Dare Protein No Sugar Added Double Espresso Milk | 2L
Dare Protein No Sugar Added Double Espresso Milk | 2L: independently scored 9.6/10 on Protein Score and 8.1/10 on Clean Score by ProteinScore.
18g protein per serve · 177 cal · 13.8g sugar · 177mg sodium · 300mL serve.
Overview
This big 2L bottle of protein coffee milk is a different beast to the single-serve bottles crowding the convenience fridge. It's a stock-the-fridge solution, designed for the daily iced coffee drinker who wants a protein boost without the fuss of powders and shakers. This is the carton you grab during the weekly shop to have on hand for a few days of snacks or breakfast drinks. The nutritional panel tells a clear story of trade-offs. At 6g of protein per 100mL, it comfortably doubles the protein of regular flavoured milk. More importantly, it sidesteps the heavy 10-12g of added sugar you'd find in a standard iced coffee, keeping its own sugar figure to just 4.6g per 100mL from the milk's own lactose. The cost of that low sugar number is the inclusion of artificial sweeteners Acesulfame Potassium (950) and Aspartame (951). This 2L format sits alongside other Dare protein drinks, and its nutritional profile matches the brand's single-serve Protein No Sugar Added Iced Coffee Double Espresso on protein and sugar. Its protein content is a touch under the 7g/100mL average for the protein drinks we track, but its ingredient list is noticeably shorter than the category average of 13, which we see as a positive. Ultimately, this is for the household that already has a Dare habit. It integrates a decent protein hit into an existing routine, making it a pragmatic upgrade for anyone looking to increase their intake without radically changing their habits. It's a convenient, no-fuss option for the fridge at home or in the office.
Protein Score: 9.6/10
This is the bottle you grab when you want to stock the fridge for the week, not a single-serve for the gym bag. That multi-serve context is key to understanding its protein delivery. The 18g of protein in a 300mL glass provides a substantial top-up, earning an 8.8/10 and placing it ahead of the typical product in this category. The 6g of protein per 100mL is a significant step up from the 3-4g found in standard flavoured milks, making it a genuinely better choice for anyone tracking their macros. With 10.2g of protein for every 100 calories, it's also an efficient way to get that protein in without a major calorie cost, which is a key consideration for a drink you might consume daily. While an 18g serve is solid for a snack or as part of a breakfast, it doesn't quite replace a dedicated post-workout shake for those chasing a 25-30g hit for recovery. Instead, this bottle finds its place as a consistent, convenient source of protein to be consumed throughout the week, straight from the fridge.
Clean Score: 8.1/10
With just nine ingredients, this bottle has a shorter and simpler list than the typical protein drink we see. The use of two artificial sweeteners (950, 951) instead of added sugar is the product's central trade-off, helping it achieve a Clean Score/10, which is above the category average. Those sweeteners are Acesulfame Potassium (950) and Aspartame (951), and they are paired with a caramel colour (150c) to deliver the taste and appearance shoppers expect from an iced coffee. There are no gums, stabilisers, or emulsifiers, which is a notable omission in a category where they are common for improving texture and shelf life. The formulation feels focused. It uses a handful of ingredients to deliver a specific outcome: a sweet, coffee-flavoured milk drink with a protein boost and no added sugar. For shoppers comfortable with the listed sweeteners, it represents one of the cleaner options in the chilled aisle for getting a protein hit from a flavoured milk.
Wins
- Delivers 18g of protein in a single 300mL serve.
- Contains no added sugar, using sweeteners instead.
- A short ingredient list with just 9 items total.
Watch outs
- Uses artificial sweeteners (Aspartame and Acesulfame K).
- The 2L format is not portable for on-the-go use.
- Contains 92g of total sugar (lactose) in the whole bottle.
Ingredients
REDUCED FAT MILK, MILK SOLIDS, COFFEE POWDER (0.8%) (ROBUSTA, ARABICA), COLOUR (150c), FLAVOURS, SWEETENERS (950, 951).
9 ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
- How much sugar is in the whole bottle?
- The entire 2L bottle contains 92 grams of sugar. It is important to know that none of this is added sugar; it is all naturally occurring lactose from the milk. However, it is still a significant amount of sugar in total. This is why the bottle is designed for multiple servings, with a recommended 300mL serve containing a more moderate 13.8g of sugar. We'd suggest sticking to the serving size to manage sugar intake.
- Where can I buy the Dare 2L protein milk?
- This Dare Protein 2L milk is catalogued in the chilled dairy aisle at Coles supermarkets. While it is listed at major supermarkets, availability can vary by store location. The brand may also sell its products directly from its own website, which is worth checking for other options or bulk purchases. It is not a UHT product, so you will not find it in the long-life milk aisle.
- Does this Dare protein milk contain caffeine?
- Yes, it does. The ingredient list includes coffee powder made from both Robusta and Arabica beans, so you can expect a caffeine hit similar to a standard iced coffee. The brand doesn't specify the exact amount of caffeine per serve on the label. If you are sensitive to caffeine, we'd recommend enjoying it earlier in the day and not as an evening snack.
- How does this compare to regular Dare iced coffee?
- This protein version is a very different product. It has significantly more protein, offering 6g per 100mL compared to the 3-4g in regular flavoured milk. The biggest difference is the sugar content; this version has no added sugar and relies on sweeteners for its taste, resulting in less than half the sugar of its classic counterparts. In our view, it's a solid nutritional upgrade if you can taste the difference.
- Does this bottle need to be kept in the fridge?
- Yes, absolutely. This is a fresh milk product made with reduced-fat milk and must be kept refrigerated at all times, both before and after opening. You will find it in the chilled section of the supermarket. It is not a long-life or UHT (Ultra-High Temperature) product that can be stored in the pantry, so it is not suitable for keeping in a gym bag or desk drawer.