Last week we took Mindful Crumb to Studio React, one of the busiest cycling and Pilates studios in Porto. The goal was simple:
test our unflavored protein in real people’s real coffee and see how it actually performs.

We brought two flavors to test:

• Caramel Cappuccino

• Cinnamon Cream

Both built on one base: our premium unflavored Primal Core whey.

And here’s what happened.

Why Coffee Was the Perfect Test

Most people at the studio already have the same ritual:

• Coffee before class

• Protein “later”

• Later never comes

We wanted to see what happens when you don’t add another step to someone’s day.
You just improve a step they already take.

Coffee stays coffee.
But now it carries 25g of clean protein without changing the flavor.

That was the entire test.

The Two Flavors Everyone Tried

Caramel Cappuccino

Creamy, warm, slightly sweet.
Most people said it tasted exactly like something they’d order in a café, not like a protein drink pretending to be a real drink.

Cinnamon Cream

Subtle, soft, comfort-heavy.
Especially loved by people leaving Pilates or yoga—they called it “a cosy morning in a cup.”

Both flavors came from the add-ins, not the protein itself and that was the key.

How Easily the Protein Blended

Everyone had the same suspicion:

“It’s going to clump.”
“It’s going to taste chalky.”
“It’s going to ruin my coffee.”

So we showed them the method:

1. Splash of warm-temp milk or water

2. One scoop of Primal Core

3. Stir or shake (we used a frother)

4. Pour into hot coffee

Done.

No blender and without gritty texture.

The protein folded into the drink like it was part of the recipe from the start.

Did It Change the Taste?

No.

This surprised people more than anything.

The coffee still tasted like coffee.
The caramel tasted like caramel.
The cinnamon tasted like cinnamon.

The protein didn’t bring sweetness, flavor, or aftertaste.
It just added body, like a thicker latte.

People who normally hate protein shakes finished the cup without hesitation.

What People Said at the Stand

These were the most common reactions:

• “This doesn’t taste like protein at all.”

• “How is this so smooth?”

• “I’d actually drink this every morning.”

• “The caramel one is ridiculous.”

• “The cinnamon feels like winter.”

Patterns were obvious:

• Caramel Cappuccino won with people who love sweeter café drinks.

• Cinnamon Cream hit harder for people who wanted something calmer and more comforting.

• Several came back after class asking, “Tell me exactly how to make this at home.”

Why Unflavored Protein Works Better in Coffee

Most flavored whey fights with coffee:

• Artificial vanilla overpowers the roast

• Chocolate tastes fake

• Sweeteners leave a chemical finish

Unflavored whey removes the fight.

The drink keeps its identity.
The protein blends quietly in the background.
Your coffee stays yours but just more functional.

People felt fuller, more stable, and more “reset” after drinking it.
And they didn’t feel like they were forcing down a supplement.

How To Make It at Home

Here’s the exact base recipe we shared at the event.

Protein Coffee Base

• 1 espresso

• 100 ml milk or plant milk

• 1/2 sachet unflavored Primal Core

• 5 g (1 tsp) Powdered brown sugar

• Pinch of Celtic salt

• Pinch of ceylon cinnamon

Steps for the caramel cappuccino

1. Mix the protein with a little milk/water

2. Stir or shake until smooth

3. In another cup add coffee, Celtic salt and brown sugar.

4. Froth until seeing it creamy

5. Finish by adding the frothed coffee to the protein mix

6. Stir and enjoy

7. You can have a cold or hot

   
   

Steps for the caramel cappuccino

1. Warm 100 ml of milk or water

2. Add protein, a pinch of cinnamon, a pinch Celtic salt, and 5 g (1 tsp) of powder brown sugar

3. Froth until seeing it creamy

4. pour and enjoy

5. Add ice for a cold drink experience

What This Event Proved

People don’t need a new routine.
They need a cleaner version of the routine they already have.

Studio React made that clear:

If protein becomes part of your morning coffee, you actually stay consistent.
If it stays a separate chore, it slowly dies.

We saw it in real time:
Once people tried a coffee that tasted normal but delivered real recovery, they immediately understood the point.

Coffee stays coffee.
You just get more out of it.

The choice from here is yours.