NuGo Nutrition
Coffee
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar‑style crunch coated in real milk chocolate with a mellow coffee note—no sugar alcohols, plus a built‑in multivitamin panel.
When to choose NuGo Nutrition Coffee
Reach for it as a mid‑morning or pre‑workout pick‑me‑up when you want something sweet, light, and gluten‑free with some protein. Less ideal if you need ultra‑low carbs, big protein, or strictly dairy‑free/soy‑free.
What's in the NuGo Nutrition bar?
NuGo’s Coffee bar leans on soy for its protein, chocolate for its comfort, and syrups for its stick‑together sweetness. You’re looking at a soy‑based protein bar (not whey), with 11g of protein and very low fat, which keeps calories down but also means less lingering fullness.
Carbs land on the higher side for the category, driven by tapioca and agave syrups plus crisped rice and oats—quick energy you’ll feel. Sugar sits on the sweeter side for protein bars and comes from familiar foods (no artificial sweeteners), including the milk chocolate that also softens the coffee‑and‑cocoa profile.
The “coffee” note appears to come from flavoring rather than brewed coffee on the label, with alkalized cocoa and milk chocolate rounding out that café vibe. Ahead, we’ll unpack what that mix means for protein quality, carbs and sugar, fats, fortified vitamins, and the handful of stabilizers that make the bar hold its shape.
- Protein
- 11 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 27 g
- Sugar
- 13 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
1115LOWProtein here comes primarily from soy: soy crisps (built from soy protein with rice flour/tapioca starch) and added soy protein. At 11g (around the lower end among bars), it’s not a whey bomb, but soy is a high‑quality plant protein that covers all essential amino acids. The small amount of dairy in the milk chocolate isn’t a meaningful protein contributor and doesn’t change that this is a soy‑forward bar.
Fat
39LOWOnly 3g of fat puts this bar at the very low end, and most of it likely comes from cocoa butter and a little milk fat in the milk chocolate. That means no heavy dose of refined seed oils and very little omega‑6, but also less satiety because fat is so modest. If you like a lighter feel, great; if you need staying power, consider pairing it with nuts or yogurt.
Carbs
2720HIGHCarbs (27g) are driven by refined sweeteners and starches—tapioca syrup (a fast, glucose‑rich syrup), agave syrup (fructose‑leaning), and the sugar in milk chocolate—plus crisped rice and oats. You’ll get quick energy, but it’s the kind that tends to spike and fade, only partly tempered by small amounts of soy fiber and acacia gum. Think pre‑workout pick‑me‑up rather than slow, all‑afternoon fuel.
Sugar
134HIGHThe 13g of sugar comes from recognizable foods: tapioca syrup, agave syrup, and the sugar in milk chocolate—no artificial sweeteners here. Tapioca raises blood sugar quickly, while agave’s lower glycemic hit comes with a higher fructose load, so it’s still smart to keep an eye on portions. In short, it’s on the sweeter side for a protein bar, with sweetness coming from refined but familiar sources rather than sugar alcohols.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this bar is lighter than most, largely because fat is low and protein is modest while carbs do the heavy lifting. Most of those calories come from carbohydrate, with protein providing a meaningful second and fat a distant third. That balance suits a quick snack or pre‑exercise bite more than a meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
The impressive vitamin panel is largely from fortification, not whole‑food levels in chocolate or oats. Added forms—like vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate), vitamin A palmitate, B‑complex vitamins (thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, niacinamide, pyridoxine, folic acid, B12), and calcium carbonate—deliver 20–30% of daily needs in a few bites. It’s a convenient multivitamin‑style top‑up baked into a snack.
Additives
You’ll see a few functional helpers: soy lecithin to keep the chocolate smooth, acacia gum to bind and add soluble fiber, and alkalized cocoa for a mellow, darker cocoa flavor. These are common, well‑vetted ingredients in bars and help with texture and shelf life. The formula relies more on refined syrups and fortification than on whole‑food sweeteners or fruit, but it avoids sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.
