Photo by me, licensed under CC0
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Recipe
Method
Hey, I randomly decided to make a mazagran the other day as I already had some cold brew and it was unseasonably hot. I have made this drink before but always found it kinda 'weird-good' or 'interesting'. The other day I managed to get the ratios more specifically to my taste and it slapped. Tried to repeat it the next day and got pretty close, but also layered it (accidentally, at first) and took a photo for a friend which turned out well despite my phone camera quality (I keyed out the background because my kitchen was messy, lmao).
Mazagran is 'the first iced coffee' recipe in the world, and originates from Algeria. It is also sometimes referred to as 'coffee lemonade', which might explain my 'weird-good' take on it previously. It hits you first with the tart but sweet homemade lemonade flavour, which is then followed by the cold black coffee flavour, having a similar sensory effect to 'warming spices' like cinnamon (think mulled wine/cider?). I really think cold brew works best with this because it reduces the acidity and bitterness of coffee, without effecting the taste. Anyway, here is the recipe that worked for me :)
Recipe
- Tall glass mostly full of ice
- Cold brew coffee (half a glass worth)
- Sparking water (quarter glass worth)
- 1 Lemon
- 2-4 teaspoon sugar OR sugar syrup
Method
- Juice half of the lemon, and slice the other half to place in the glass along with the ice. Maybe a slice at the bottom and a few around the sides, one on top (usually looks nice)
- Sort out the sugar: if using sugar syrup you're fine as it will mix well at any temp. If using normal 'granulated' sugar just put it in a ramekin/small bowl with a tiny bit of hot or boiled water (an equivalent amount per the sugar, so 2 teaspoons = 2 teaspoons), and stir it around until it is mostly dissolved.
- Add all the liquids (sugar syrup/water, 1/2 lemon's worth of juice, sparkling water, and coffee) and sitr it around so they are mixed. The end.
Further Notes
- *Cold brew can be bought, or made super easily. It is literally just leaving coffee grounds in room temp water for 24 hours, then straining out the coffee and putting in the fridge (will last 4-5 days). My ratio is like 10 tablespoons to 1.5L water. You can do it in a teapot or other kinda of filter jug*
- *The layering I did in the photo was more just me messing around, it is not necessary and makes no difference to the end result. If you wanted to layer it then densest liquids at the bottom (sugar/syrup, lemon juice) and least dense at top (coffee, water). The ice helps with layering, so does slow pouring over a spoon*
- *ALSO really rec just using sugar or sugar syrup, as they don't impart a flavour besides 'sweet'. Similar sweet syrups may change how this tastes overall (maple or honey for example)*