Flavors Tried: Mocha Latte & Vanilla Latte
Price: $29.99 for 12-pack ($2.49 each)
Nutrition: 90 Calories, 3g Fat, 5g Carbs (3g Fiber & 1g Sugar), 10g Protein, 200mg Caffeine
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of ready-to-drink protein coffees. While I’ve enjoyed some coffee protein powders, the RTD shakes I’ve tried have always disappointed me.
Alani Nu’s coffee drinks tasted more like protein shakes with a hint of coffee, and Super Coffee, despite its popularity, had an artificial taste that I couldn’t get past. So, when I saw that Quest had released their own line of iced coffee drinks, I was equal parts excited and hesitant.
Quest makes some awesome high-protein snacks that I love (like their protein chips), but their protein shakes have always been a bit underwhelming for me. My hope is that this iced coffee will taste like actual coffee and not like their protein shakes, so let’s find out.
Flavor Review: Vanilla Latte
The first sip of the Vanilla Latte was definitely on the sweeter side, but my taste buds quickly adjusted. The vanilla flavor was spot-on, reminding me of the rich, creamy taste of French vanilla creamer.
To my surprise, there was no artificial aftertaste, which had been a major concern for me based on past experiences with protein coffees and low-carb protein drinks.
In fact, this iced coffee tasted remarkably similar to the packaged Starbucks Vanilla Latte I used to buy from the grocery store pretty regularly. If you enjoy vanilla lattes, there’s really no reason you would not enjoy this one.
Quest managed to nail the balance between the strong vanilla flavor and the coffee, which I really appreciate as a coffee lover. Instead of hiding behind a strong vanilla flavor, the iced coffee comes through plenty.
Flavor Review: Mocha Latte
Moving on to the Mocha Latte, I found it to be a solid choice, though not quite as rich as I had hoped. The chocolate flavor was a bit subtle, allowing the coffee to take center stage. For me, that’s a good thing, but I can see how many people might prefer a bit more chocolate flavor.
If you’re someone who prefers a less sweet drink, the Mocha Latte is definitely the way to go. It’s not as overtly sweet as the Vanilla Latte, but still delivers a smooth and enjoyable iced coffee experience.
While I wouldn’t have minded a slightly stronger chocolate presence, the Mocha Latte still managed to come close to what you’d expect from a coffeeshop drink, but with far better macros. There’s no artificial flavor to this one either, making it another solid option.
Overall Thoughts and Recommendation
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by both the Vanilla Latte and Mocha Latte Quest Iced Coffees. With 90 calories, 10g of protein, and only 1g of sugar each, they’re a delicious and macro-friendly way to enjoy coffee.
If you’re someone who gravitates towards high-sugar and high-calorie drinks at coffeeshops, there is a ton of appeal to these. Personally, I drink mostly black coffee, so these won’t be a staple, but I can appreciate the solid flavors of each.
The 10oz serving size is a bit on the smaller side for me, and the 200mg of caffeine is pretty high for the volume. I’d love to enjoy multiple throughout the day, but the caffeine content makes it more suitable as a one-time treat (to be fair, that is the case with most coffee drinks).
Compared to other protein coffees I’ve tried, like Alani Nu, I’d give Quest Iced Coffee a definite edge. Quest’s versions are more coffee-forward, which is exactly what I want in an iced coffee drink.
If you’re a fan of flavored coffee and looking for a macro-friendly option, Quest Iced Coffee is definitely worth checking out.
