In 1978, the Carte Noire brand was first introduced, offering sensual aromas and rich flavors to the world of coffee. The release of Carte Noire revolutionized the French coffee market by producing pure Arabica coffee with a premium position. Its name and logo symbolized and encapsulated luxury and privilege. The company was first developed by René Monnier, a man with a bold vision and desire to combine his coffee knowledge with the French "art de vivre". He felt that in a country where good food and wine are highly celebrated, excellent coffee should not be an exception. Consequently, he decided to make use of his long years of coffee making experience to create Carte Noire.
Carte Noire has been an innovator on the market from its conception. At a time when the market offered coffee composed mainly of a mixture of arabica and robusta, Carte Noire was the exclusive pure Arabica blend in revolutionary packaging. Impressed by the luxury world that was emerging around emblematic French fashion personalities, René Monnier decided to push the boundaries even further and create not only high quality coffee in a cup, but also packaging that looked like a luxurious object of desire, something to offer as a gift, with a unique “couture” signature. While other coffee brands were still presented in rigid boxes, Carte Noire changed the game with its freshness valve and flexible packages. This packaging offered a more sensual experience that was well-aligned with the company's slogan; "Un café nommé Désir" ("A coffee named Desire").
Since its introduction in 1978, France, a country known for great coffee, has held Carte Noire close to its heart. In fact, it is the leading premium coffee blend in France! Carte Noire allows its drinkers to have a taste of France's love affair with coffee. A sip of Carte Noire will have you falling in love with coffee all over again. It has been a consistent player on the global market from the time it was released, and continues to increase in popularity. In fact, its up-and-coming status has attracted not only customers, but the interest of other coffee companies. Recently acquired by Luigi Lavazza SpA (est. 1895), the popularity of Carte Noire will play an integral role toward Lavazza's corporate development to boost sales to about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) per year by 2020.
As a premium quality coffee brand and a major global player on the coffee market, the primary ambition of Carte Noire is to constantly deliver high quality coffee. In fact, the production process is designed solely to achieve this goal. Carte Noire's team of scientists and coffee experts are dedicated to creating coffees that provide the most enjoyable experiences regardless of how the coffee is made. Their latest product, Carte Noire capsules, are developed with the same passion and pursuit for quality.
To Carte Noire, producing exquisite coffee is an art form. There are four crucial steps to their production process. The first step, of course, is ensuring that coffee beans are carefully selected. With origins in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the majority of Carte Noire coffee beans are both harvested and prepared by hand in the ancestral and traditional methods.
After the coffee beans are selected, the next step on the Carte Noire coffee production is the creation of an exquisite blend. To achieve this second step in the art of coffee-making, Carte Noire's master roasters carefully select and assemble our beans to create exquisite CARTE NOIRE coffees.
Of course, the art of coffee does not end there. In fact, the third step, roasting, is one of the most important and imperative. At Carte Noire, master roasters control every second of the roasting process. The company's new "Fire & Ice Roasting" helps to capture the best aromas and flavours. Just like ice extinguishes fire, the roasting process is stopped by a shower of cold water to help create Carte Noire premium quality coffee. All Carte Noire coffee is roasted in France in the city of Lavérune.
The fourth and final step in the art of coffee creation at Carte Noire is the engineering of perfect conditions. After the beans are hand selected, blended, and roasted, the griding and conditioning process begins. The master roasters at Carte Noire ensure this final step is conducted at the last possible moment before packaging to preserve the integrity of the aromas. The final result of this methodical production process used by Carte Noire is certain to be a masterpiece in a mug.
For more information, check out this article on Carte Noire from The Times Online: "Share France's Passion for Carte Noire"
The French are known for a few things: their propensity to take their time over things they enjoy, and their appreciation of the finer things in life - from food and wine, to fashion and the arts. In everyday life, this attitude is embodied in the café culture that spills over into the boulevards and streets of both rural and urban France. As a result, coffee has always been central to the French way of life – typically enjoyed while sitting at a café terrace to watch the world go by, or while catching up with friends to discuss life, the universe and everything.
