We’re here to perk up your day with some of our favorite java-infused recipes made with gut-healthy Lifeway Kefir to show you seamlessly Lifeway fits into any coffee routine. Whether you’re into cold brew, classic coffeehouse drinks, warm coffee, smoothies, or coffee-infused breakfast recipes and frozen desserts, we’ve got a recipe you’re sure to love. You may even find a new way to enjoy coffee and Lifeway Kefir you haven’t even thought of since the options are nearly endless.
Protein-packed Lifeway Kefir is perfect to pair with coffee recipes to help keep you full and satisfied while the live and active cultures support digestion and gut health. Kefir’s tart, tangy taste might not seem like it would pair the best with coffee, but with the right recipe, you can use Lifeway Kefir in just about any coffee creation you can think of. While we wouldn’t suggest pouring it directly into hot coffee like you would regular milk or cream, blending it or mixing it in different recipes like the ones below work just beautifully.
Benefits of Coffee:
Coffee is packed with various antioxidants and contains minerals including magnesium and potassium. One of its most well-known nutrients is a group of compounds known as polyphenols that act as antioxidants and natural prebiotics for the gut microbiome. Coffee is also a natural vasodilator that supports blood flow, which is one of the reasons it encourages enhanced focus as a result of better blood flow to the brain, and if you’re using caffeinated coffee, the effects are increased since caffeine is a natural stimulant producing heightened focus and awareness.
Coffee has also been linked to a wide range of health benefits ranging from positive effects for the liver, memory and recall, heart health, and overall brain health. While too much of anything isn’t the best, a moderate dose of coffee a day seems to be a good thing (as long as you’re in good health and using it in healthy recipes). Not into caffeine? You can still make these 10 recipes with decaf and benefit from the antioxidants and positive effects on gut health coffee provides, even without the extra boost from caffeine.
Plus, pairing Lifeway Kefir’s protein and probiotics with the benefits of coffee is a surefire way to keep yourself nourished and fueled—not just caffeinated. So, if you usually skip breakfast in lieu of a proper meal, here’s your sign to give one of these 10 coffee recipes a try. You’ll be glad you did!
10 Coffee Recipes Made with Lifeway
1. Coconut Cream Mocha Smoothie Bowl
Makeover your morning with this mocha-flavored bowl of probiotic goodness. Here, we pair Lifeway Kefir with banana, coconut, cacao, and almond butter before adding it to a bowl and garnishing it with some of our favorite toppings. This smoothie bowl is packed with protein, probiotics, and fiber making it an excellent way to start your day in a gut-healthy way. Get the recipe here!
With a nutty, malt-like flavor similar to the flavor of butterscotch, maca is an adaptogenic root native to South America that looks like a large turnip and comes in golden, red, and black colors. Maca is known as an adaptogen because it contains nutrients that act as balancing agents in the body and contains natural grounding properties. It helps stabilize energy levels, supporting the body to adapt to either fatigue or nervousness, making it unique in how different people respond. It may also be used for hormonal support since it is used for both men and women in this area of health. Maca is traditionally paired with cacao in South American drinks, so we whipped up one of our own with probiotic-rich Lifeway Kefir. Our Maca Cold Brew Smoothie is a divine combination of coffee, cacao, and maca into one drink that is packed with protein and gut-friendly goodness from Lifeway. Sip your way to a chill state of bliss with this exotic-tasting blend.
3. Apple Spice Kefir Macchiato
Apples, spices, Lifeway Kefir, dates, espresso, and vanilla steal the show in this dreamy fall drink. Inspired by the flavors of autumn, our Apple Spice Kefir Macchiato is a tribute to the flavors of the season with a probiotic, protein-packed twist from Lifeway. Our kefir’s probiotics are perfect to pair with prebiotic foods like apples and dates, since when the two are used in one recipe, they contribute to better gut health over the long haul. So put them in your blender with a touch of bittersweet espresso, and you can enjoy this delicious drink that’s better than anything you’ll find in a coffee shop.
