Mazagran Coffee Recipe: Making A Unique Iced Coffee Lemonade

This old-school iced coffee drink from Algeria is enjoying a modern revival.

What’s your summer drink of choice? Perhaps a sweet and refreshing lemonade? Or maybe a tall glass of iced coffee? Well, combine the two, and you have the Mazagran – a cold coffee drink with a unique twist.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the blend of coffee and lemonade is actually delicious. The tangy citrus, honey sweetness, and bold coffee exist in perfect balance. If you don’t believe me, give this recipe a try. I have no doubt you’ll be a convert!

What Is Mazagran Coffee?

Mazagran is often referred to as the original iced coffee. It combines black coffee with lemon juice and sugar – served in a tall glass with ice. It’s an unexpectedly delicious match made in heaven, like a lemon iced tea for coffee lovers.

According to lore, it was invented in 1840 by French soldiers under siege in the northern Algerian town of Mazagran (1). Running low on supplies, they began doctoring their coffee with sweetened cold water. 

The drink returned to Europe with the soldiers after the war, first to France and then Portugal. At some point, lemon was added to the mix. Certain regional variations now add alcohol as well.

Are you interested in other coffee recipes from around the world? Check out the Home Brews Coffee  list of coffee drinks, which includes Mexican cafe de olla, Vietnamese iced coffee, and Austrian Viennese coffee – among dozens of others.

How Do You Make Mazagran Coffee?

You can make a simple version of the Mazagran by combining equal parts storebought cold brew coffee and lemonade. But I think it’s worth the extra effort to use the freshest ingredients. Plus, you can adjust the sweetness level to your taste.

Step-By-Step Mazagran Coffee Recipe

Ready to learn how to make this popular drink at home? This easy Mazagran recipe walks you through it, one step at a time. 

Step 1: Brew The Coffee

Brew 4 ounces of strong coffee using the brewing method of your choice. My preference is the Aeropress, but a Moka pot, French press, or pour over dripper are all great options. You can also pull a 2-ounce double shot of espresso and dilute it with 2 ounces of cold water.

The coffee should be strong, so use a high coffee-to-water ratio. For me, that means 16 grams of ground coffee to yield the 4 ounces.

Alternatively, you can simplify this recipe by buying premade cold coffee concentrate. Dilute 3 ounces of concentrate with 1 ounce of cold water.

Step 2: Squeeze Lemon Juice

You can start this step while the coffee is brewing. 

Roll your lemon over a countertop to make it easier to juice. Juice your lemon into a measuring cup until you have 2 ounces of fresh lemon juice. Lemons vary, but this is roughly one lemon’s worth. You can strain the juice through a sieve to remove all the pulp and seeds.

Step 3: Assemble The Drink

Add the hot coffee and one tablespoon of honey to the measuring cup of lemon juice and mix thoroughly. This also helps cool the coffee.

Taste it and add more honey to adjust the sweetness as desired. The bitter coffee, sweet honey, and tart lemon should all be balanced, with no one note dominating.

If you don’t have honey, use another liquid sweetener like simple syrup or maple syrup.

Fill a chilled 12-ounce glass with ice cubes, and pour your lemon coffee over them. The ice should melt slightly, diluting the drink to the perfect strength. Alternatively, dilute with a splash of cold water.

Garnish with the reserved lemon slice or twist.

Final Thoughts

Mazagran iced coffee is the perfect refreshing drink for a hot summer’s day. I know that the coffee and citrus combination sounds unusual. But I promise, once you take that first sip, you’ll realize it’s exactly the cold coffee beverage you’ve been craving to beat the heat.