Bold and robust, just the aroma of coffee offers the perfect “pick me up” for the day. And lemons, with their tart and tangy taste, swirled with a thick sweet simple syrup creates a classic summer chill in the form of lemonade. So, what if you were to take these two fabulous beverages and stir them together? You would have an unbelievably delightful cold drink!
Mazagran, is that drink. With roots originating in Algeria, Mazagran was created in the mid 1800s in an effort to aid soldiers on overnight duty. The thought was the coffee would help them stay alert while the cold lemon drink would keep them refreshed in the desert heat. And one step outside in this Texas heat, I’m convinced this drink seems to be a fit for the day.
It sounds like such an odd combination, one of those concoctions that will either be really good or really bad. Luckily it is really good! Brewed coffee is stirred together with freshly squeezed lemon juice, a touch of lemon zest then sweetened with simple syrup and finished with a fizz in the form of sparkling lemon soda.
The result is like a cold, smoky lemonade.
Pour it over a tall glass of ice, top with a slice of lemon. Be prepared to be amazed and rejuvenated!
Mazagran
1-½ cups brewed coffee, cooled
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 7 to 8 lemons
1 teaspoon lemon zest, about 1 lemon
1 cup simple syrup*, or to taste
½ cup sparkling lemon soda or sparkling lemon water
Lemon slices for garnish
Pour the cooled coffee into a tall pitcher.
Add the lemon juice along with the lemon zest.
Pour in the simple syrup and the sparkling lemon soda and stir to blend together. Pour over ice in a tall glass and top with a lemon slice.
Makes about 4 servings.
*Simple Syrup
I keep simple syrup in my refrigerator. It’s perfect for sweetening iced tea, adding to a variety of cocktails and of course lemonade.
2 cups water
3 cups sugar
Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved. Cool then keep refrigerated in a sealed container.
Makes about 3-⅔ cups.
Mazagran
Equipment
- small saucepan
Ingredients
- For the Mazagran:
- 1-½ cups brewed coffee, cooled
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 7 to 8 lemons
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, about 1 lemon
- 1 cup simple syrup*, or to taste
- ½ cup sparkling lemon soda or sparkling lemon water
- Lemon slices for garnish
- For simple syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
Instructions
- For the Mazagran:
- Pour the cooled coffee into a tall pitcher. Add the lemon juice along with the lemon zest.
- Pour in the simple syrup and the sparkling lemon soda. Stir to blend together.
- Pour over ice in a tall glass and top with a lemon slice.
- For the simple syrup:
- Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Cool then keep refrigerated in a sealed container.
- Makes about 3-⅔ cups simple syrup.
