According to one of the most reliable theories, the 'original iced coffee' originated around 1840 in French Algeria. 'Mazagran' was a drink made from coffee syrup, cold water and sugar. Its name is linked to the legion of French soldiers in Algeria who invented it.

When was iced coffee invented?

For the first iced coffee we have to go back to 1840, in Algeria. The first iced coffee was called mazagran (or masagran). It was a cold and sweet coffee drink invented by the French army during the Battle of Mazagran.

Is iced coffee an American thing?

Only 10 percent of iced coffee consumption occurs in the U.S.; most of the rest (86 percent) happens in Asian countries, which have a longer tradition of chilling the beverage. Only 20 percent of Americans drink iced coffee, compared with 83 percent who consume hot coffee.