But there’s no need to cross the channel to share France’s romance with great coffee – all you need is a rich, aromatic cup of Carte Noire. Created in 1978 by René Monnier, the pure Arabica Carte Noire blend is the embodiment of the French love affair with coffee. From its inception, the name and logo symbolized luxury and privilege – its black and gold packaging evokes quality, while its intense aroma and well-balanced taste raises it above the competition. As a result, Carte Noire is now the undisputed number-one coffee choice throughout France.
Produced by expert blenders using only the finest Arabica beans, it encapsulates French savoir-faire with its sophisticated flavour, velvety taste and seductive "arôme absolu". France's favourite coffee is available in three varieties. The first, Carte Noire Instant Coffee, boasts bright, sparkling aromas as distinctive as those of a fine wine, and its high-roasted flavour is infused with a hint of dark chocolate. This is no ordinary instant, but an everyday coffee good enough for a special occasion. When combined with cream it caresses the palate, with a silky smoothness draped over the fragrance adding a seductive je ne sais quoi to its dark sophistication.
For those who prefer to moderate their caffeine, there’s Carte Noire Decaffeinated, a surprisingly aromatic experience with smoky fragrance and a soft, sweet flavour. The result is light and lively, with refreshing acidity. This is decaf à la Française – a mellow evening brew with all the familiar aromas of Carte Noire, a tour de force of the blender's art. Bonjour, arômes! Au revoir, caffeine!
And finally, for those who value all the complexity one would expect from a French blend, there’s Carte Noire Ground Coffee. Its aromas are rich and smoky, with a recently roasted brightness, while the flavours are positively clamouring for attention – leafy notes, toasty tones, with a lovely sweetness on mid-palate. And there's just the right level of bitterness, refreshing without being overpowering. This is an after-dinner coffee par excellence, assembled with typically French savoir-faire.
Despite their subtle differences, all the products in the Carte Noire range share a common bond: they evoke all that’s great about coffee culture. Distinctively Gallic, they embody the classic values of "Frenchness" – style, sophistication and sensuality.
In the same way as coffee, cinema has always been at the heart of French society and, more often than not, you’ll find the French heading straight from the cinema to the café to discuss what they have seen over a coffee. So, with that in mind, what better brand than Carte Noire to bring you a taste of the French way of life and to introduce you to the world of French cinema. Browse a French Film Café site, read the latest reviews and features, vote for your favourite French films, claim free screening tickets and join the debate on French Film – all over a satisfying cup of coffee, of course…
Since its introduction in 1978, France, a country known for great coffee, has held Carte Noire close to its heart. In fact, it is the leading premium coffee blend in France! Carte Noire allows its drinkers to have a taste of France's love affair with coffee. A sip of Carte Noire will have you falling in love with coffee all over again. It has been a consistent player on the global market from the time it was released, and continues to increase in popularity. In fact, its up-and-coming status has attracted not only customers, but the interest of other coffee companies. Recently acquired by Luigi Lavazza SpA (est. 1895), the popularity of Carte Noire will play an integral role toward Lavazza's corporate development to boost sales to about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) per year by 2020.
But there’s no need to cross the channel to share France’s romance with great coffee – all you need is a rich, aromatic cup of Carte Noire. Created in 1978 by René Monnier, the pure Arabica Carte Noire blend is the embodiment of the French love affair with coffee. From its inception, the name and logo symbolized luxury and privilege – its black and gold packaging evokes quality, while its intense aroma and well-balanced taste raises it above the competition. As a result, Carte Noire is now the undisputed number-one coffee choice throughout France. 
In the same way as coffee, cinema has always been at the heart of French society and, more often than not, you’ll find the French heading straight from the cinema to the café to discuss what they have seen over a coffee. So, with that in mind, what better brand than Carte Noire to bring you a taste of the French way of life and to introduce you to the world of French cinema. Browse a French Film Café site, read the latest reviews and features, vote for your favourite French films, claim free screening tickets and join the debate on French Film – all over a satisfying cup of coffee, of course…