Easy Coffee Overnight Oats - Forkful of Plants (2024)

I love these quick and easy coffee overnight oats! If you’re struggling to find the time for breakfast in the morning, these vegan overnight oats are the answer. They’re delicious and filled with goodness that will keep you going all morning long. Simplify your morning with this speedy and healthy breakfast!

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate schemes I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information please view my privacy policy and disclosures.

What are overnight oats?

Vegan overnight oats are a fantastic option for a quick breakfast with minimal prep. They’re a no-cook version of warm oatmeal, made by soaking oats in liquid overnight, until they thicken to oatmeal consistency. Sounds simple, right?

And it is! I’m going to run through my favourite tips and tricks for making the best coffee overnight oats- but if you’d rather get straight to the recipe, just scroll to the bottom or hit the ‘jump to recipe’ button above.

Why I love these coffee overnight oats

Quick breakfasts are great, and espresso overnight oats have been my saviour on early mornings and busy commutes. Even if I’m short on time the evening before, they can be made in less than 2 minutes, and are super portable- making them great for eating on the go.

They’re also so cheap to make, with oats and dairy-free milk being some of the cheapest items on my weekly shopping list. Even with the additional ingredients in this recipe, this is one of the cheapest breakfasts going.

Discovering coffee overnight oats was a revelation for me. I love coffee and I love overnight oatmeal; it was a no-brainer! Oats and coffee are a great combo for breakfast in the morning. This overnight oatmeal recipe has delicious coffee flavour with a hit of caffeine. It’s perfect for coffee lovers.

The consistency of these vegan oats is velvety and thick. I’ve added some dairy-free yoghurt for creaminess and an extra dose of protein for your morning.

The ingredients needed for this recipe

For this recipe, you’ll need just 5 simple ingredients:

• Oats
• Chia seeds
• Dairy free milk
• Brewed coffee
• Dairy free yoghurt

I’ve also included the option of adding vanilla extract and maple syrup, for those who enjoy their coffee sweeter!

Is overnight oatmeal good for you?

Simply put, yes! Oats are full of soluble fibre, which is a key nutrient for keeping you going all morning long. A lot of convenient breakfast foods are filled with simple sugars, which give you a short burst of energy, and leave you hungry an hour later. This won’t be a problem with these healthy overnight oats.

I’ve also added chia seeds and yoghurt to this recipe, which come with their own nutritional benefits.

• Chia seeds are a great vegan source of omega 3 fatty acids, as well as fibre and good quality protein.
• Yoghurt contains gut boosting probiotics, as well as a healthy dose of protein. The yoghurt slightly ferments the oats, making them easier to digest and easier on the stomach.

Be careful which dairy free yoghurt you’re buying at the store- yoghurt can be a healthy food, but some brands fill them with added sugars and flavourings. Make sure that the majority of sugar in your yoghurt is from a natural source.

How to make coffee overnight oats

Making vegan overnight oats is really easy. To start you need to brew ⅓ cup, or 80ml of coffee. In a mason jar or bowl, add the oats, chia seeds, brewed coffee, almond milk, yoghurt, vanilla (if using) and maple syrup (if using). Mix really well until it’s all combined, then cover and move to the fridge.

To enjoy your oats the next morning, you can top them with some more yoghurt and some chopped nuts or seeds. I also love to sprinkle some cacao nibs over the top. If you wanted to make this a little bit more indulgent, you could also add some grated dark chocolate.

How much liquid should I add?

The consistency of these coffee overnight oats is very much down to personal preference. Some people like them thinner and some people like them thicker. I have made this recipe to sit somewhere in the middle, but if you want to change the consistency, you can.

Just add a little bit more dairy-free milk for thinner oats, or take a little bit out for thicker oats. If you’ve never had coffee oatmeal before, I recommend you give the recipe a go as it is, and change the consistency to your liking next time.

What type of oats are best for overnight oats?

My preference is to use rolled oats (or old fashioned oats), as they soften nicely overnight, but still keep a good texture and a bit of a bite. Steel cut oats are too coarse for overnight oatmeal, so wouldn’t soften very well. You could use quick oats or instant oats, as these would take even less time to soften, but they wouldn’t have as much texture to them.

Which kind of coffee should I use?

I’ve given a liquid amount of coffee in this recipe so that you can make it however you like. You can use your favourite type of coffee, whether that’s instant, filter, from a coffee maker, or even cold brew coffee. You can adjust the strength of the coffee depending on how much coffee flavour you’d like to come through in your oats.

If you’re concerned about your caffeine intake, but love the flavour of coffee, this recipe works just as well using a decaf variety!

Can I heat up overnight oats?

Although overnight oatmeal is typically a cold breakfast, you can enjoy it warm. If the thought of chilled oats just doesn’t appeal to you, then you can pop them in the microwave for a minute or two until warmed through. Just make sure you have prepared them in a microwave safe container.

How long in advance do I need to prepare this recipe?

Despite being called overnight oats, you can eat them sooner if you’re in a rush or forget to make them the night before. The oats will have softened after around 3 hours, so will be totally edible at this point.

They won’t be as soft as oats which have been left overnight would be, but they’ll still be tasty and nutritious. I would suggest leaving them out of the fridge whilst they soak to speed things up a little.

How long do they last in the fridge?

Coffee overnight oats are fantastic for meal planning and prepping, as they keep well in the fridge. Add them to your meal prep plan for the week, and prep 5 portions on Sunday evening. You’ll have a healthy breakfast ready prepared for the entire week, helping you to stick to your meal plan.

Ingredient substitutes

Overnight oats are so easily customisable, which is what I absolutely love about them! Here’s some ideas for how you could perk up your coffee overnight oats:

• Mocha overnight oats- Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to coffee overnight oats to make them into mocha overnight oats! They taste like a treat and are still super healthy.
• High protein overnight oats- If you’re working out and want to up your protein intake, you can add a scoop of protein powder to this recipe. Vanilla protein powder makes these taste like vanilla latte overnight oats!
• Gluten free oatmeal- If you are coeliac or gluten intolerant, make sure that you pick out gluten-free certified oats for this recipe.
• Need it to be sweeter? I’ve suggested 1-2 teaspoons of maple or agave syrup in this recipe. If that isn’t quite sweet enough for you, you can add in a little more to taste. If you are watching your sugar intake, you can use a sugar substitute such as a plant based sweetener.
• Toppings- The options are endless when it comes to toppings. I’ve added yoghurt and walnuts to my overnight oats, which reminds me of coffee and walnut cake! Give your favourite toppings a go. Whipped coconut cream is a luxurious and healthy option, and you can add your favourite dried and fresh fruits, nuts and seeds. For something a little more indulgent, you can add some vegan chocolate chips.

Looking for more breakfasts you can prep in advance?

If you love to get ahead of the game with breakfasts, you might like these recipes:

• Strawberry cheesecake breakfast bowls (yes you can enjoy a healthy breakfast which tastes like desert! This one is full of protein to boot.)
• Peanut butter banana breakfast bars are great for eating on the go.
• Apple parfait– cinnamon and apple has to be one of the best flavour combinations out there, right?
• Make a batch of this almond chia seed butter and spread it on wholegrain toast for an easy and healthy breakfast.
• Or for something savoury, try these tofu breakfast burritos. These keep really well in the freezer so you can always have one to hand.

Pin it!