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Mazagran Recipe: How to Make Lemon Coffee

mazagran lemon coffee in cups with bottle of honey

What could be better than a good old-fashioned cup of coffee? We have one idea! Wait until you try mazagran, a European coffee drink made with lemon and sugar. It is sometimes called the original iced coffee — and you may never go back to your previous drinks!

We’ll show you what mazagran is and how to make it at home. Plus, keep reading to find brewing tips and tricks! Here is everything you need to know about lemon coffee and mazagran:

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What is Mazagran (Lemon Coffee)?

mazagran coffee ingredients
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Mazagran is a cold espresso drink that originally comes from Algeria, though it’s now much more popular in Portugal. It’s essentially coffee lemonade, combining citrusy acidity with the bold flavor of espresso. The lemon juice was originally added to improve the flavor of low-end coffee beans. But don’t hesitate to use your pricier beans — this tasty drink won’t ruin their flavor.

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How to Make Mazagran:

Ingredients
  • Fresh espresso or strong coffee
  • Lemon
  • White sugar or honey
  • Ice
Equipment
  • Espresso or coffee maker
  • Spoon
  • Tall glass
  • Lemon squeezer (optional)

1. Put ice into a tall glass.

ice in glasses with lemon wedges for mazagran coffee
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Fill the glass with ice — or, for a stronger drink, use coffee ice cubes.


2. Pull a shot of espresso or brew a strong cup of coffee.

strong brewed coffee in Moccamaster pot next to ice in glasses
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Using your preferred espresso maker, pull a shot. If you prefer, you can use strong coffee instead, though you may want to adjust the ratios. We used our trusty Moccamaster coffee maker for this guide.


3. Add a sweetener.

Pouring honey into coffee pot for mazagran coffee
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Mix your favorite sweetener into the hot coffee. You can use white sugar, honey, or anything else that you have on hand. We used honey, and it was absolutely delicious! You can also add vanilla extract for an extra flavor dimension. Adding sweetener now allows it to dissolve into the hot coffee before you add ice. Then let the mixture cool for a few minutes.


4. Add the coffee or espresso to the glass.

Pouring cooled coffee into glass with ice for lemon coffee
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Pour the coffee mixture on top of the ice.


5. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice.

squeezing lemon juice into iced mazagran coffee
Image credit: Coffee Affection

Depending on how much you like sour flavors, you may want to add more or less lemon juice. We recommend squeezing in half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon of juice). Then stir, taste, and adjust if needed!


6. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy!

If you’d like, add a slice of lemon as a garnish (as you can see, we did so earlier). Now you’re ready to enjoy your iced lemon coffee!

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What variations of mazagran can you make?

Want to adjust this drink to your tastes? Here are some suggestions to personalize your unusual drink or take it over the top:

Sour or Sweet?

lemon lime coffee drink
Image credit: Unsplash

If you’re a big fan of sour drinks, you may want to add more lemon juice and less sugar to your mazagran. Try the above recipe and see how you like it. You can always squeeze in another lemon or add a spoonful of honey at the end. And if you want to experiment a little, why not try substituting a lime? You may enjoy the sour twist!

Skip the Lemon

iced latte
Image Credit: Bintang Dharma, Shutterstock

Prefer a drink that’s closer to the original Algerian recipe? Skip the lemon and make a simple iced espresso. You can pull a shot of espresso directly over ice, or mix it with sugar and then add a few ice cubes.

Espresso or Coffee?

rich espresso shot with crema in double walled cup
Image credit: Coffee Affection

What will change if you choose brewed coffee over espresso? You can expect a difference in flavor — espresso is richer and more complex — and the drink will be less strongly flavored overall. We recommend brewing your coffee as strong as possible to get the best flavor.


mazagran lemon coffee in cups with bottle of honey

Mazagran (Delicious Lemon Coffee)

Mazagran is a cold espresso drink that originally comes from Algeria, though it’s now much more popular in Portugal. It’s essentially coffee lemonade, combining citrusy acidity with the bold flavor of espresso. The lemon juice was originally added to improve the flavor of low-end coffee beans. But don’t hesitate to use your pricier beans -- this tasty drink won’t ruin their flavor.
5 star average
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Algerian, Portuguese
Servings 1
Calories 20 kcal

Equipment

  • Espresso or coffee maker
  • Spoon
  • Tall glass
  • Lemon squeezer (optional)

Ingredients
 

  • 1 shot espresso or 1 cup of coffee
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice to taste
  • White sugar or honey to taste
  • Ice or coffee ice

Instructions
 

  • Pour ice into a tall glass. Fill the glass with ice -- or, for a stronger drink, use coffee ice cubes.
  • Pull a shot of espresso or brew a strong cup of coffee.
  • Add a sweetener. Mix white sugar, honey, or vanilla extract into the hot coffee. Then let the mixture cool for a few minutes.
  • Add the espresso to the glass. Pour the espresso mixture on top of the ice.
  • Squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Depending on how much you like sour flavors, you may want to add more or less lemon juice. We recommend squeezing in half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon of juice). Then stir, taste, and adjust if needed!
  • Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy! Now you’re ready to enjoy your iced lemon coffee!

Nutrition

Calories: 20kcal
Keyword lemon coffee, mazagran

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The Bottom Line

We hope you enjoy this easy lemon coffee recipe! It’s simple to make and surprisingly delicious. A squeeze of lemon adds bright acidity to the rich flavor of espresso or strong coffee — and enjoying the whole thing over ice is very refreshing. Why not try a tasty cup of iced mazagran today? The lemon coffee flavor is out of this world!

Looking for more coffee recipes?


Featured Image Credit: Coffee Affection

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Kate MacDonnell

Kate is a lifelong coffee enthusiast and homebrewer who enjoys writing for coffee websites and sampling every kind of coffee known to man. She’s tried unusual coffees from all over the world and owns an unhealthy amount of coffee gear.

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