Ingredient List
Soybeans
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Cassava root
Cassava starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Cacao beans
Soybeans
Vanilla orchid seed pods
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Yeah they’re shockingly delicious tbh; the dark chocolate pretzel flavor is one of my favorite easy snacks.”
“I’m a big fan of the Nugo Dark protein bars; might not have as high of a protein content than some others but they use minimal ingredients and taste like a treat.”
“Nugo bars are criminally underrated for their taste. Their regular dark and dark pretzel flavors are absolutely orgasmic. The crunch is similar to that of kit kats... or at least what I remember them tasting like.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are where NuGo shines, and this Coffee bar lives in that lane. Fans across Reddit and editorial roundups call out the brand’s snap‑and‑chew combo and real chocolate coating—more candy‑bar‑satisfying than many chalky, taffy‑dense competitors.
Multiple outlets highlight the “tastes like a treat” factor without the artificial‑sweetener aftertaste, and that holds here: the sweetness comes from familiar syrups and chocolate rather than sugar alcohols. The light 170 calories mean it feels more like a snack than a meal, which many people actually want from a bar.
Add in a respectable 11 grams of soy protein, gluten‑free status, and a vitamin/mineral top‑up, and you’ve got a crisp, coffee‑chocolate fix that doesn’t weigh you down.
Main Criticism
If you prioritize macros above all, 11 grams of protein is modest—and the 13 grams of sugar and fast carbs read more like an energy bump than sustained fuel. Some buyers report occasional freshness inconsistencies (dry or overly hard bars) and a “waxy” chocolate in certain batches, which takes the shine off the texture praise.
Taste is subjective, too: a handful of commenters find certain NuGo flavors “weird,” and this coffee profile will divide palates. Finally, note the allergens and dietary fit—this bar contains milk and soy and isn’t vegan.
Separate from this specific flavor, NuGo has faced isolated quality and labeling concerns in the past, so label‑reading remains smart, especially if you avoid dairy.
The Middle Ground
Here’s the trade: flavor‑first satisfaction versus macro maximalism. The Coffee bar leans treat‑like—crisp, chocolatey, sweet—while offering some protein and a vitamin assist.
If you’re chasing 20+ grams of protein or ultra‑low sugar, Reddit’s chorus recommending NuGo Slim makes sense; those have tougher macros but, as one user admitted, don’t always taste as good.
On the flip side, if sugar alcohols bother your stomach or you simply prefer real chocolate to coatings and sweetener blends, this Coffee bar is a clear win. The quick‑burn carbs mean it’s better before a workout or as a mid‑morning bridge than as a four‑hour lunch stand‑in.
And about the naysayers: taste outliers and the occasional stale batch do crop up—“NoGo,” joked one Redditor—but the broader pattern across reviews and editorial picks is consistent: NuGo nails crunch and chocolate, even if the protein isn’t maxed.
What's the bottom line?
NuGo Nutrition’s Coffee bar is a coffee‑shop detour you can keep in your bag: candy‑bar crunch, real milk chocolate, and a smooth coffee note, with 11 grams of soy protein and a light 170‑calorie footprint. It skips artificial sweeteners, delivers a little vitamin/mineral top‑up, and stays gluten‑free—nice perks for a bar aimed at enjoyment as much as function. It isn’t a meal replacement, nor is it built for low‑carb purists.
Think of it as a tasty, pre‑workout or mid‑morning boost: quick energy, modest protein, minimal heaviness. If you want ironclad macros, look to higher‑protein options (including NuGo Slim). If you want something that actually tastes like a treat without the sugar‑alcohol side effects, this Coffee bar is an easy yes—just keep in mind the milk and soy, and that occasional texture variability can happen.
Listicle quick take: A crisp, milk‑chocolate‑coated coffee bar with 11 grams of soy protein and no sugar alcohols. Best for a pre‑workout or mid‑morning pick‑me‑up; not a meal replacement. Gluten‑free and vegetarian, contains milk and soy.