Protein from the Protein&Co brand is gaining more and more popularity. It is an affordable whey concentrate, similar to what we know from the manufacturers MyProtein or GymBeam. Unfortunately, we haven't found any protein that we would recommend despite its low price. Mainly because of the dubious composition.
So how is the Whey 80 whey protein from Protein&Co? Can it compete with other seasoned proteins? Did it meet our expectations? And was it really as good as they say?
Content of the review
The manufacturer Protein&Co is a small Czech company that prides itself on the maximum quality of its products. It uses only the purest ingredients, no dyes or preservatives. It has quite a lot of products in its range that are worth mentioning, however today we'll take a look at their CFM protein, which I couldn't wait to try.
The composition of the protein is second to none
The protein source here is heat undenatured whey processed using the CFM method, which preserves all the bioactive fractions in the protein. No dyes are used in the protein, which is a big plus. At the same time, we can find flavourings used, but unfortunately it is not indicated whether they are artificial or natural.In the case of chocolate flavour, we traditionally find cocoa used as well, which adds to the authenticity of the final product.
Glycine is used in the protein mainly for the purpose of flavouring the product. Upon request, the manufacturer provided us with information that the Glycine used is obtained through fermentation, i.e. naturally. It is therefore also suitable for vegans. It should also be mentioned that the added amino acid glycine slightly alters the complete amino acid spectrum of the final protein, but the changes are minimal.
Furthermore, sunflower lecithin has been used here instead of the more common soya lecithin. Nowadays, we tend to think that sunflower lecithin is betterthan soy lecithin precisely because of the controversy surrounding soy and its effect on estrogen in the body.At the same time, however, it should be noted that in such small quantities soy is not a good choice for us.soy is not bad in any way and so it does not matter whether the protein contains soya lecithin or sunflower lecithin.
The protein is sweetened with sucralose, a calorie-free sweetener that is safe for the human body and does not cause any harm to the body.It does not cause any digestive problems or excessive water retention, as is often said.
To keep the price low, there are no digestive enzymes to aid the absorption of the protein. This is the only difference from more expensive and premium proteins. However, I personally don't see the addition of probiotics to the protein as a big benefit, so compositionally there is almost nothing to complain about.
Nutritional values
The protein content of the protein ranges from 75-79%. Nowadays, this is a relatively high value, which I am excited about. However, the protein also has a higher amount of carbohydrates per 100g, reaching up to 10%. As for the naturally occurring fats, these reach values as high as 8% (depending on the flavour chosen).These values are rather above average and also reflect the higher calorific value (up to 422 kcal per 100g) of the final product.
A minor minus is that the manufacturer does not disclose the amino acid spectrum of its product, but this is only a minor detail and will not bother the average consumer.
Edit 14.10.2020 - The amino acid spectrum is already published on the official website of the manufacturer.
The solubility and digestibility of the protein are flawless
I mixed 30g of protein in 200ml of water as recommended by the manufacturer, and the consistency of the final drink was slightly creamy.The protein foamed only minimally, the foam fell off within seconds.
I did not notice any problems with the solubility of the protein either, the mixture dissolved in no time, the protein did not form any lumps and was fully instant.
Which flavour appealed to us the most?
Flavor was one of the primary things that made me want to try the protein. The manufacturer promised us an unforgettable taste experience, and I hadn't had a protein that I outright enjoyed in a long time. So I decided to try this lesser known brand and I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. I dare to say that this is the best tasting protein I have ever tasted. Here is an evaluation of the individual flavours:
- Cherry (9,5/10) I didn't like it very much when I first tasted it, but as time went by I liked it more and more. By the time I could fully enjoy the whole cherry shake, it was empty and I became practically addicted to this flavour. I would liken the flavor to a milky cherry shake, which is not over-sweetened at all and the flavor is really natural.
- Pistachio (9/10) was the weakest of all the flavors from this brand, but I still rank it among the best pistachio proteins I've ever had. Again, the protein is not over-sweetened and the taste is very natural, on first taste there is a subtle pistachio flavour accompanied by a milky undertone.
- The Choco-Banana (9,5/10) absolutely blew me away. In the first sip you feel the intense taste of banana, but immediately afterwards you are greeted by a pleasant chocolate undertone. Moreover, the protein is not extremely over-sweetened, quite the opposite. For me, this is one of the most natural chocolate-banana proteins I have ever tasted.
- The chocolate brownie (9.5/10) is a total bomb. Right from the first sip, you can taste the intense cocoa undertone accompanied by a slight milky note. The flavour is perfect in this combination and I recommend it to any lover of chocolate symphonies.
- Hazelnut (10/10) impressed me the most out of all the proteins tested. In the past, I have had bad experiences with hazelnut flavored proteinsI had a bad experience with hazelnut and did not expect any great miracle here either, but I was very wrong. Immediately at the first sip I smelled a subtle nutty noteand then a sweet, milky taste. The protein is as natural as possible and perfectly balanced in taste. With each subsequent taste, I simply wanted more and more.
- Vanilla (9.5/10) is an old tried and tested protein flavour that simply works. Here, the vanilla is worked out to the last detail and I must say that I have never tasted vanilla like this before.
- Strawberry (9.5/10) is another great flavour from Protein&Co. Again, Protein is not over-sweetened, the strawberry undertone accompanied by the sweet milk cream is felt very intensely here. I would liken the experience to a less sweet strawberry shake.
- Biscuit Cookies (9.5/10) is a flavour with a hint of biscuits, which is totally believable. I was surprised how identically this flavor can be mimicked in a protein. It may already be sweeter for my taste, but if you love American cookies, you probably won't find a better substitute on the market. I snacked on this flavor just as well as I did on all the previous ones. I praise and recommend it.
When did I use the protein?
The protein contains a fast and easily digestible whey concentrate processed using the CFM method, so it is best suited for post-workout use. I have also used it at this time.
The protein is also suitable for taking at any time of the day between meals or as a snack. I have personally used it in porridge, yoghurt, cottage cheese or even in pancakes.
Real quality for the money
The price of protein is very low for such a quality product. On the manufacturer's official website, the product costs less than in a two-kilo pack. In this case, the price for one dose will cost you . Few manufacturers can bring the price down this low.
I think that everyone can afford this product and honestly the quality of the protein exceeds much more famous and popular brands.
Where to buy this protein cheapest?
Final review
Is it worth investing in protein from Protein&Co? Not only did it stand up to our testing, it exceeded our expectations. Protein&Co CFM Whey 80 has a quality formula, fabulous flavours and a very affordable price that won't break your budget.
I dare to say that you will hardly find a protein of similar quality in this price range. So if you are looking for a suitable post-workout protein that you don't want to spend a large sum on, you have probably come across the right candidate.
Other expert reviews
- GymBeam [review]: low quality protein True Whey, Just Whey
- Biotech Iso Whey Zero [review]: the best isolate on the market?
- Scitec 100% Whey Professional [review]: one of the most popular proteins
- Nutrend Protein [review]: just another lure for money?
- Vilgain Grass Fed Whey Protein: Can it compete with the best isolates? [review]
