The mazagran, between history and modernity – the iconic object revisited by Atelier Maison Quatre

Oct 17, 2025

An object steeped in history

Before it was a cup, the mazagran was… a drink . Its name comes from a village in Algeria, Mazagran , where French soldiers supposedly drank cold coffee during the battle of 1840. This particular beverage — coffee diluted with water or brandy — then gave its name to the container that held it: a tall, stemmed glass without a handle.

This new type of cup quickly became popular in Parisian cafés. The mazagran became a symbol of conviviality and modernity, long before the arrival of the mug. Made of earthenware, porcelain, or stoneware, it graced bistro tables and family homes.

The mazagran, a witness to French daily life

In many families, mazagran evokes a memory; at Atelier Maison Quatre, this memory has a special resonance.

“As a child, I spent my Sundays with my family in Normandy. After lunch, my grandmother, Josephine, would bring out her set of flowered mazagrans for coffee. This simple, almost unchanging ritual has marked me for life.”
Juliette, founder of Atelier Maison Quatre

These moments of sharing, where the act of drinking coffee brings people together, have become the starting point of a project: to reinvent mazagran so that it can find its place in our homes today.

Reinventing an icon: the Atelier Maison Quatre vision

Atelier Maison Quatre breathes new life into this everyday object, giving it a contemporary interpretation. Gone are the floral decorations: in their place is simplicity, raw materials, and a timeless form.

Each ceramic mazagran is made in Portugal, in a partner workshop where traditional craftsmanship is preserved. The stoneware, chosen for its strength and natural texture, is hand-glazed, making each piece unique.

The design respects the original proportions of the cup—13.5 cm high, slender shape, stable base—while adopting cleaner lines and nature-inspired hues. The first collection comprises six colors: neutral and organic tones that complement any table setting.

An object for all times

The mazagran from Atelier Maison Quatre is adapting to new uses:

  • Morning coffee, served piping hot.

  • A long coffee or afternoon tea.

  • Cool drinks in the summer, echoing its origins.

  • Or simply, a beautiful object to display, a testament to a way of life.

More than just a cup, the mazagran has become an everyday companion , an object that is kept, passed down, and that transcends seasons and generations.

A responsible and European production

True to its values, Atelier Maison Quatre prioritizes responsible production:

  • European manufacturing, in a human-scale workshop.

  • Durable and recyclable materials.

  • Packaging designed in France, conceived to protect without overloading.

Every detail reflects a conviction: it is possible to do things beautifully, well, and sustainably.

Between memory and design

Reinventing the mazagran means paying homage to a forgotten ritual while anchoring it in our time. It means blending history and modernity, ancient gestures and contemporary lines, childhood memories and today's design.

At Atelier Maison Quatre, this project is not just about an object:
It's a way to give meaning back to simple moments, to celebrate slowness and conviviality — through a cup of coffee.

About Atelier Maison Quatre

Atelier Maison Quatre is a French brand founded in 2024, dedicated to tableware and contemporary ceramics. Born from childhood memories and a deep appreciation for simplicity, it celebrates everyday objects by reinventing them with sincerity, exacting standards, and emotion.

Mentioned several times in the press — notably in Le Monde , ELLE Décoration and Le Journal de la Maison — the brand became known with its first product, the mazagran: an object of yesterday, fashioned for today.

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