4. Brown Sugar Espresso Smoothie
Speaking of espresso, we never tire of it, which is why we whipped it into a smoothie inspired by the brown sugar espresso trend taking over your social feeds. Here, we paired with Lifeway Kefir and creamy avocado that you’ll never guess is the reason it’s so rich and creamy. Avocados are packed with healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E, various B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. They are easy to add to smoothies when ripe and can be used in addition to, or in replacement of, bananas. Here, we used both bananas and avocado, plus dates, vanilla, espresso, just a touch of brown sugar, and Lifeway Kefir. If you’ve been dying to try the viral recipe, consider this your gut-healthy sign to do so. Get the recipe here!
Our Vanilla Bean Kefir Frappé is the a comforting way to get your java fix since it’s made with Lifeway Kefir whipped up into a creamy dream. Our probiotic-rich kefir is packed with protein and billions of live and active cultures, so it’s easy to digest, supports your microbiome, and keeps you satisfied. Pairing your coffee with protein-rich cultured dairy, like Lifeway Kefir, is an excellent way to support your blood sugar, hormones, energy, and gut health in one versus having coffee alone. So indulge in the warm, exotic flavors of vanilla and coffee in the comfort of your home with this recipe, and enjoy all the gut health benefits it brings.
Love coffee and chocolate? You have to try this Mocha Cherry Smoothie enhanced with notes of cherries, chocolate, and coffee, all with the probiotic benefits of protein-rich Lifeway Kefir. The sweetness of the chocolate and cherries balances out the bitter notes of the coffee which enhance the overall richness of the drink. Yet it’s still light, refreshing, and will keep you energized for the rest of the day. So if you’re a die-hard cherry lover and haven’t tried them with our kefir yet, consider this recipe your sign to do so—your gut will thank you!
7. Pistachio Cold Brew Kefir Smoothie
Probiotics, protein, and pistachios, plus coffee? Sign us up! Our Pistachio Cold Brew Kefir Smoothie is the perfect combination of these trendy ingredients, plus some. Pistachios are packed with healthy fats, fiber, and natural protein, plus they’re a natural prebiotic making them a terrific ingredient to pair with probiotic-rich Lifeway Kefir. These trendy little green nuts are also delicious with cold brew coffee, and they blend beautifully with our kefir in one recipe like this filling recipe.
We’re nowhere close to being tired of pumpkin yet, so we took the liberty of combining pure pumpkin purée with our seasonal Lowfat Pumpkin Spice Kefir into this one recipe that blends cold brew and all the flavors of fall you won’t be able to resist. Our Kefir Pumpkin Cold Foam is a dream come true for all the PSL lovers out there who want something healthier at home. Get this recipe here, and skip the lines at your local coffeehouse, plus get a gut-healthy boost from Lifeway Kefir.
9. Brown Sugar Espresso Overnight Oats
Overnight oats, coffee, and Lifeway Kefir in one easy, delicious breakfast recipe? Yes, please! This Brown Sugar Espresso Overnight Oats recipe is one of our most popular and well-loved creations of the year, so we had to reshare it here in case you missed it the first go-round. This easy breakfast mixes Lifeway Kefir’s probiotics and protein with creamy, high-protein Lifeway Farmer Cheese, hearty oats, rich espresso, fiber-rich chia seeds, and just enough sweet brown sugar to keep things tasty. You’ll be thinking about this recipe every night before bed since it sleeps overnight in the fridge while you get some shut-eye yourself. In the morning, top it with a little extra Lifeway Kefir, some cream, and a touch of whatever else you love. Get this recipe here!
Last, but not least, if there’s one recipe that has us smitten, it’s this one for a batch of our Cold Brew Brownies. What’s better than coffee-infused brownies boosted with protein from Lifeway Kefir? Not much we can think of! These brownies use our kefir in the batter while our farmer cheese is used in the frosting in combination with cream cheese. Bake up a batch this weekend, and you’re well on your way to a better dessert in no time. Get the recipe here!
Want more coffee recipes? Check them all out here, then be sure to give us a follow on social media to see what we’re whipping up next. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and X. See you there!