger coffee flavor, you can use coffee cubes. To make them, simply pour the cold coffee of your choice into an ice tray and place it in the freezer. If you have leftover coffee from this morning, there’s no reason to throw it away when you can make these coffee cubes for later use.

Sweeteners

Maple syrup and vanilla extract are used to add sweetness and balance the flavor, but they can easily be substituted with any syrup or sweetener of your choice. If you need recommendations on what to use, here’s our list of the best coffee syrups.

Protein And Fiber

Oats make the smoothie filling and are a great source of fiber. Any oats will work, but quick-cooked oats are the easiest to blend.

Almond butter has a decent protein and healthy fat content. It also gives the smoothie a light, nutty taste.

You can use peanut butter for a stronger flavor, but don’t go overboard, as it will overpower the smoothie. For a slightly more delicate taste, cashew butter is a good alternative.

Coffee Smoothie Variations

The great thing about smoothies is that there are countless ways to make them delicious. By switching up ingredients, you will never get bored.

For A Sweet Treat

Add one spoonful of cocoa powder to turn the drink into a mocha java smoothie. Use the unsweetened version, as the smoothie already contains a few sweet ingredients.

A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg turns any drink into a festive delicacy, and this smoothie is no exception. 

For A More Nutritious Drink

If you don’t have time for breakfast, you can add a few tablespoons of protein powder to turn the smoothie into a meal that will keep you energized for hours.

Another way to increase nutrients in your smoothie is to add collagen powder. Just a scoop of it is enough to give your hair and skin that much-needed boost. You don’t have to choose between protein and collagen – adding both achieves the amino acid balance your body yearns for.

For A More Filling Drink

You can also make the coffee smoothie more filling by adding flax seeds. Flax seeds are great because they’re loaded with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They can also help in lowering cholesterol levels and regulating blood sugar.

Just keep in mind that flax seeds also act as a thickening agent, so you might need to add more milk to make it thinner.

Alternatively, chia seeds are also a good option. They’re easy to blend and add a bunch of fiber, minerals, and vitamins to the table. Just make sure to consume the smoothie right away, as it will quickly turn into a chia pudding otherwise.

Reduce Caffeine 

Cup with decaf text written as aroma of no-caffeine hot beverage inside scattered coffee beans frame on brown burlap bag background
Consider using decaf coffee instead of coffee smoothies in the late afternoon

What if it’s already late in the afternoon, and you can’t handle more caffeine? Well, you can always use decaf coffee instead and enjoy your coffee smoothie at any point of the day.

Coffee Smoothie Without Banana Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Blending time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes

Equipment

  • High-speed blender
  • Tall glass
  • Straw (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup coffee
  • 3 tbsp yogurt
  • 3 tbsp oats
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Add the ingredients to the blender.
  • Pulse a couple of times to combine them.
  • Blend on high speed until you get a smooth mixture. If it’s too thick, add a splash of milk.

Author

  • Viktoria

    Viktoria is a writer and a journalist on a lifelong quest to find the best cup of java. When not writing about it, she's tuning her coffee-making technique and trying out coffee beans from all over the world.