This coffee is said to have French charm and German character, but the largest number of fans of the brand live in Russia. Supplies of Carte Noire to the Russian Federation actually exceed deliveries to the brand’s native country. This is explained not only by the difference in territories—twice as many people live in Russia as in France—but by consumer interest in the brand.
“Carte noir” (translated as “black card”) is produced by Mondelēz International, whose share in Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) in 2017 was 26.5%. The brand is represented on the market in all types: coffee beans, ground, instant and in capsules. The most popular, including in France, is instant - due to the high level of quality and taste, which is as close as possible to a custard drink. It is interesting that, according to statistics collected by the analytical department of JDE, even those coffee lovers who prefer “Turkish” coffee, when a thick, scalding drink is washed down with ice water, choose instant Carte Noire.
History of the Carte Noire brand
Everything is complicated with a brand. They were a French company in 1978 and they have done well in the market producing some truly delicious Carte Noire coffees in a wide range. In 1982, the brand was bought by Jacobs Suchard, and from them to Kraft General Foods.
In 1993, Kraft General Foods Europe and Jacobs Suchard merged to form Kraft Jacobs Suchard. In 2007, Kraft Foods became independent again and Carte Noire joined Mondelēz International. When Mondelēz merged with Jacobs Douwe Egberts, the Carte Noire coffee brand was bought by Lavazza.
In the 70s of the last century, he introduced the Grand-Mere coffee brand to the world, which was appreciated by most gourmets, and by the end of the 80s he developed the following varieties:
- Carte Rouge
- Carte Noire
- Carte Bleu
The drink was also memorable due to the original way of packaging the product. At that time, Carte Noir coffee was vacuum-packed, which was considered an innovative approach, and therefore a breakthrough in the coffee industry.
The composition includes 100% Arabica, which is collected exclusively on elite plantations, therefore, the coffee belongs to the “Premium” series.
The brand became so famous in France that in the early 80s it was bought by the large Jacobs enterprise. The company managed to bring this type of coffee into the luxury segment, the price of which was quite high. Today, Jacobs products are in great demand due to their excellent quality.
Not much about Carte Noir
Many who have tried this variety at least once, about the properties. The advertising slogan is proof of this; it is truly capable of awakening desire. The product quickly conquered all of Europe, and then came to Russia and became the favorite of many.
Carte Noir is a classic drink that is preferable to drink in the morning, as it perfectly invigorates. The taste has many shades, which once again emphasizes its exclusivity. Compared to other types of coffee, it has no bitterness, even if consumed cold.
Story
The year of the birth of coffee under the Carte Noire brand can be considered 1978. At that time, a man named Rene Monnier, who already had experience in this matter, invented and launched several new coffee collections. Thanks to the amazing taste, the products of the Carte Noir line have gained the greatest popularity. Interestingly, with minimal advertising. Success was achieved solely because of the gastronomic advantages of the product.
The packaging design that is familiar to us was created by image maker Jacques Segal, who works with the highest-ranking French officials.
These days, the brand's history is quite confusing. The company has been resold many times, and at the moment, the facts are as follows.
- In our country, Jacobs Rus is responsible for the production and sale of Carte Noir brand coffee.
- At home, in France, products are produced under the brand of the same name, and the Lavazza company manages the process.
Assortment of Carte Noir coffee
The entire range can be divided into several types. This is coffee beans, ground, instant and in capsules (Tassimo collection).
Carte Noir beans
It is presented on the market under the slogan “French temptation”. This is a medium-roasted bean coffee, sold in 800 g and 230 g packaging. The beans for this type of drink are grown on plantations in Asia and Latin America. It has a harmonious deep taste, intense and rich aroma.
Soluble (sublimated)
The creators proudly call this type of coffee “French sophistication.” The taste of instant Carte Noire is milder compared to grain and ground. But it is no less rich, rich and deep.
Available in several formats: in sticks of 1.8 g (per serving of drink), soft packs of 75 and 150 g, in glass jars of 95 and 150 g.
Coffee Carte Noire Original
Quite strong, bright and rich taste of 100% Arabica from Asia and Latin America. The roast is medium, so the drink is not too bitter, but the aroma is well revealed.
Available in the form of grains, ground (medium grind, suitable for cups and Turks), as well as instant - in glass jars, bags and sticks.
Coffee Carte Noire Millicano
This is instant coffee with the addition of natural ultra-fine grinding. This allows you to prepare the drink as easily as instant, but at the same time get some of the aroma and taste of the natural one. The taste is deeper, velvety, the aromas are brighter and more multifaceted. Made from Arabica beans. Release form: in glass jars and soft packaging.
Coffee Carte Noir Decaf
Decaffeine is the choice for those who like the taste of coffee, but without the caffeine. The drink is very light, with a delicate aroma, and contains a minimal dose of caffeine, so you can drink it even late in the evening. Another thing is that the technology for producing soluble decaf already involves the use of many chemical solvents, so the health benefits may be questionable.
Ground
The motto of the coffee is “French perfection”. Like the bean drink, the ground drink, available in 230g packaging, has a rich and rich taste. The degree of grinding and roasting is medium.
Tassimo collection in capsules
Coffee capsules for coffee machines allow you to prepare a luxurious drink that will appeal to even demanding gourmets. Tassimo is presented in two collections: PETIT-DÉJEUNER INTENSE and CAFÉ LONG INTENSE. Both options have a rich, rich flavor.
Range
For Russian consumers, the company presents a relatively small number of products. But there are all types - from freeze-dried to grain.
Coffee Carte Noire Original
Characteristics:
- Roast: medium.
