It has been stated that the drink's name probably originated from a fortress named Mazagran in a coastal town called
Mostaganem in the northwest of Algeria which in 1837 through the
Treaty of Tafna was granted to France. At the Mazagran fortress French colonial troops consumed the beverage, which was prepared with
coffee syrup and cold water. It has also been stated that the drink's name and invention may have originated from
French Foreign Legion soldiers who, during the time of
the siege of
Mazagran, Algeria during the 1840 war, used water in their coffee in the absence of milk or brandy and drank the beverage cold to counter the heat. Furthermore, French colonial troops near Mazagran were served a beverage prepared with coffee syrup and water. When the soldiers returned to
Paris, they suggested to cafés to serve the beverage and the notion of it being served in tall glasses. Upon this introduction, the beverage was named café mazagran. In France, coffee served in glasses is referred to as "mazagrin". ==Preparation and varieties==