Gut-friendly kefir and coffee come together in this probiotic rich vanilla coffee kefir frappe. Big on flavor and nourishment, this coffee drink is anything but vanilla! Enjoy a tall, ice cold glass this summer! 

The age old saying, “you are what you eat” has been modified by Donna Schwenk over at Cultured Food Life. She says it is not only what you eat but also what you digest and absorb.

Let that powerful statement sink in for a moment.

When I went through a long battle of healing my gut, I would eat and eat and eat in the hopes to feel better but I wouldn’t. Looking back I realize that I was eating food but my body was neither digesting the food properly nor was I absorbing the nutrients my body so desperately needed.

Among many foods, life changes and the Lord Almighty, I found healing. One of the fabulous foods that made a difference in the health of my gut was kefir.

Have you heard of kefir? It is one of my favorite fermented foods.

Normally, I just drink a couple glasses of it a day but due to its slightly sour nature, I like to mix it into recipes for my husband to enjoy. One day while mixing up a frappe for him, I realized I could easily swap out the milk with probiotic rich kefir. He’d get a refreshing drink as well as nearly half of the daily B vitamins his body needs.

This easy gut-friendly drink can be whipped up in just a couple of minutes. All you need is a cup of coffee, kefir, vanilla, your favorite sweetener and plenty of ice cubes. The fermented drink is big on nourishment and flavor and is anything but vanilla! If you’d prefer to omit the vanilla, you can easily swap it for other flavors such as maple extract, a spoonful of coca to create a mocha frappe or a dash of spice like cinnamon or pumpkin spice. Just be sure to pulse the coffee to cool it down quickly and layer the ingredients in order to prevent the heat of the coffee from killing the bacteria in the kefir.

What is Kefir?

Kefir is a cultured dairy product that can be drank as is, mixed into smoothies, dessert recipes and dips, made into cheese and so much more! You can make kefir with any kind of milk, but on our homestead we only use low pasteurized whole cows milk. Compared to yogurt, kefir is thinner, can be bubbly, tastes a little more sour and has many more probiotics. Kefir can be made in as little as 24 hours and requires no heating, special tools or ingredients. A simple jar, a glass of milk and some kefir grains is all you need to start adding a variety of beneficial bacteria to your gut.

Are Kefir Drinks Good for You?

Yes! With 56 strains of different bacteria, your belly will be quite happy which means your microbiome will be more in balance.

Is Kefir Good With Coffee?

Yes! From a health perspective, the combination of kefir and coffee create a powerhouse of digestive support. A few benefits include probiotic bacteria and yeast, soluble coffee fibers, natural energy and plenty of vitamins. The vanilla coffee kefir frappe tastes like a milkshake with hints of vanilla, a touch of sweetness, a creamy texture and a trace of sour from the kefir.

Probiotic Drink Recipe

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients to Make a Gut Friendly Drink

1 cup brewed coffee
2 cups ice cubes (12-14 each)
1 1/2 Tbs sweetener of your choice (I used agave)
1 cup kefir
2 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make a Vanilla Cappuccino Frappe

Pour coffee into a blender and pulse a couple of times to cool the coffee.

In this order, quickly place the sweetener, vanilla, ice cubes and kefir into the blender jar. Blend until smooth and frothy.

In a glass, pour vanilla coffee kefir frappe. Sip and enjoy!

Looking for more fermented food recipes to support the health of your gut? Check out my recipe for lacto-fermented carrots, pumpkin kefir smoothie or kefir eggnog.

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