- Composition: 100% Arabica.
To make the product, Arabica beans from plantations in Asia and Latin America are used. This variety is available in the form of beans, ground and freeze-dried coffee. The taste is pleasant, without strong sourness or bitterness.
Millicano
Characteristics:
- Roast: medium.
- Composition: 100% Arabica.
Instant coffee. A small amount of ultra-fine grind mixture is added to the final mixture (see what the degree of grinding of coffee affects). The end result is a taste as if you were drinking whole bean coffee.
Coffee Carte Noir Decaf
For those who like the taste of coffee and don't want to consume caffeine.
Attention should be paid to the fact that the decaffeination process takes place using chemicals (see chemical composition of coffee). Which is not particularly good for your health (see decaf coffee).
Tassimo Collection
Especially for capsule coffee machines, the company offers several options for coffee drinks.
- Café Long Delicat. A blend of Colombian Arabica beans. The taste of the drink with notes of fruit.
- Petit-Dejeuner Intense. Capsules for preparing large cups of coffee (see coffee cup capacity). A distinctive feature is the high intensity of taste.
- Noire Espresso Aromatique. Ideal for making espresso. The drink comes with a persistent creamy foam.
- Café Long Intense. This blend will allow you to prepare strong coffee with a pleasant velvety taste.
Consider the fact that this product line is represented by capsules used to prepare different volumes of the drink. Choose the option that suits you.
Raw materials and production process
According to the company, selected Arabica varieties collected from plantations in South America, Asia and Africa are used to produce coffee. It is unlikely that you will be able to find out more - even on the company’s official website, very little information is presented.
As a marketing tool, the “Fire and Ice” roasting technology is often mentioned (see which degree of coffee roasting is better). Its essence is as follows: after roasting, a sharp stream of cold air is applied to the grains. This allows you to quickly stop the heating process from the inside.
Hand-picked grains are divided into varieties, each of which is roasted separately. The production of Carte Noire uses a special roasting technology called “fire and ice”.
Its feature is the instant cooling of the grains when they reach a certain temperature.
This is how their aroma and taste are revealed to the maximum. After roasting, blending specialists create coffee collections, skillfully combining different varieties to create the perfect taste for all occasions.
Tricks of roasting beans
The secret of roasting lies in a special technology called “Fire and Ice”. First, the grains are heated to a certain temperature and at a certain point they are instantly cooled.
This is necessary in order to preserve the aroma of the grains and reveal as many different flavors as possible.
It is important to know! To truly enjoy a true Carte Noir, it's important to watch what you buy. Inspect the packaging and find the inscription, and the drink itself should be written exactly - “Carte Noire” and nothing more.
Prices and sales locations
The popularity of the products of this brand is very high. You can find Carte Noir coffee in almost any grocery store. As for pricing policy, here are approximate figures:
- Instant CARTE NOIRE, sublimated, 150 g – 740 rubles.
- Instant Carte Noire Original 95 g, glass jar – 610 rubles.
- Millicano instant coffee, 95 g – 315 rubles.
- Coffee beans Carte Noire 800 g - 1250 rubles.
- Decafeine in glass, 95 g – 660 rubles.
- Capsules for the TASSIMO Carte Noire Cafe Long Delicat coffee maker – 449 rubles.
Reviews
In fact, the overall picture is not so rosy. According to user ratings on popular review sites, the coffee of this brand receives an average rating. Almost half of consumers find disadvantages that significantly affect their desire to purchase Carte Noir products in the future. Having a negative impact, as you understand. But there are also a lot of positive reviews.
Here are a couple of them:
I decided to try this coffee after the advice of my parents. They really liked him. It is extremely difficult to surprise me with the taste of a drink, and Carte Noir failed to do so. I didn't like the lack of distinct aroma. The drink tasted bad. I can’t even clearly say what I didn’t like more - the sourness, the bitterness. Just not my taste. I give it a low rating.
Olesya, manager.
My husband and I drink this coffee all the time. We have been avid coffee drinkers for many years (see the best gift for a coffee lover) and have tried a variety of options. We settled on Cart Noire Original grain. Nowadays, not a single morning is complete without an aromatic drink. Satisfied with everything - wonderful aroma, viscous taste. Rating 5.
Alice, designer.
Packaging Features
The Carte Noir brand produces high-quality instant coffee in two types of packaging: black and green (classic version) and black and blue (decaffeinated). The company mainly uses branded glass containers, although some coffees are produced exclusively in single-serve bags or vacuum-packed.
For beans and ground coffee, special packaging is usually used to preserve the freshness and aroma of the product for a long time.
It is important that the consumer receives a fresh and high-quality product, therefore special attention is paid to the properties of the packaging.
Natural ground coffee
In addition to instant coffee, Carte Noir produces natural coffee. But? this type is less popular, as it looks average among similar coffees, especially in the price category. Although Carte Noir brewed coffee also has its consumers. There are two types of Carte Noir ground coffee - a coarser grind, which is used to make espresso, and a softer grind. As for the mixture, in both cases the same mixture is used.
If you take Carte Noir bean coffee, then its quality is quite high, since the packaging preserves the original aroma and taste of the coffee, and also very high quality beans are used for such coffee, which is very rare on the Russian market. Coffee Carte Noir is a coffee for daily use, especially for those who love high-quality, aromatic Arabica beans.
The French are true connoisseurs of high-quality aromatic coffee. Even if they start their morning, it is only with very tasty coffee. Carte Noir coffee meets these criteria. And this is not a coincidence at all, because it has long belonged to the premium class.
