PROBAR
Coffee Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare plant-based protein bar that uses real ground coffee for flavor (with a modest, unspecified caffeine bump) and delivers 20 grams of soy protein without sugar alcohols—often praised for tasting closer to a candy bar than a diet bar.
When to choose PROBAR Coffee Crunch
Coffee lovers who want a satisfying, dairy-free protein hit for mornings, commutes, or post‑workout recovery. Skip it if you avoid soy or you’re tightly limiting added sugar.
What's in the PROBAR bar?
PROBAR’s Coffee Crunch folds your morning coffee into a bar: ground coffee and cocoa deliver the flavor and a small caffeine lift, while 20 grams of soy protein isolate provide plant-based muscle support.
The rest skews energy-forward—tapioca syrup and starch do the heavy lifting for carbs, tempered a bit by soluble tapioca fiber—so it sits on the sweeter, quicker-fuel side of the protein-bar spectrum.
Fat stays modest and comes mainly from palm kernel and safflower oils, which keep the texture firm without a nut‑butter richness; overall calories land toward the high end, with protein in the top decile and carbs near the top of the category.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 34 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein come from soy protein isolate—the concentrated, dairy‑free workhorse that delivers a complete amino acid profile. It’s highly refined (protein pulled out of soybeans and dried) but reliable, and it places this bar among the higher‑protein options. For anyone skipping dairy, it’s a straightforward way to get substantial protein without whey.
Fat
79MIDMost of the 7 grams of fat come from palm kernel oil (a saturated, semi‑solid fat that provides structure) and safflower oil (an unsaturated seed oil). The result is a lighter‑fat bar with a touch of saturated fat from palm kernel and more delicate unsaturated fats from safflower. If you count on fat for staying power, this is leaner than nut‑butter‑based bars.
Carbs
3420HIGHCarbs are driven by tapioca syrup and tapioca starch—refined cassava sugars and starch—backed by soluble tapioca fiber. That mix leans toward quick energy; the fiber and 20 grams of protein help soften the rise, but this isn’t a slow‑burn, whole‑grain bar. Expect it to perk you up more than pace you for hours.
Sugar
124HIGHThe 12 grams of sugar come chiefly from tapioca syrup, table sugar, and a touch of molasses; vegetable glycerin contributes mild sweetness as well. That means added sugars from refined sources rather than fruit, so the sweetness is clear without relying on artificial sweeteners. If you’re watching added sugars, note the double‑digit grams.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories, this sits toward the higher end for protein bars. Most calories come from carbohydrates (tapioca syrup/starch), with protein next and a smaller share from fats—so it eats more like an energy bar with strong protein support than a low‑calorie snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no vitamin premix here. You do get about 15% Daily Value for iron and 10% for calcium, likely from the soy protein isolate with small contributions from cocoa and molasses; potassium is minimal.
Additives
To keep texture soft and stable, the bar uses vegetable glycerin (moisture), soluble tapioca fiber (a refined resistant dextrin that binds and adds fiber), and lecithins from sunflower and soy (emulsifiers), plus natural flavor. These are common, highly refined functional ingredients used in small amounts—more about structure and shelf life than nutrition. The formula skips artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, but does lean on refined syrups for sweetness.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cassava starch
Cassava root starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Oil palm fruit
Cacao tree seeds
Safflower seeds
Cassava root
Coffea arabica or robusta beans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“ProBar (peanut butter) is delicious and uses only real sugar”
“Also ProBar is outstanding.”
“I love probar!!!!”
Main Praise
Fans keep returning to PROBAR BASE because it’s one of the few vegan, gluten‑free bars that eats like an actual treat while still packing 20 grams of protein. Multiple reviewers describe the line as candy‑bar‑like in flavor and texture, and Coffee Crunch adds a legit coffee note thanks to real grounds rather than flavoring alone.
It’s substantial enough to hold you between meals, and outside reviewers praise the BASE line as a hearty, satisfying option when you want protein plus real energy. People also appreciate that the sweetness comes from straightforward sugars instead of sugar alcohols, avoiding the cooling aftertaste or stomach drama some get from polyols.
Add in the brand’s steady reputation among plant‑based athletes, and this flavor hits a sweet spot: dessert‑leaning taste with serious protein.
Main Criticism
Two knocks come up often: texture and sugar. Some tasters find Coffee Crunch on the dry or crumbly side—especially compared with smoother flavors like Peanut Butter—calling it a bit chalky at times.
Others zoom in on the 12 grams of added sugar and 270 calories, arguing it’s more energy bar than lean snack. Soy is a deal‑breaker for a subset of readers, and a few simply don’t like the flavor, full stop (taste is personal, and Coffee Crunch leans boldly coffee).
Value can be a sticking point, too, with occasional comments about price relative to simpler bars.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land?
If you want a plant‑based bar that tastes indulgent and actually fuels a run, lift, or long morning, Coffee Crunch makes sense: 20 grams of soy protein, fast‑acting carbs from tapioca syrups and starch, and a hint of caffeine from real coffee.
That mix earns the “keeps you going” praise—and explains the calorie count. The tradeoff is clear: you get sweetness from refined sugars rather than fruit, which some prefer to sugar alcohols, but it does push added sugar into double digits.
Texture seems to be the wildcard; Coffee Crunch can read a touch drier than sibling flavors, a point echoed by a few Amazon reviewers. Meanwhile, Reddit user casipera called PROBAR protein bars “kinda gross,” while others rave about them as dessert with benefits—proof that palates can disagree loudly on the internet.
The open question is less about quality than fit: do you want a dessert‑leaning, coffee‑forward protein bar with real energy, or are you chasing ultra‑low‑sugar, ultra‑light snacks?
What's the bottom line?
PROBAR Base Coffee Crunch is a coffee‑lover’s protein bar: plant‑based, gluten‑free, and built around 20 grams of soy protein with a mocha‑like profile that many describe as candy‑bar‑good. It skews more “fuel me now” than “nibble for hours,” thanks to refined cassava‑based carbs and 270 calories, and it skips sugar alcohols in favor of straightforward sugars—great for taste and tolerance, less ideal if you’re closely capping added sugar.
Texture lands a bit denser and, for some, drier than other flavors in the line, but the payoff is a satisfying, portable pick‑me‑up with a subtle caffeine nudge (the label doesn’t list an exact amount). Condensed listicle take: A dessert‑leaning, coffee‑forward vegan bar with 20 grams of protein and real energy—excellent for mornings and post‑workout, less so if you avoid soy or want very low added sugar.