Dutch Bros Just Launched 2 New High-Protein Coffee Drinks—but Are They Healthy?

If you’re mourning the loss of holiday specialty drinks and trying to get back into the swing of your post-New Year work and life schedule, Dutch Bros Coffee might just have the perfect menu item for you. The coffee chain just announced the arrival of its new Salted Caramel Protein Latte and Salted Caramel Protein Mocha, and these high-protein drinks promise to perk you up.

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Both drinks are available hot or iced, and they come packed with espresso, salted caramel flavor, a caramel drizzle and Dutch Bros’ new protein milk (which is 2% milk with more milk protein added). The only difference between the latte and the mocha is that the mocha also includes chocolate sauce. The protein-milk option is also available for all other drinks with milk at Dutch Bros. Both the new drinks and the protein milk are available until February 29, so be sure to head over to your nearest Dutch Bros location before then. 

The protein milk definitely adds a filling boost to these coffee beverages—whether hot or iced, mocha or latte, the small-size protein-milk drinks all have at least 7 grams of protein, which meets our nutrition standards for classifying a snack or dessert as high-protein. While these drinks shouldn’t be your only source of protein, it may help you meet the recommended Daily Value.

Here’s how the nutritional information breaks down for a small, 16-ounce iced Salted Caramel Protein Latte:

• 190 calories
• 5 g total fat
• 3 g saturated fat
• 20 milligrams cholesterol
• 250 mg sodium
• 30 g carbohydrate
• 7 g total sugar
• 6 g fiber
• 11 g protein
• 95 mg caffeine

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Here’s how the nutritional information breaks down for a small, 16-ounce iced Salted Caramel Protein Mocha:

• 200 calories
• 4.5 g total fat
• 2.5 g saturated fat
• 15 mg cholesterol
• 220 mg sodium
• 33 g carbohydrate
• 6 g total sugar
• 5 g fiber
• 12 g protein
• 95 mg caffeine

Both of these drinks also boast no added sugars, which may appeal to folks with diabetes or a sensitivity to sweets. (FYI, the caramel sauce, salted caramel flavor and chocolate sauce are all sugar-free.) If you’re trying to stick to a heart-healthy eating pattern, we’d recommend ordering a small drink, as they’re a little high in sodium and saturated fat, but that doesn’t mean you have to write them off entirely. As with most treats, they can have a place in your diet when enjoyed in moderation. So while we wouldn’t opt for one of these protein coffees *every* day, they can make a fun, tasty option for the occasional stop in the drive-thru. 

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While these drinks sound plenty delicious, it’s worth remembering that they’re not your only protein-packed option at Dutch Bros. Add the protein milk to your go-to morning coffee order to get that extra boost—it might just become part of your routine.